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i 

HISTORY 

OF a.'-n^r 

STRAFFORD COUNTY 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

AND 

Representative Citizens 



BY 



JOHN SCALES 

EDITOR DOVEK DAILY DEMOCRAT 



'All History is Philosophy Teaching by Example" 



PUBLISHED liY 

RICHMOND-ARNOLD PUBLISHING CO. 

F. J. RICHMOND. Pres. ; C. R. ARNOLD. Sec. and Treas, 

CHICAGO, ILL. 
1914 



PUBLISHER'S PREFACE 

The aim of the publishers of this volume and of the author of the history has 
been to secure for the historical portion thereof full and accurate data respecting 
the history of the county from the time of its early settlement and to condense 
it into a clear and interesting narrative. All topics and occurrences have been in- 
cluded that were essential to this subject. 

The reviews of resolute and strenuous lives that make up the biographical part 
of the volume are admirably calculated to foster local ties, to inculcate patriotism 
and to emphasize the rewards of industry dominated by intelligent purpose. They 
constitute a most appropriate medium for perpetuating personal annals and will be 
of incalculable value to the descendants of those commemorated. These sketches 
are replete with stirring incidents and intense experiences and are flavored with 
a strong human interest that will naturally prove to a large portion of the readers 
of the book one of its most attractive features. In the aggregate of personal 
memoirs thus collated will be found a vivid epitome of the growth of Strafford 
County, which will fitly supplement the historical statement, for its development 
is identical with that of the men and women to whom it is attributable. Sketches 
not corrected by subscribers when submitted to them are indicated by a small 
asterisk (*). 

The publishers have avoided slighting any part of the work, and to the best of 
their ability have supplemented the editor's labors by exercising care over the 
minutest details of publication, in order to give the volume the three-fold value 
of a readable narrative, a useful work of reference and a tasteful ornament to 
the library. 

Special prominence has been given to the portraits of many representative 
citizens, which appear throughout the volume, and we lielicve that they will 
prove not its least interesting feature. \Ve have sought in this department to 
illustrate the different spheres of industrial and professional achievement as con- 
spicuously as possible. To all who have kindly interested themselves in the prepa- 
ration of this work, and who have voluntarily contributed most useful information 
and data, or rendered any other assistance, we hereby tender our grateful ac- 
knowledgments. 

The Publishers. 
Chicago, 111., February, 1914. 



EDITOR'S PREFACE 

The Editor has simply to say that in the performance of his part of the work 
in making this book he has kept in mind and endeavored to carry out the plan of 
giving a correct history of the county, as a whole, in its general details, which 
had never been done before, and for each city and town a general outline of its 
leading historic points, characteristics and events, with brief mention of promi- 
nent citizens of former generations. The space alloted for such matter in this 
book would not permit more details. Whatever errors may be found came from 
lack of proper information as to facts and dates. The Editor has carefully used 
all the material at his command and endeavored to put it on paper in an intelli- 
gent style. J. S. 
Dover, N. H., January 26, 1914. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 

Notes ox Eakly History of the County 25 

First Use of the Term, "New Hampshire"' — Division into Counties — 
Boundary Lines of StraiYord County— County Seat Estahhshed— In(han 
Trails and Roads — First Courts — Notal^le Men — County Officials — At- 
torneys. 

CHAPTER II 

COXCERXIXG CorKTIIOUSHS 48 

The "Old Courthouse" and Famous Lawyers Who Practiced There — 
The Courthouse Built in 1842— Its Destruction by Fire— The Fight for 
County Seat — Dover's \'ictory — Strafford County Jails — The County 
Almshouse — Burning of the Insane Asylum — County Commissioners. 

CHAPTER III 

AlKDicxr 59 

Strafford District .Medical Society — Charter Members and Officers 
— Members to Date. 

CHAPTER W 

HO.MICIDKS AXL) H \X(.IX(;S IX STU.M'FllIil) CurXTY 64 

The Elisha Thomas Case— Case of Andrew Ilnward — Execution of 
John O. Pinkdiam- The Fourth l-'irst Degree Murder— Other :\Iurder 
Cases — The Crime of Joseph E. Kelley — John Williams. 

CHAPTER y 

FIiSTORY (JF Do\i-:r ( 1 ) 74 

The First Permanent Settlement in Dover and New Hampshire — The 
Various Grants — David Thompson — Thompson's Island — Mason Hall — 
Llilton's or Dover's Point — William Hilton — Thomas Roberts — Leonard 
Pomerov — Settlement i>f 1623 — The Hilton Tirant. 



10 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER VI 

History of Dover (H) loo 

Early Names in Old Dover. 

CHAPTER VH 

History of Dover (HI) 105 

The First Parish and Church — Alinisters of First Church. 

CHAPTER VIII 

History of Dover (IV) 114 

Later Religious Societies in Dover — St. John's M. E. Church — First 
Universalist Society — First Free Will Baptist Church — First Unitarian 
Society — Franklin Street Baptist Church — Roman Catholic Church — St. 
Thomas Church — Washington Street Free Will Baptist Church — Belknap 
Congregational Church — The Advent Qiristian Church. 

CHAPTER IX 

History of Dover (\') 130 

The \'arious Forms of Government. 

CHAPTER X 

History of Dover (VI) 1.^6 

Important Events. 

CHAPTER XI 

History of Dover ( VII ) 1 40 

Dover Neck. 

CHAPTER XII 

History of Dover (VIII) 143 

Cochecho — Sawyer Woolen Mills — I. B. Williams & Son's Belt Fac- 
tory. 

CHAPTER XIII 

History of Dover (IX) 148 

Garrison Hill — The Observatory — John Bowne .Sawyer — A Sad Fa- 
tality. 



CONTENTS 11 

CHAPTER XIV 

History of Dover (X) I57 

The Back River District— The Dam— Drew Garrison— Tlie Wedding 
of Amos Peaslee. 

CHAPTER XV 

History of Dover (XI) 172 

Indian Attacks on Dover— Durham Destroyed — Berwick Assaulted, 
1703 — Berwick. 

CHAPTER XVI 

History of Dover (XII) 182 

Dover in the Revolutionary War. 

CHAPTER XVII 

History of Dover (XIII) I94 

The Civil War— List of Regiments and Soldiers. 

CHAPTER XMII 

History of Dover (XIV) 206 

Notable Citizens of Dover in Former Generations. 

CHAPTER XIX 

History of Somersworth (I) 212 

Origin of the Name — Sligo — St. Alban's Cove. 

CHAPTER XX 

History of Somersworth (II) 216 

Ministers and the Parish— The High Street M. E. Society. 

CHAPTER XXI 

History of Somersworth (III) 224 

The Town and the City. 

CHAPTER XXII 

History of Somersworth (IV) 231 

Schools and Schoolmasters— Col. Herailes Mooney — Master John 
Sullivan — Master Joseph Tate. 



12 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER NXIII 

History of Somersworth (\') 241 

\arious Business Interests — Banks and Banking — Railroads. 

CHAPTER XXI\' 

History of Somersworth (\T) 250 

Noted Citizens of Somersworth. 

CHAPTER XXV 

History of Rollixsford (I) 268 

Origin of the Name — The Farmers — X'arious Industries — Churches — 
Banks and Banking — Railroads. 

CHAPTER XX\'[ 

History of Rollixsford (II ) 274 

Military Record — Regiments and List of Soldiers. 

CHAPTER XX\TI 

History of Rollixsford (III) 278 

Notable Citizens of the Town. 

CHAPTER XX\ HI 

History of Durh.\m (I) 286 

The Parish of Oyster River. 

CHAPTER XXIX 

History of Durh.\m (II) 293 

The Oyster River Massacre. 1694. 

CHAPTER XXX 

History ofDurii.vm (III) 301 

Durham in the Revolution — Capture of the Powder at Ft. William and 
Mary, 1774. 

CHAPTER XXXI 

History OF Durh.vm (I\^) 3'^ 

Durham in the Revolution — On the Battlefields and in the Councils 
of State. 



CONTENTS 13 

CHAPTER XXXII 

Htstokv of Durham i \' ) 324 

As a Business Center and a College Town. 

CHAPTER XXXIII 

History of Lee (I) 331 

Origin of the Name — Parish ijf Lee in Dvn'ham. 

CHAPTER XXXIV 

History of Lee ( II ) 337 

Business and Occupations. 

CHAPTER XXX\" 

History of Lee (111) 344 

Alen of Lee in the Wars and in Peace — Soldiers — The Ministry. 

CHAPTER XXX\T 

History of ]\I.\dbury ( I ) 353 

Origin of the Name iMadlmry. 

CHAPTER XXX\T1 

History of Madblky (II) 356 

Organization of the Town — Petition for a Parish — Eirst Parish Meeting. 

chapti:r xxx\ hi 

History of Madi'.uky (III) 360 

Madljury in War Times — Garrisons — Meeting House — Moharimet's 
Hill or Hick's Mill — Ministers — Soldiers of the Rehellion. 

CHAPTER XXXI X 

History of Barri.vcton (I) 367 

Origin of the Xame and List of C)riginal Pro])rietors. 

CHAPTER XL 

History of B.xkri-xgton (II) 373 

First Settlers — Garrison Houses — The Two-Mile Streak. 



14 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XLI 

History of Barrington (HI) 380 

Ecclesiastical History — Meeting-Houses. " 

CHAPTER XLH 

History of Barrington (IV) 383 

Barrington Men in the Revolution and in the Civil War. 

CHAPTER XLHI 

History of Bakrington (V) 386 

Town Meetings — Representation in Legislature — Town Clerks and Se- 
lectmen of the First Century. 

CHAPTER XLIV 

History of Barrington (VI) 391 

Noted Persons and Localities. 

CHAPTER XLV 

History of Strafford (I) 403 

Origin of the Name — Organization of the Town. 

CHAPTER XLVI 

History of Strafford (II) 407 

Churches and Schools. 

CHAPTER XL\TI 

History of Strafford (III) 412 

Strafford's Patriotic Record, 1861-1865 — Regiments and Soldiers. 

CHAPTER XL\11I 

History of Strafford (lY) 418 

Business and Locations. 

CHAPTER XLIX 

History of Strafford (V) 421 

Noted Persons of Strafford 



CONTENTS 15 

CHAPTER L 

History of New Durham (I) 434 

Origin of the Name — Original Pi-oprietors. 

CHAPTER LI 

History of New Durham (H) 44° 

Location, Scenery and Business. 

CHAPTER LH 

History of New Durham (HI) 442 

Notable Citizens and Events. 

CHAPTER LHI 

History of Middleton (I) 449 

Origin of the Name — Leading Points in Its History. 

CHAPTER LIY 

History of Middleton (II) 453 

Noted Persons Born in Middleton. 

CHAPTER LV 

History of Rochester (I) ^ 455 

Geographical— Topographical— Incorporation— The Royal Charter— 
The Town Named— First Meeting of Proprietors— Eirst Clerks— First 
Selectmen— Survey of the Township— Drawing the Lots— The Pioneer 

Settler Other Early Settlers — Subsequent Division of Lands— Norway 

Plains, Close of the Prospectors" Reign— Last Meeting— Town Assumes 
Control of Affairs. 

CHAPTER L\T 

History of Rochester (II) 459 

Ancient Local Names and Land Grants— Squanianagonic— Witch- 
trot— White Hall— Blind Will's Neck. 

CHAPTER lATI 

History of Rochester ( III) 466 

Indian History — Garrison Houses— Indian War— First Battle — John 
Richards— Tonathan Door— Danger of Abandonment of the Settlement- 
Petition for the Soldiers— The Old Iron Cannon— Major Davis' Defense 
of the Town— Indian Attack— The Killing of Mrs. Hodgdon— The Brit- 
ish Press-Gang. 



16 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER LVni 

HiSTORV OF ROCHESTKR (IV) 4/6 

Town Organization — Change to City. 

CHAPTER LIX 

History of Rochester (V) 480 

Rochester Men in the Revolution. 

CHAPTER LX 

HiSTORV OF Rochester ( M ) 4^3 

Religious Societies. 

CHAPTER LXI 

HiSTORV OF Far.mixoton (I) 48S 

Geographical — Topographical — Farniington Dock — First Town Meet- 
ing — Officers Elected. 

CHAPTER LXH 

HiSTORV OF F.^RMINGTON (H) 49^ 

Ecclesiastical — Congregational— Free Will Baptists. 

CHAPTER LXni 

History of F.\rmiN(;ton' (HI) 404 

Farmington's Shoe Manufacturers. 

CHAPTER LXIV 

History of F.\rmington ( I\' ) 49^ 

Farniington Soldiers in the I'ivil War— \'arious Town Topics. 

CHAPTER LXV 

History of F.\rmington (V) 50i 

Noted Alen of Former Generations. 

CHAPTER LXVI 

History of Milton 5o8 

Location in the County — The First Settlements. 



CONTENTS 17 

CHAPTER LX\ II 

History of Miltox (IT) 513 

Concerning Ministers and Churches. 

CHAPTER LX VI 1 1 

History of Milton (IIIJ 519 

Alilton Schools and Educational Matters. 

CHAPTER LXIX 

History of Milton (IV) 533 

Various Business Enterprises — Military Record. 

CHAPTER LXX 

History of Miltox ( \' ) 52(j 

Interesting Traditions. 

Refresent-stive Citizens 337 






A R R O L L 



V I. r Mi(N)f *' ' 



1 1 i> iHi-t:/r o \ 



. \l..l.ll.l.... V 










FORD CO. 



l/./r* /., ./« /,../. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



Abbott, Samuel B 854 

Adams, Col. Winborn ^lo 

Allen, Charles A "9'5 

Allen, John A 904 

Allen, William H 661 

Anderson, Dr. H. K 732 

Andrews, Charles II °°° 

Andrews, Hon. Elisha C 608 

Annis, Mark 935 

Atkinson, Wm. K 37 

Bacon, Charles E 632 

Baer, Mrs. Aunie W »lo 

Baker, Charles 951 

Barefoot, Dr. Walter 209 

Baril, Thomas A ^^o 

Barker, David, Jr 42 

Bartlett, James 41 

Batchelder, Dr. Edward C &»o 

Bateman, John IL °o5 

Bates, Dr. J. H 7/7 

Bates, John W 601 

Beard, George M '•i]' 

Beckwith, Fred N 5^0 

Beckwith, Harry H 551 

Belknap, Rev. Jeremy 209 

Bennett, Martin P 70^ 

Bernier, August G 739 

Bishop, Rupert G 1^7 

Blaisdell, Curtis W ^.'l 

Blanchard, Dr. Eoscoe G 562 

Bodwell, Fred L., D. V. S 852 

Bond, Bernard Q "JS 

Bowman, William M 915 

Bradley, Charles H 594 

Bradley, Hon. William G 704 

Brennan, Eev. James 11 643 

Brigham, Dr. Frank E 775 

Brewer, Luther W '87 

BrowTi, Elisha R 818 

Brown, Fred H 618 

Brown, Natt 814 

Buekner, Charles '^^'^ 

Buffum, David H 265 

Bunker, Fred M 5/0 

Buniham, Charles E 8dS 

Burnham, Charles H 6-5 

Burleigh, George W 44 

Burleigh, Job H 943 

Burleish, John A 4J 

Buz7ell, Eev. Aaron ■^■'^ 

Buzzell, Eev. John ■'•'*' 



Canney, John '06 

Canney, Thomas 209 

Carignan, Dr. Edmond N 559 

Carter, Edgar 1 604 

Carr, Col. James 256 

Carr, Dr. Moses 256 

Cartland, Cliarles S 599 

Casey, P. P 804 

easier, Loren D 707 

Caverly, Eev. John 427 

Caverly, Robert B 426 

Caverno Family 424-426 

Chadwick, Eev. Edmund 454 

Chalmers, David 708 

Chamberlain, Moses G 868 

Chamberlain, Samuel G 868 

Champlin, William H 722 

Chandler, Capt. Isaac 266 

Chapman, Dr. Everett L 732 

Chapman, Frank G 675 

Charrette, William 673 

Chase, Mark 950 

Cheetham, Joseph H 840 

Chesley, Hon. Daniel 594 

Chesley, Guy E., D. V. S 855 

Chesley, Stephen P 952 

Christie, Daniel M 38 

Clancy, F. W 588 

Claiiham, Charles 37 

Clark, C. E 788 

Clark, Hon. Frank P. 718 

Clark, F. W 865 

Clark, George B 939 

Clnrk, Joseph 42 

Clements, .Tob 207 

Clifford, Henry H 867 

fnoutman, John F 505 

Cochrane, Henry 939 

Coffin, Hon. Peter 209 

Cogswell, Col. Amos 210 

Cogswell, Francis 40 

Coleman, Frank P 566 

Converse, Joshua 282 

Cooper, Levi C 674 

Copeland, William J 44 

Copp, Amasa 42 

Copp, Darid, Jr 37 

Corson, E. A 72d 

Corson, .Tames 793 

Corson, Leonard Z 680 

19 



20 



INDEX 



Cossette, Eugene '^■ti 

Cote, Louis F HIO 

Crockett, Charles F i'-lS 

Crosby, Oliver -ij 

Cross, Ernest A ^04 

Cushiug, Bev. Jonathan 'MS 

Dame, John ]£ USl 

Davis, George A SO:i 

Dawson, S. F., Jr 879 

Dawson, 8. F., Sr 87S) 

Dean, G. E 700 

Dearborn, Col. Thomas H 556 

De Schuyler, Augustus 947 

Deshaies, Rev. Fabien G 811 

Desrosiers, Bev. O. J (531 

Dougherty, Dr. Thos. J 607 

Dow, Henry 564 

Duntley, Ira W 578 

Durell, Daniel M 37 

Duval, Dr. Ernest "74 

Eastman, Charles H 834 

Eastman, Xehemiah 41 

Eastman, Royal 44 

Edgerly, James B 690 

Edgerl V, Royal JI 843 

Ela, Eichard 41 

Elliott, Dr. Charles F 1^60 

Emery, Justin A 5113 

England, Walter 749 

Evans, Charles W 5So 

Evans, Col. Stephen 208 

Fairbanks, Charles A 583 

Farnham, George W 623 

Fauuce, Alpheus L 733 

Fernald, Kingman 630 

Finley, William W 65() 

Fish,' Robert H 786 

Fisher, John E 701 

Fisher, Samuel C 632 

Flanders, Dr. Louis W 560 

Folsom, Edwin W 723 

Foote, Arthur L 738 

Ford, Jacob S. M 922 

Ford, James W 801 

Foss, Charles A 307 

Fo.ss, Hon. Charles H 566 

Foss, Eugene C 717 

Foss, Marshall B 924 

Foss, Newell B 930 

Foster, Hon. George J 880 

Fownes, A. H 697 

Fox, Charles D 805 

Freeman , Asa 38 

Freeman, Cyrus 936 

Frost, Hon. George S 571 

Fuller, Mrs. Diantha J 839 

Furber, Dudley L 549 

Gage, Daniel A 579 

Gage, Elbridge G 912 

Gage, Col. John 30-208 



( iage, Walter F 026 

Gagner, Joseph 684 

Galloway, Everett J 564 

tiaiside, Oriinel W 046 

Garvin, William R 1^83 

(ielanas, A. G 791 

Gilbert, Xaiiuleon H 693 

(iilman, William A 62:i 

Glidden, Jolin A 756 

(ilidden, I^eslie W' 756 

Goddard, Robert H 743 

Gonic Manufacturing Co., The 894 

Goodwin, Charles A S89 

Goodwin, Rev. Daniel B 454 

Goodwin, Ezra C 862 

Goodw in, James 753 

(ioodwin, Irving E 678 

Goss, Col. Charles C 648 

( ireen, Dr. Ezra 2l>9 

(irimes, James A 771 

Grant, Dr. L. E 60S 

Gunnison, William T 696 

Gupi)ey, Jeremy B 883 

(iuptili, Oscar "L 790 

Haines, Hon. .Tohn N 657 

Hale, Hon. John P 210 

Hale, John P., Sr 39 

Hale, Hon. Samuel 393 

Hale, .luilgi' Samuel 394 

Hale, Thomas W 396 

Hale, William 211-394 

Halev, Harrison 151 

Hall,' Albert 1 711 

Hall, Charles F 747 

Hall, Col. Daniel 634 

Hall, Dwight 931 

Hall, Hon. Frank H 941 

Hallam. Daniel W 857 

Ham, Charles A 914 

Ham, Edgar J 913 

Ham, ,1. Herman 679 

Ham, J(din T. W 898 

Hanson, B. F 609 

Hanson, Fred J 724 

Hardy, Capt. Washington AV 8.56 

Harvev, Frank A 606 

Hawkes, E. M 659 

Haves, Charles C 581 

Hayes, Frank L 581 

Hayes, S. Lyman 7S0 

Henderson, Charles H 717 

Henderson, Frank D 858 

Henderson, Harry P 586 

Herrett, David W 609 

Hills, Dr. Charles W 690 

Hilton, .Tudge Edward -. . 206 

Hilton, William 92 

Hodgdnn, Geo. F 945 

Hodgdon, iloses 37 

Horlor, John E 796 

Horn, W. Ashton 681 

Home, Jesse R 619 

Hough, .\ndrew .T 782 



INDEX 



21 



Hough, Ralph Olil) 

Hoiile, Hon. Fred A tiUo 

Huustou, James O (j.j-i 

Howe, Charles L (544 

Howe, l-)r. James 4X2 

Hughes. Cieorge T 590 

Hughes, Thomas 7Si 

Huukiiig, Capt. Mark 377 

Huntress. Dr. Eugeue W 755 

Hurlhurt, Paul SO!) 

llussey, Charles H 745 

Husey, Frank E 587 

Jat-ksoii, Aui.lrew 098 

Jaiksou, James A S73 

Jaijues, Dr. Edwin D -S5 

.lenkins, Horace \V Oi.'i 

Jenkins, Sarah F 947 

Jenuess. Judge Bemiing W 421 

Jeuness, Cyrus L 779 

Jenness, Daniel F 799 

Jenness, Josiah P 810 

Jeuness, Hon. Samuel H 752 

Jewell, Hon. John W 840 

Johnson, Dennis A 748 

Jones. Albert D 769 

Jones, Charles M 945 

Jones, Ira W 877 

Jones, Jeremiah 489 

.Tordau, Ichabod (! 43 

Jo.v, Rev. Joseph F 440 

Joyce, James H 02.S 

Keay, Dr. Forrest L 712 

Kendall, Col. Frank L 750 

Killoren, Hon. Andrew 875 

Kimliall, John L 844 

Kimball. .John S 772 

Kimball, Ralph M 860 

KiuJjall, Richard 39 

Kimball, W. A 633 

Kimball. William K 099 

Kimball, Willard H 721 

King, Arthur H 688 

Kivel, Hon. John 817 

Kuollys, Hanserd 207 

Knowles, Dr. James 481 

Knox, William H 5.55 

LaPoute, Joseph 605 

LaBonte, Hon. Paul 580 

Laeroix, Rev. C. S 719 

Lane, Edmund B 841 

Lane, Edmund J 841 

Lane, Robert B 932 

Langley, Hon. Currier W 800 

Langley, George H •■ 851 

Langm'aid, L. F 797 

Lamiix, Alphonse 853 

Lawson, Walter S 789 

Layn, Jlaurice N 769 

Leathers, Alphonso D 798 

Leavitt, Charles H 906 

Leavitt, Charles W 833 



Leighton, Edgar A 545 

Libbey, John G 932 

Littletield, Alphonso E 652 

Littlefield, Cyrus 626 

Locke, Hon. James A 745 

Looney, Charles H 874 

Loouey, Mrs. Emily E 874 

Lord, Charles E 694 

Lord, Edward F 928 

Lord, Harlan P 578 

Lord, Oliver H 204 

Lowe, H. C 715 

Lowe, C. \V 715 

Lucas, John 662 

Lucas, Hon. Isaac L 653 

Lucey, David J 779 

Lucey, James 818 

Luce.y, James, Jr 755 

McDuftee, George I) 677 

McDuffee, Lieut.-Col. John 481 

McDutfee, Willis 575 

McElwain, William L 813 

McGill, Patrick 560 

McNallv, Hon. William F 643 

Maguire, Frank B 699 

Marston, William L 793 

Marston, Winthrop A 43 

Martin, Frank E 809 

Martin, Dr. Noah 211 

Mason, Mrs. Arabella 90S 

Mathes, Valentine 767 

Mayo, Dr. Dana B 60.5 

Meader, Harry H 839 

.Meader, John L 851 

ileader, Stephen C 893 

Meader, Walter S 842 

Mellen, Henry 37 

Middleton, Rev. William 453 

Miller, Ira 860 

Miller, Winfield Scott 859 

Mdlet, Capt. Thomas 208 

Mitchell, Alvin 598 

Mitchell, Stephen 41 

Montgomery, Hon. Samuel P 423 

Moonev, Col. Hercules 231-317 

Morang, Hon. Charles H 906 

Morgan, Christopher 720 

Morgan, Dr. George P 778 

Morin, Dr. Jeremiah J 731 

Morrill, Joseph 703 

Morrison, Harry A 705 

Morrison, Dr. Thomas J 610 

Morrison, Walter N 700 

Morton, Hon. William H 921 

Nash, Hiram A 934 

Nason, Orrin E 5S8 

Nason, Hon. William P 781 

Neal, Edward C 677 

Neal, Moses L 38 

Nealley, Benjamin M 685 

Nealley, John H 773 

Nolette, Hon. Joseph E 7.j3 



22 



INDEX 



Nute, Hon. Alonzo 5(16 

Nute, Hon. John H 91H 

Nutter, Dr. George W ti49 

O 'Doherty, Jonn D 580 

Osborne, Downing V I'.ii 

Otis, Charles S 8«0 

Otis, Hon. Job i2- 

Owen, Herbert W 550 

Page, Dr. William H S9(3 

Page, Victor E S9ti 

Palmer, Orrin J (iS'2 

Parker, Dr. David T 501J 

Parker, Dr. Henry E 537 

Parry, Eobert A 812 

Parsliley, Augustine S 709 

Parsons, John 618 

Paton, Archibald B 84:! 

Pattee, Dr. John K 739 

Pcaslee, Joseph E 814 

Peirce, Hon. Andrew 210 

Perry, Hon. Henry E 683 

Pike, Rev. James 219 

Pike, Rev. John 207 

Pike, Dr. John G 284 

Pike, Hon. Eobert G '558 

Pinkham, Alonzo T 806 

Pinkhani, Rev. Charles L 447 

Pinkham, George F 878 

Pitman, Charles H 576 

Place, Demeritt 432 

Place, Elder Enoch 431 

Plant e, A 616 

Plumer, Charles 886 

Plumer, Hon. Fred 627 

Plumer, Hon. John 481 

Plummer, Bard B 871 

Plummer, Frank P 852 

Pomerov, Leonard 93 

Prav, Charles F 951 

Pray, Moses H 941 

Prescott, George N 624 

Preston, Hon. Frank B 726 

Pugsley, Everett A 744 

Pugslej', George E 679 

Randall, Rev. Benj 444 

Randall, Ira A. . .' 841 

Eawson, Jonathan 36 

Reilly, Rev. Thomas E 553 

Reyner, Rev. John 207 

Richards, Benjamin T 716 

Richardson, J. Edward 864 

Richardson, .John A 41 

Richardson, Louis M 815 

Ricker, P. S 621 

Ricker, Marilla M 610 

Rines, William E 740 

Roberts, Amasa 41 

Roberts, E. E 551 

Roberts, Ernest R 632 

Roberts, .Judge Hiram R 279 

Roberts, Howard M 909 



Roberts, Hon. Joseph D 887 

Roberts, Simeon B 632 

Roberts, Thomas 93 

Roberts, Dr. Walter J 701- 

Eoberts, Hon. William H 768 

Rollins, Augustus 280 

Rollins, Hon. Daniel G 261 

Rollins, Judge Ichabod 255 

Rollins, Samuel H 911 

Ross, Dr. Jonathan S 285 

Rounds, Holmes B 926 

Roux, Raoul 624 

Runnels, Rev. John S 447 

Russell, Javan M 602 

Russell, William F 620 

Rust, Col. Henry 30 

Samjison, Capt. Luther B 604 

Sanders, Capt. S. S 670 

Sawyer, Hon. Charles fl 770 

San'j'er, .John Bo'ivne 153 

Sawyer, Hon. Thomas 210 

Sawyer, Thomas E 39 

Sawver. William 725 

Scarr, Gerald A 791 

Scales, John, A. B., A. AI 600 

Seavey, Hon. Albert E 582 

Seavey, Andrew .J., V. S 654 

Seavey, Fred F 737 

Seavey, Hon. J. Frank 590 

Seavey, R. F 778 

Shaw, James 662 

Sheppard, Joel F 545 

Sherburn, Rev. Samuel 399 

Sherry, Albert P 552 

Shortridge, Elwill S 551 

Simpson, Arthur W 949 

Smallev, Fred C 712 

Smith, Dr. A. Noel 580 

Smith, Frank J 776 

Smith, John H 40 

Sawyer, Luther D 41 

Snow, Anson E 835 

Snow. Leslie P 835 

Spaulding Brothers, Tlie 940 

Spaulding. Huntley 940 

Spaulding, Ix-on 940 

Spauldins, Rolland 940 

Spiers. Frank R 641 

Springfield, George H 804 

Steele, David 42 

Steuerwald, J^r.uis H 663 

Stevens, Hon. Edwin A 918 

Stevens, F. K 741 

Stevens, Hon. Sidney F 617 

Stewart, Alexander 743 

Stewart, Brooks D 802 

Stiles, Philip H 923 

Studley, Ira G 706 

Sullivan, Gen. .John 35 

Sullivan, John 235 312 

Sullivan, Dr. Miah B 563 

Sutcliffe, Prof. Frank S 944 

Sweeney, I>i'. John L 587 



INDEX 



Sylvester, Fred A 0S7 

Symes, George F ^'^^ 

Tiisli, ( 'ol. Tliuiiias 317 

Tasker, Dca. Alfred 42!l 

TasUer, Charles W., D. i >. t:* S.S'.t 

Tasker, Enoch 749 

Tasker, Rev. Levi 427 

Taie, Joseph -3S 

Teague, James F 837 

Tebbetts, E. L 050 

Tebhetts, Noah 42 

Tebbetts, Hon. W. K 021 

Tetreau, Rev. Hormisdas 816 

Thomas, Ed» in H 729 

Thompson, Benjamin 327 

Thompson, David 79 

Thompson, Jndge Ebenezer 317 

Tibbetts, Edward B 659 

Tibbetts, Frank L 006 

Tibbetts, John W <'.S9 

Tibbetts, Samuel 37 

Toliey, Kev. Alvan T 293 

Tolman, Dr. George A 576 

Towle, James B - 730 

Towle, Jeremy B 933 

Townsend, Henry H 801 

Townse.nd, John C 642 

Tovvnsend, John E 861 

Trask, Elkanah 777 

Triekey, James E 925 

Tripe, George A 684 

Tuttle, A. Roseoe 800 

Tuttle, Geo. W 937 

Tuttle, Gapt. John 208 

.Twombly, Hon. James AV 565 

Tyler, Dr. John E 284 

Underbill, Gapt. John 207 

Varney, Charles W 703 

Varne'y, E. K 571 

Varney, Elias C 927 

Varney, Hon. John R 553 

Vickery, Oliver M 929 

Walderne, Maj. Richard 206 

Waldron, Col. Isaac 391 

Waldron, Thomas W 208 

Wallace, James W 719 

"Wallace, Rt. Rev. Mens. T. H 719 

Wallingford, Col. Thomas 235 

Walnisley, William 910 

Warren, Ralph A 774 



Waterhonse, Prof. Sylvester 396 

Watson, David W 907 

Watson, John H 076 

Webber, Llewellyn T 751 

Welch, Hon. John T 597 

Wells, Christopher H ^^43 

Wells, Nathaniel : 43-259- 

Wendell, Isaac 257 

Wentworth, Bartholomew 278 

Wentworth, Bert 728 

Wentworth, Fred K 003 

Wentworth, Geo T '^0 

Wentworth, Col. John -'''■ 

Wentworth, John (,J. A 047 

Wentworth, Col. Jonathan 256 

Wentworth, Jjcwis E '''^^ 

Wentworth, Col. I'anl 250 

Wentwortli, Tappan 43 

Wentworth, Wilbur M 650 

Wentworth, Elder William 207 

White, John H 39 

Whiteheail, James F 671 

Whitehouse, Cliarles S 759 

Whitehoiisc. Charles AV • . • 754 

Whitehouse. Judge George L 505 

Whitehouse, Hon. Nicholas V 764 

Whitehouse, William H 737 

Whitteniore, Hon. Arthur G 540 

Wiggin, Arthur II 810 

Wiggin, Benjamin A '89 

Wiggin, Orlando K S67 

Wiggin, Capt. Thomas 206 

Willand, Edward A S^S 

Willey, Charles F ''90 

Willey, J. Herbert 593 

Williams, John 210 

Wilmot, Theodore 673 

Wingate, Daniel 697 

Wilson, Henry 501 

Winkley, Hon. Daniel 4.30 

Woodman, Charles 558 

Woodman, Charles W 39 

Woodman, Jeremiah H 40 

Woodman, John S ^42 

Worcester, Charles F 720 

Worcester, Col. Horace L 741 

Worster, Kirk 6^0 

Wright, Georce B 651 

Wyatt, Geo. H., Jr 929 

York, E. J 811 

York, Rev. John 453 

Young, Col. Andrew H 634 




JOHN s(.'alh:s 



History of Strafford County 



CHAPTER I 

NOTES ON ITS EARLY HISTORY 

As parts of Massachusetts Bay Colony (1641-3 to 1679) the towns of 
Dover, Strawberry Bank (Portsmouth), Hampton and Exeter were com- 
prised witliin Norfolk county, \\ hich was one of the four shires, viz. : Essex, 
Mitldlesex, Suffolk and Norfolk into which the Bay Colony was separated 
from "3d month, loth day, 1643." 

The name New Hampshire was first applied to these towns in 1679, as a 
province separate from Massachusetts Bay Colony, but it remained under 
the same Governor, having a Lieutenant-Governor of its own until 1742, when 
it was completely separated from Massachusetts, and Benning Wentworth 
was appointed Governor and held the office until 1767. During Governor 
Wentworth's rule the territory was all one, no counties; in his ([uarter of a 
century he granted a great many townships in all parts of the province and 
on both sides of the Connecticut river. .\II the courts were held at Ports- 
mouth during his tenn, so the inhabitants of these new towns had to travel 
long distances, over bad roads, to attend courts and transact business with 
the Governor and Council and the Assembly. Of course this caused them 
much inconvenience and no little expense. 

As early as January, 1755, a proposition to divide the province of New 
Hampshire into counties was entertained in the Assembly. The Merrimack 
river was to be the dividing line and there were to be two counties — Ports- 
mouth and Cumberland. The Council rejected the bill because it provided for 
a court at Exeter, as well as Portsmouth, and they "could by no means con- 
sent to that." The two branches of the Assembly continued to consider this 
C|uestion in various forms and failed to find grounds of agreement as to fletails 
until 1769, when the government was under control of the young Governor 
John Wentworth, who had succeeded his uncle, Benning Wentworth, in 
1767. The agreernent as finally reached, April 29, 1769, established five 
counties, subject to the Crown's appro^'al of the act, which was done March 

19, 1 77 1. (Laws of 1 77 1, ch. 137, p. 204.) The five counties were named 
1 

25 



26 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY ' 

Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Cheshire and Grafton ; the names were 
conferred in honor of the Governor's friends in England. The Earl of 
Strafford was the Wentworth ancestor of the Governors Wentworth, uncle 
and nephew, so he gave the name to Strafford county. 

Rev. Dr. Jeremy Belknap, in his history for the years 1770-71, after 
speaking of the first commencement at Dartmouth College, in the summer 
of 1 77 1, says: 

"Another improvement was made al)out this same time, by dividing the 
proxince into counties. This had been long sought but could not be obtained. 
The inconvenience to which the people in the western parts of the province 
were subject, by reason of their distance from Portsmouth, where all the 
courts were held, was extremely burdensome ; whilst the' conveniences and 
emoluments of office were enjoyed by gentlemen in that vicinity. Some 
attempts to divide the province had been made in the former administration, 
but without effect. The rapid increase of inhabitants for several years made 
a division so necessary that it had become one of the principal subjects of 
debate in the Assembly, from the time of the Governor's (John W'entworth) 
arrival (June 13, 1767). Several sessions passed before all points could 
be adjusted. The number of counties and lines of division were not easily 
agreed to, and a punctilio of prerogation, about the erecting of courts, made 
some difficulty; but it was finally determined that the number of counties 
should be five ; and the courts were established by an act of the whole Legis- 
lature. It was passed with a clause suspending its operation until the King's 
pleasure should be known. The royal approbation being obtained, it took 
effect in 1771. The five counties were named by the Governor after some 
of his friends in England, Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Cheshire 
and Grafton. The counties of Straft'ord and Grafton, being much less pop- 
ulous than the others, were to remain annexed to the county of Rockingham 
until the Governor, by advice of his council, should declare them competent 
to the exercise of their respective jurisdictions, which was done in 1773." 
The act of the General Assembly, March 19, 1771, gives the boundary 
lines for Straft'ord county as follows : 

"Beginning at the northwest corner of Canterlmry, and from thence to 
cross the river, then down the river to Pemigewasset : then to run up Pemige- 
wasset river to Campton ; thence round the westerly end of Campton, and by 
the northerly side lines of Campton, Sandwich and Tamworth ; and thence 
easterly to the province line on the same course with the northerly side line 
of Eaton; thence down said province line to the line of the first county 
(Rockingham), hence by the same to the bounds first menioned." 

So Strafford county consisted originally of the towns of Dover, Dur- 
ham, Lee, Madbury, Somersworth, Rochester, Harrington, Strafford, Farm- 
ington. Barnstead. Gilmanton, Alton. Sanbornton. Meredith. New Hampton, 



AND REPRESEXTATIXE CITIZEXS 27 

New Durham, Milton, Brookfield, Gilford, Wolfeborough, Moultonborough, 
Tuftonborough, Ossiper, Effingham, Freedom, Tamworth, Eaton, Conway 
and Cliatham. It retained tliis size jiractically for nearly 70 years, np to 
December 22, 1840, when the northerly towns were separated from it and 
made into two counties, Belknap and Carroll, since when its territory has 
remained as at present, and consists of Dover, Durham, Lee, Madbury, 
Somersworth, Rollinsford (which was set off from Somersworth in 1849), 
Harrington, Strafford, Farmingtim, New Durham, Milton and Middleton. 
The most northerly point is in New Durham. 

The county seat was established at Dover and the inhabitants of those 
towns had to come here long distances to attend courts until 1797, w'hen Gil- 
nianton was made an additional county seat, and the courts for that part of 
the county were held in the new Academy building which had been com- 
pleted in 1796. The courts were held alternately in Dover and Gilmanton, 
which at that date had 200 inhabitants in the center village where the academy 
was located ; it was then a lively place of business, and the school has been 
kept up in a good, working condition to the present time. In those days it 
was a great event in a farmer's life to serve on the grand jury. 

Indian trails, kept somewhat warm by hunters and trappers, were better 
than a trackless wilderness but they did not meet the demands of the pioneers. 
In 1722 a road had Ijeen cut out to the eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, 
a block house erected and a guard stationed there. This is the first road of 
which we have record. No more roads were undertaken until after the peace 
of 1760. 

In June, 1786, the .Vssemljly enacted that a "post set oft' e\'ery (jther 
Monday from Portsmouth and from thence proceed through Newmarket, 
Durham, i)o\fr. Rochester, XX'akefield. Ossipec, Core and Taiuworth to 
Moultonljorough, thence through Meredith, Cilmanton, Barnstead, Barring- 
ton, Dover, Durham and Newmarket to Portsmouth. 

The fourth State post route, established December 6, 1791, came from 
Portsmouth once a fortnight via saiue route to Dover, Rochester, Wakefield. 
Ossipee. Tamworth, Sandwich, Centre Holderness, Plymouth, Meredith. 
etc., as before. The only postoffice in Strafford county until 1800 was at 
Dover, and the Dover papers of that period frequently contained advertise- 
ments of letters for residents of Tamworth, Sandwich, Wakefield and as far 
north as Conway, and the White Mountain region. The post rider (on 
horseback) received £12 a year for service on the above route, which it 
required a week for him to traverse. Samuel Bragg, afterwards newspaper 
publisher at Dover, was one of the early post riders, beginning about 1795. 
Postage on letters was 4 pence under forty miles, and 6 pence for every forty 
miles. 

Strafford county remained a part of Rockingham county from March 



28 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

19, 1771, to February 5, 1773, in accordance with the act of the Assembly 
which says : "That the said counties of Strafford and Grafton shall be for 
tlie present (March, 1 771) annexed to and deemed and taken as parts and 
members of the county of Rockingham and subject to the jurisdiction and 
authority of the courts, magistrates and officers of the said county of Rock-' 
ingham to all intents and purposes and shall remain so annexed, deemed and 
taken and subject until the Governor by and with advice and consent of the 
Council shall declare them respectively sufficient for the exercise of their 
respective jurisdictions and no longer." 

At the beginning of 1773 Governor Wentworth and his Council reached 
conclusion that these counties had reached the point where they were "suffi- 
cient for the exercise of their respective jurisdictions,' and the Assembly 
February 5, 1773, passed the following law: 

"An Act for fixing the times and places for holding the courts in the 
county of Strafford and Grafton. 

"Whereas, by the act for dividing of this province into counties, Strafiford 
and Grafton were to be counted and taken as parts and members of the 
county of Rockingham until the Governor and Council siiould declare them 
respectively sufficient for the exercise of their respective jurisdictions; 

"And Whereas, the Governor by and with advice and consent of His 
Majesty's Council of this province, has declared the said counties sufficient 
for the exercise of said jurisdiction; therefore, 

"Be it enacted by the Gcrvernor, Council and Assembly, that the several 
courts in the county of Strafiford shall be held as follows, viz. : A Court 
of General Sessions of the Peace on the second Tuesday of January, July and 
October at Dover annually; and an Inferior Court of Common Pleas on the 
first Thursday next following the second Tuesdays of January, July and 
October at the same place, annually. And one Court of General Sesssions 
of the Peace on the second Tuesday of z"\pril, shall be held at Durham, in 
said county, annually; and one Inferior Court of Common Pleas on the first 
Tuesday next following the second Tuesday of April at said Durham annu- 
ally, and that a .Superior Court nf Jurisdiction l)e held at Do\-er, aforesaid, 
on the last Tuesday of May annually. This regulation shall continue for the 
term of seven years and after that time the said Superior Court to be held at 
Dover and Wolfeborough alternately; and the said Courts of General Ses- 
sions of the Peace and the said Inferior Courts of July and October to be 
held at Wolfeborough." 

Governor John Wentworth had established a grand country seat for him- 
self at Wolfeborough, on Lake Wentworth, a branch of Lake Winnipe- 
saukee, soon after he came into office. He had erected a mansion house 
there of the old English style of grandeur, and at great expense had con- 
structed a road to it. He had grand plans in view to develop the country 



AND REPRESENTATI\'E CITIZENS 29 

around there and in the towns north of it. Hence in the act of the Assembly 
just quoted he liad pruvisiun made that tlie higher courts should be held there 
after 1780. Had C.overnor W'entwurth been permitted to carry out his 
grand plans the conditions in Wolfeborough, Strafford county and New 
Hampshire in general would have been far different from what they were 
from 1773 to 1800. But the Revolution began two years later and in three 
years Governor Wentworth was a fugitive, out of power, and the mighty con- 
flict of eight years was in full swing. Governor Wentworth's grand estate at 
Wolfeborough was confiscated; his mansion house became the abode of com- 
moners, and Lake Wentworth was converted into the plebeian "Smith's Pond," 
which title it bore for more than a century, but the ancient and proper name 
has been restored in these later years. So it came to pass that Wolfeborough 
did not become a county seat ; no courts were held there. And the courts 
were held at Dover and Durham, until Gilmanton was honored in 1797 and 
courts were held there until Strafford county was divided in 1840. 

The "act to constitute the counties of Belknap and Carroll," approved 
December 22. 1840, contained these provisions: 

"Belknap shall contain all the land included within the following towns 
and places which now constitute a part of the county of Strafford, to wit : 
Alton, Bamstead, Centre Harbor, Gilford, Gilmanton, Meredith, New 
Hampton and Sanbornton. 

"Carroll county shall contain all the land and waters included within the 
following towns and places which now constitute a part of said county of 
Strafford, to-wit : .\lbany, Brookfield, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Effingham, 
Freedom, Moultonborough, Sandwich, Taniworth, Tuftonborough, Ossipee. 
Wakefield and Wolfeborough." 

This act reduced old Strafford county to the towns already mentioned 
as its present limits. The original county contained what is now one of the 
most popular summer resorts in New England, or in the whole country for 
that matter. Governor Wentworth foresaw all this when he was the last 
Colonial Governor, but it has been developed in a way entirely different from 
what he had planned. It is interesting to speculate what he would have done 
had he been permitted to remain in control a third of a century. 

STRAFFORD COUNTY COURTS 

The first court organized in Strafiford county under the act of February 
5. 1773. was the Probate Court. It was held in the office of the register of 
probate, John Wentworth, Jr., Esq., which was on the ground floor of his 
residence. The building is now standing, on the west side of Central 
avenue and next south of the Belknap church. The first session of the court 
was held April s. '^772>^ when the will of Deliverance Hanson, widow of 



30 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Joseph Hanson, was probated in due fonn. The judge was Colonel John 
Gage. That was the only court at which Judge Gage presided. 

The record of events, births, marriages and deaths kept by Joseph Tate, 
the schoolmaster of Somersworth, and known as "Master Tate," contains 
the following: "Collo Jno Gage of Dover Taken sick Wednesday night 
June 23d, Dy'd un Friday, June ^5 & Buried on Sunday June 27, 1773." 
So it appears he held the oflice only three or four months. 

In passing it seems proper to make a further mention of "Master Tate." 
He was a schoolmaster in Somersworth (that part now Rollersford), N. H. 
He was said to have been an Englishman. He lived to be ninety years old. 
While he was a schoolmaster he kept a manuscript volume headed, "Names 
of Families, Children's Names and Time of Birth in the Town of Somers- 
worth, Mar. Ye 26, 1767. '" It gives prior dates of births of children in the 
families then resident there and continues until 1778. The volume also 
contains, "Memorandums of Sundry Things, viz.. Deaths. Marriages, Dis- 
asters, etc." It is a very curious and valuable book. 

Colonel John Gage was born in Beverly, Mass., April 7, 1802. He was 
son of Moses and Sarah Gage. ]\Ioses was grandson of John Gage, who 
came to New England with John Winthrop, Jr., in 1633, and was one of the 
original settlers of Ipswich, Mass. His family was descended from the 
De Guage or Gage who was one of the Norman soldiers wlm came o\er to 
England with William the Conqueror in 1066. 

John Gage came to Dover in 1725. He married Elizabeth Roberts, great- 
granddaughter of Governor Thomas Roberts, one of the first settlers of 
Dover. They had several children, and their descendants are among the 
noted families of the town. John Gage was one of the leading business men 
of Dover for a half century. He held various town offices, and was captain 
of a company in the French and Indian wars. Captain Gage was elected 
Representative from Dover in the Provincial Assembly in 1742 and many 
times after that. At the time of his death he was a member of the Assembly 
and was in attendance as late as May 18, 1773. He was appointed colonel 
of the Second Regiment by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1756 and held 
that office until his death. He was appointed judge of probate by Governor 
John Wentworth in February, 1773. Colonel Gage was a close friend of 
both of the Governors, and popular with his fellow citizens. At the time 
of his sudden death he was the possessor of tliree important offices, colonel 
judge and Representative. 

Colonel Gage's successor as judge of probate was Colonel Henry Rust, 
who held his first court August 11, 1773. He was appointed by Governor 
John Wentworth in July, 1773, and held the office until January, 1776, 
when the Provincial officers were displaced by the Revolutionary Assembly. 

Colonel Rust was one of the notable men of his time. He was born 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 31 

at Stratham, N. H., January _'_', 1726; he died at Wolfeborough March 17, 
1807. He was son of Rev. Henry Rust, a graduate of Harvard College and 
the first settled minister at Stratham, in April, 17 18, which charge he held 
thirty-seven years. Colonel Rust was a sailor and shipmaster twenty-five years, 
and in that way won his title as captain. He resided at Portsmouth until 
about 1768, when he removed to Wolfeborough, of which town he was one 
of the original proprietors, ha\ing 600 acres of the best land in the town, 
near Rust's Ponrl. He was a close friend of Governor John Wentworth, 
who established his country residence in that town about the same time 
Captain Rust settled there, (lovernijr Wentworth ai)pi.>inted him colonel of one 
of the New Hampshire regiments about that time. At the death of Judge 
Gage he api>ointed Colonel Rust to tliat office When Colonel Rust took 
that office Governor Wentworth administered the "oath of allegiance" to 
King George III, and Judge Rust would not yield up allegiance to royal 
authority and never acknowledged the new republican form of government 
and would never accept an office under it. He believed that as he had once 
taken the oath of allegiance to the Crown, he could never consistendy recall 
it. But he was one of the best citizens of the town and of the county, and 
was loyal in every w^ay except in the matter of holding public office of any 
kind. His sons and grandsons and later descendants, however, held im- 
portant offices in town, county and state, with honor to themselves and profit 
to the common weal. The Rust family is one of the most noted of Wolfe- 
borough. 

As Judge Rust would not take the oath to support the Revolutionary 
Government he could not retain the office of judge of probate, or colonel 
of the militia. The Journal of the Assembly, Friday, January 17, 1776, 
reads as follows : 

"Voted that the persons hereafter named be and herel)y are appointed to 
the respective offices following, viz. : 

FOR THE COUNTY OF STR.\FF0RD 

Justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas: George Frost, Otis 
Baker, John Plummer and Moses Carr. 

Judge of Probate, Ichabod Rollins, Esq. 

Register of Probate, John Wentworth, Jr. 

County Treasurer, Thomas Westbrook Waldron. 

Justice of the Peace of the Quorum. Joseph Badger, Esq. 

Justices of the Peace. Ichabod Rollins, Ebenezer Smith, Daniel Beede, 
Joseph Senter, Thomas Parsons, Jo.seph Sias, Solomon Emerson, Simeon 
Dearljorn. Miles Rendall, Paul Hayes, John Wentworth, Jr.. Esq. 



32 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Coroners, John Gage, Ebenezer Tibbetts, John Horn, John Cate, Jacob 
Brown and Edward Gihnan. 

JUDGES OF PROBATE 

Colonel John Gage, February. ^77},. to June -'5, 1773. He died very 
suddenly, being sick only three days. Henry Rust, June, 1773, to January, 
1776; Ichabod Rollins, January 17, 1776, to December 25, 1784; Joseph 
Badger, December 25, 1784, to May 20, 1797; Ebenezer Smith, May 20, 
1897, to February 2, 1805: John Mooney from February 2. 1805, to De- 
cember 20, 1824; Daniel C. Atkinson, from December 20, 1824, to July 6, 
1839; Warren Lovell from July 6, 1839, to January 4, 1841 ; Benning W. 
Jenness from January 4, 1841, to January 3, 1846; Charles W. Woodman 
from January 3, 1846, to January i, 1853; Hiram R. Roberts from January 
I, 1853, to June 30, 1857; Daniel G. Rollins from June 30, 1857, to Sep- 
tember 18, 1866; James H. Edgerly from September 18, 1866, to July 7, 
1872; Hiram R. Roberts from July 7, 1874, to July 18, 1874; Moses C. Rus- 
sell from July 18, 1874, to July 25, 1876; Jacob D. Young from July 25, 
1876, to June, 1893; Robert G. Pike, 1893 to 1895; Charles B. Gafney, 1895 
to 1898; Christopher H. Wells from 1898, now in office, 1913. 

REGISTER.S OF PROBATE 

The following were registers of probate for Stratford county beginning 
with its organization, by royal permission, in February. 1773: John Went- 
worth, Jr., from 1773 to 1787; William King from February 12, 1788, to 
1805; William King Atkinson from February 2, 1805, to 1819; James Barf- 
lett from January i, 1819, to 1824: Daniel C. Atkinson from December 24. 
1824. to 1836; Ira H. Eastman from June 18, 1836, to 1839; Winthrop 
A. Marston from 1839 to 1844; Enoch Berry from July 6, 1844, to 1849; 
John Hubbard White from July 6, 1849, to 1857; Asa Freeman from June 
30, 1857, to 1870; William C. Woodman from July 11, 1870, to Novem- 
ber 19, 1870; John Riley Varney from July 19, 1870, to 1874; George E. 
Durgin from July 7, 1874, to 1876: John Riley Varney from July 25, 1876, 
to May 2, 1882, when he was killed by the falling of the brick wall of the 
Washington Street Free Will Baptist Church; John Tapley Welch from 1883 
to 1887; Charles Sumner Clifford from July, 1887, to April i, 1893; William 
W. Martin, April, 1893, is now serving his twenty-first consecutive year, 
the longest any one has held the office. Mr. Martin is a good penman, 
thorough in the knowledge of the law and careful in keeping the records. 

The first register of probate was John Wentworth, Jr., who was born 
in Somersworth July 14, 1745; graduated from Harvard College in 1768; 




o 






AND REPRESENTATRE CITIZENS 35 

read law witli William Parker, Esq., of Portsmouth and opened a law office 
in Dover in 1771. He was the first lawyer in Dover and the second one in 
Strafford county, the first heing Gen. John Sullivan of Dunham, who 
opened an office there in 1/<>S- Before that all the lawyers in New Hamp- 
shire lived at Portsmouth where all the courts were held. Mr. Wentworth 
was son of Col. John Wentworth, one of the most distinguished patriots of 
the Revolutionary period, 

Mr. Wentworth opened his law office in Dover in 1771, in the house 
that now stands on Central avenue, on the west side, next south of the 
Belknap church. In July that year he married Margaret Frost of Newcastle; 
the fourth of November following he bought the house; he had his residence 
in the second story, over his office. When the county was organized the 
office of register of probate was one of the prizes .sought for; Mr. Went- 
worth applied for it and his third cousin, Governor John W^entworth, gave 
it to him. He held it to the time of his death, January 10, 1787, at the 
age of forty-two years. 

In the revolutionary movements which began to exhibit themselves 
overtly in 1774, he took no passive part. He was chosen one of the com- 
mittee of correspondence of Dover, and in 1776 to his seat in the Assembly 
which elected him register of probate, with the other county officers pre- 
viously mentioned. He served there as Representative continuously until 
1 781 : then in the Council till December, 1783, and in the Senate from June, 
1784, to 1786. The last ten years of his life he was chosen moderator at 
nearly every annual town meeting in Dover. 

March 14, 1778, he was chosen delegate to the Continental Congress, and 
he affixed his signature to the original Articles of Confederation of the 
United States in August, that year. He was twice reelected to Congress, 
but feeble health prevented his attendance much of the time. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth had four sons and three daughters. His 
youngest son, Paul W'entworth, had a distinguished son who was one of the 
early settlers in Chicago. He is known by the popular name, "Long" John 
Wentworth, as he was a giant in stature, as well as in intellect, and as a 
newspaper manager and political leader. 

.■\TT0RNF.YS-.\T-LAW 

The attomeys-at-law who practiced at the Strafford county bar, during 
the three-quarters of a century from 1773 to 1850, were for the most part 
college educated men, and in their profession ranged second to those of 
no other county in the state. A brief mention of each during that period 
is given in the following pages. 

General John Sullivan of Durham takes rank as the first, and, in many 



36 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ways, the ablest of the whole list; was son of John and Margery (Brown) 
Sullivan; born, Somersworth, February i8, 1740; practiced in Durham; 
died there. January Ji,. 1795. His father was a famous schoolmaster of 
liberal education, and all the boys who went to college from this section of 
New Hampshire and York county, Maine, received their preparatory instruc- 
tion from him. Master Sullivan was a wonderful man. He did not need 
to send his son John to college for an education ; he gave him as good as 
a college training right at home. He read law with Samuel Livennore at 
Portsmouth and commenced practice soon after he was twenty-one years old, 
so his professional ser\ices antedate the organization of courts in Strafford 
county more than a decade of years. His residence was at Durham but he 
practiced in the courts of Portsmouth, and in York county, Maine, and when 
the courts opened at Dover in 1773 he stood at the front of the practition- 
ers. He was so able and successful that he had accumulated an ample fortune 
at the opening of the Revolution. As has before been stated he and John 
Wcntworth, Jr., of Dover were the only lawyers in Strafford county when 
it was organized. 

General Sullivan was a great lawyer, a great soldier and a sound patriot. 
He was an important factor in a multitude of important events from 1774 
to his death in 1795, when he was only fifty-five years old. In 1774 he 
was a delegate to the first Continental Congress, and headed a party in the 
earliest anned resistance to the royal authority at Fort William and Mary; 
in 1775 he was again a delegate in Congress, was appointed a brigadier-gen- 
eral in the American army, and commanded the New Hampshire troops at 
Winter Hill; in 1776 he was promoted to major-general, was taken prisoner 
in the battle of Long Island, exchanged and conducted the retreat of the 
American troops from Canada; in 1777 he distinguished himself at the 
battles of Brandywine and Germantown; in 1778 he commanded the army in 
the Rhode Island campaign; in 1779 he was in command of the expedition 
which completely wiped out the Indian settlements in \\'estern New York, 
and that same year he resigned his commission in the army. In 1780 and 
1781 he was again a member of Congress; from 1782 to 1785, inclusive, he 
was Attorney-General of New Hampshire; in 1788 he was Speaker of the 
State House of Representatives, and president of the convention which rati- 
fied the United States Constitution; in 1789 he was President of New Hamp- 
shire (as the Governor was then called) and that year was commissioned 
Judge of the District Court of the United States, which office he held till 
his death. 

Jonathan Razvson; son of Rev. Grindall Rawson ; bom in Yarmouth, 
Mass., 1759. Served in the Revolutionary war. Studied law with Peter 
Green of Concord; commenced practice of law at Nottingham, 1783; settled 
in Dover in 1785 and practiced his i)rofession there until his death in 1794. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 37 

Henry Mdlcn; son of Rev. John Mellen and brother of the distinguished 
Judge Mellen of Maine. Born in Sterling, Mass., October 24, 1757; grad- 
uated from Harvard College 17S4. Studied law with I'eter Greene, Esq., 
of Concord. Commenced practice of law at Dover, 1786, and continued here 
until his death, July 31, 1S09. He was a man of much literary ability aside 
from his professional career. 

William King Atkinson, son of William King of Portsmouth, but as- 
sumed the name Atkinson by act of the Legislature to comply with a devise 
of his uncle whereby he inherited the valuable estate of his kinsman, Theo- 
dore Atkinson, of Colonial fame. He graduated from Harvard College in 
1783. Studied law with Judge Pickering of Portsmouth. Settled in Dover 
in 1787 and continued in practice here until his death. September, 1820. 
County solicitor, 1789-1803; Justice of Superior Court, 1803-1806; Attor- 
ney-General, 1807-1812. Ele was a man of much learning and great force 
of character. 

Charles Claphain was English by birth; studied law in the otiice of Jona- 
than Rawson. Esq. He was law partner with Mr. Rawson several years in 
Dover, until Mr. Rawson's death in 1794. He then left Dover and gave up 
the practice of law to enter the British Navy in which he rose to the rank 
of an officer, and died an ofiicer of a man-of-war. 

Dai'iil Co/^p. Jr., son of David Copp of Wakefield, where he was born in 
1770; graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy; studied law with Judge 
Atkinson; practiced his profession in Do\er from 1797 to 1S04. Reumved 
to New Orleans, where he died. 

Daniel Meseriu- Diirell. sdu nf Nicholas Durell of Lee. where he was 
bom July 20, 1769. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1794; 
studied law at Dover with Henry Mellen. Esq. ; commenced practice in that 
town in 1797 and so contiiuied until his death, April 29, 1S41. He was 
member of Congress from 1S07 to 1809: member of the Legislature several 
■years; Chief Justice of Circuit Court of Common Pleas, 1816-21 ; LTnited 
States District Attorney-General, 1830-34. He died at Dover April 29, 1841. 

Oliver Crosby, son of Oliver Crosby of Billerica, Mass., where he 
was born, March 17, 1769; graduated from Harvard College in 1795; 
studied law with Judge Atkinson at Dover; commenced practice of his pro- 
fession at Dover in 1798, and remained in practice there until he removed 
to Atkinson, Maine, in 1821, where he resided until his death in 18=51. 

Samuel Tibbetts, son of Maj. Ebenezer Tibbetts of Rochester, where 
he was born in 1780; graduated from Harvard College in 1799. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1802, and practiced his profession in Dover until 
his death in 1810. 

Moses Hodgdon, son of Shadrach Elodgdon of Dover; he was born 
there; graduated from Harvard College; studied law and commenced prac- 



38 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

tice in Dover about 1800 and so continued imtil his death, October 9, 1840. 
He was author of the law book, "The Complete Justice of the Peace, etc.," 
wliich had a large sale. 

Moses Lcai'itt Kcal, son of John Neal of Hampton, where he was born in 
1767; graduated from Harvard College in 1785; studied law with Hon. 
John Prentice of Londonderry; commenced practice of law in that town 
in 1793; removed to Rochester in I79f>: practiced his profession there until 
1806, when he removed to Do\er. Clerk of the New Hampshire House of 
Representatives, by annual elections, from 1809 until 1828. He died in 
1829. 

Charles Woodman, son of Rev. Joseph Woodman of Sanbornton, where 
he was bom, January 4, 1792; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1813; 
studied law with his brother, J. H. Woodman, Escj., and with Hon. Christo- 
pher Gove. He opened an office in Dover in 1816. Representative in the 
Legislature, 1820, 1821, 1822; Speaker of the House, 1822. Died October 
30, 1822. He was one of the most brilliant young lawyers Dover ever had. 

Asa Freeman was I)orn in Hanover. January, 1788, son of Hon. Jona- 
than Freeman; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1810; studied law with 
his brother, Peyton R. Freeman, of Portsmouth and with Isaac Lyman, 
Esq., of York, Maine, and first began practice in that village; opened an 
office in Dover in 1818 and resided here until his death, Decemljer 8, 1867, 
engaged in the practice of his profession. He was member from Dover in 
the Constitutional Convention in 1850; United States Commissioner several 
years; register of probate from 1862 to 1867, when he died. 

Daniel Miltiniore Christie was born in Antrim, New Hampshire, October 
13, 1790, son of Samuel and Ziboah (Warren) Christie; graduated from 
Dartmouth College in 1815. He read law with James Walker, Esq., of 
Peterborough; commenced practice of his profession in York, Maine, in 1818; 
removed to Dover, N. H., in 1823, where he resided in the practice of his pro- 
fession until his death, December 8, 1S76. He represented Dover in the Legis- 
lature in 1826, 1827, 1828, 1830. 1831, and several times after that. Dart- 
mouth College conferred on him the degree of LL. D. in 1857. He was Lhiited 
States District Attorney several years. He was one of the most eminent 
lawyers the county ever had. 

John Parker Hale was bom in Rochester March 31, 1806, son of John 
Parker Hale. He died in Dover, November 19, 1873, of which town he had 
been a resident from 1827, the year he graduated from Bowdoin College. 
He studied law with Daniel M. Christie and was admitted to the bar in 
1830, and opened his law office in Dover, but soon engaged in politics and 
was elected Representative in the Legislature of 1832. He was appointed 
United States District Attorney in 1834 and held the office until 1841 ; 
member of Congress, 1842-1846; United States Senator, 1846-1852, being 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



39 



Speaker of the House of wliich lie was a member from Dover when he was 
elected Senator; again elected Senator in 1855 to fill out the unexpired temi 
of Charles Atherton, and in 1858 was chosen for the third time and held his 
seat in tlie Senate till the spring of 1865. He was minister to Spam from 
the spring of 1865, four years. The remaining four years of his life were 
spent (piietly in his home in Dover. He was the Free Soil candidate for 
President in 185J. Mr. Hale was one of Dover's most distinguished citizens. 
Thomas Elkvood Sazvycr, son of Stephen Sawyer, was born in Dover 
November 21, 1798; he studied law with Hon. Charles Woodman and Hon. 
James Bartlett of Dover and was admitted to the bar in 1825 and opened 
his law office that year, which was not closed till his death, February 27, 
1879. His career as a politician was very notable, more so than his career 
as an attorney. He was assistant clerk of the House of New Hampshire 
Legislature in 1822; member of the E.xecutive Council, 1830 and 183 1; be- 
tween 1833 and 1850 he was ten times elected Representative to the General 
Court; member of the Constitutional Convention of 1S50; in 185 1 an<l 1852 
he was the whig candidate for Governor; in 1S67 he was appointed United 
States Register in Bankruptcy. He was member of the school committee 
for half a century, and mayor of the city one year, 1857. 

John Parker Hale, Sr., was son of Samuel Hale, Esq., of i'ortsmouth, 
in which town he was born, February 19, 1775. He read law with John 
Hale, Esq., of Portsmouth; opened his law office in Rochester m 1801, where 
he resided in the practice of his profession until his death, October 15, 1819. 
John Hubbard White, son of Amos White, was born in Dover, November 
30, 1802; graduated from Bowdoin College in 1822 and among his class- 
mates were Hawthorne, President Pierce and William Hale of Dover; 
studied law with Charles W. Cutler, Esq., and James Bartlett, Esq., of 
Dover, and was admitted to the Strafford county bar in 1825. He opened 
a law office in Dover in 1826 and continued in practice of his profession for 
more than fifty years. He was appointed postmaster of Dover in 1828. 
Representative in the Legislature in 1833-1834; register of probate eight 
years, 1849-1857; judge of police court four years, 1853-1857. He died 
September 7, 1882. 

Richard Kimball, son of Nathaniel Kimball, born March i, 1798, in 
North Berwick; graduated from Phillips-Exeter Academy; read Jaw with 
Hon. Asa Freeman; admitted to Strafford county bar in 1828; practiced law 
at Somersworth and Rochester but settled in Dover in 1848 and remained in 
practice of his profession until near the close of his life. He succeeded Judge 
White as police court judge in 1S57, and held the office about ten years. He 
died in Dover, March 2, i88r. 

Charles William Woodman, son of Jeremiah H. Woodman, was bom 
in Rochester, December 7, 1809; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1829; 



40 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

studied law with his father and was admitted to Strafford county bar in 
1833; opened an office in Somersworth that year and removed to Dover in 
1834 and resided here till his death on Jan. 24, 1888. County soUcitor, 1839- 
1844; judge of probate, 1846-1853: judge of court of common ])leas, 1854- 
1855; representative in general court, 1861-1862, 1878-1879; commissioner of 
Circuit Court of the United States many years. 

Jeremiah Hall Wooduian, son of Rev. Joseph Hall Woodman, born in 
Sanbornton, April 15, 1775; graduated from Dartmouth College 1794; 
studied law \\\i\\ Judge Jeremiah Smith at Exeter; commenced practice in 
Warner in 1799; removed to Rochester, 1806, and practiced his profession 
until his death, May 8, 1854. 

JoJiii Riley I'arney, son of James B. \'amey. born in Dover, March 
26, 1819; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1843. For ten years 
he was civil engineer in construction of railroads and similar work. Clerk 
of court for Strafford county, 1856- 1860. Professor of Mathematics 
in Dartmouth College, i860- 1863. Studied law while at Hanover and was 
admitted to Strafford county bar in 1863, and formed a law partnership 
with United States Senator John P. Hale of Dover. He was postmaster 
four years; Representative in Legislature, iS^f) and 1857; Secretary of 
the Senate Naval Committee at Washington two years; judge of police court 
five years; register of probate from death of William C. Woodman till 1874, 
and again from 1876 until his death. May 2, 1882. From 1868 to 1882 
he was editor of the Dover Enquirer, and one of its proprietors. l*"or many 
years he was a deacon of the F'irst Church. Mr. Varney was one of the 
brightest scholars, most versatile in talents and shrewdest political leaders 
Dover has had. 

Francis Cogsik'ell, son of Dr. William Cogswell, was born in Atkinson, 
December 21, 1800; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1822; read law 
with Stephen Moody, Esi]., at Gilmanton ; admitted to Strafford county bar, 
1825; practiced his profession in Tuftonborough and Dover. Clerk of court, 
1833-1841. Quit law in 1842 and engaged in business. Cashier of a bank, 
director of the Boston & Maine railroad, and for many years president of 
that road. 

John H. Smith, son of John Smith of Rochester, where he was born in 
1800; had common school education; read law with J. H. W^oodman; admit- 
ted to the Strafford county bar in 1824; practiced law in Conway, Rochester 
and Dover. Clerk of court of common pleas from 1841 till his death in 
1852, being killed October i at Meredith in an awful railroad accident. 

George Thomas WentU'orth, son of Isaac Wentworth, was bom at 
Dover, October 17, 1814. Received common school education; read law at 
Dover and was admitted to Strafford county bar, 1840; practiced his pro- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 41 

fession in Dover many years. Town clerk, 1845-1850; postmaster under 
Tyler and Fillmore. Died at Dover, July 3, 1874. 

.■hiiaso Roberts, son of Ephraim Roberts, was liorn ^larch 2, 1814; 
graduated from Dartmouth College in 1838; read law with Charles W. 
Woodman; admitted to Strafford county bar in 1861; practiced law here 
till his death, May 8, 1S77. Town clerk, 1S53-1856; register of probate, 
1 867- 1 868. 

Luther Dearborn Sazcyer, son of Timothy Sawyer of Wakefield, was 
born there, March 7, 1803; graduated from Eowdoin College in i8j8; read 
law with Sawyer & Hobbs and was admitted to Strafford county bar in 
1832; practiced his profession in Ossipee, Sandwich and Dover and was 
here from 1859 to 1863. Removed to Massachusetts where resided several 
years. Returned to New Hampshire and was solicitor of Carroll county, 
1857-1862; Representative in the Legislature, 1859-1860. 

Richard Ela, son of Joseph Ela of Portsmouth, was born about 1796; 
studied law at Portsmouth with Plon. W. M. Richardson and Hon. Icha- 
bod Bartlett; commenced practice of law at Durham in 1820, and continued 
in practice there until 1832, w'hen he removed to Washington, D. C. 

John Adauis Richardson, son of Joseph Richardson of Durham, was born 
there, November 18, 1797; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1819; read 
law in Haverhill, Mass. ; began practice of his profession in Durham in 
1823. He remained in practice there until he died in 1870. 

Nchemiah Eastman, son of Ebenezer Eastman of Gilmanton, was born 
in that town, June 16, 1782; was educated at Gilmanton Academy; read law 
with Stephen Moody, Esq., and commenced practice at Farmington in 1807 
and resided there in practice of his profession until his death, January 19, 
1856. He was State Senator five years, 1819 to 1824; elected Representative 
to Congress in 1825 and served two years. 

Stephen Mitchell, son of Benjamin Mitchell of Peterborough, where he 
was born, March 29, 1780; graduated from Williams College in 1801 ; read 
law with his uncle, Hon. Jonathan Steele, at Durham ; practiced law at Dur- 
ham; was one of the founders of the New Hampshire Historical Society, 
and engaged much in literary pursuits as well as law. He delivered the ad- 
dress of welcome to Lafayette when the great general visited that town in 
1825. He died February 15, 1833. 

James Bartlett, son of Joseph Bartlett of Salisbury, Mass., where he 
was bom, August 14, 1792; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1812; 
read law with Moses Eastman, Esq.. and Parker Noyes, Esq.; opened an 
office in Durham in 1815; removed to Dover, 1819, where he was appointed 
register of probate for Strafford county, which office he held until his death, 
July 17, 1837. He was Representative from Dover in the Legislature four 
years, 1823-1826; State Senator, 1827-1828. 



42 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Aiiiasa Copp was born in Wakefield, October i8, 1788; graduated from 
Dartmouth College in 181 1; read law with William K. Atkinson at Dover; 
opened an office in Milton in 1815; died January 7, 1871. He was Repre- 
sentative in the Legislature from Wakefield, where he resided from 1823 till 
his death. 

David Steele, son of Thomas Steele of Peterborough, where he was born, 
November 2j, 1793; read law with his brother. Hon. Jonathan Steele, at 
Durham; opened a law office in New Durham in 1826 and continued there 
until 1850, when he took up his residence in Dover; died at the residence of 
his son in Dover, July 6, 1882. 

Joseph Clark, son of Simeon Clark of Columbia, Conn., where he was 
born March 9, 1759. He served in the Revolutionary army; was taken pris- 
oner, a mere boy, and carried to Halifax and to England. Graduated from 
Dartmouth College in 1785; read law at Durham with Gen. John Sullivan; 
opened an office at Rochester in 1788 and resided there twenty-five years in 
practice of his profession; Representative in the General Court 1798 and 
1801. Died in Hartford, Conn., December 21, 1828. 

Daind Barker, Jr., son of Col. David Barker of Stratham, where he was 
born January 8, 1797; graduated from Harvard College in 181 5, when 
eighteen years of age; read law with John P. Hale, Esq., at Rochester; opened 
his office there in 1819; Representative from Rochester in the General Court 
1823, 1825 and 1826; elected member of Congress 1827 and served one term. 
Died April i. 1834. 

Noah Tebbetts, son of John Tebbetts of Rochester, where he was born 
December 26, 1802; graduated from Bowdoin College in 1822; read law 
with J. H. Woodman, Esq.; admitted to Strafford county bar in 1825; prac- 
ticed law in Parsonsfield, ]\Iaine, seven years, then returned to Rochester 
and opened an office: he continued to reside in that town until his death 
September 9, 1844. He was Representative in the General Court in 1842; 
appointed a circuit justice of the court of common pleas. He was holding 
court when taken ill and soon died. 

John Smith Woodman, son of Nathan Woodman of Durham, where he 
was born in the historic Woodman garrison, September 6, 1819; graduated 
from Dartmouth College in 1842. After teaching four years in South Caro- 
lina, and making a tour of the principal countries of Europe, he commenced 
reading law with Daniel M. Christie, Esq., at Dover, and was admitted to the 
Strafford county bar in 1849 and practiced law here until 1851, when he was 
appointed professor of mathematics at Dartmouth College, which position 
he held four years; Chandler professor of civil engineering from 1856 to 1870 
in the Chandler Scientific School at Dartmouth College, which made him the 
chief executive officer under President Lord. On account of ill health he 
resigned in 1870 and died in the ancestral garrison at Durham, May 0. 1871. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 43 

Professor Woodman was a great lawyer and a far greater mathematician and 
instructor. 

Tappan U'cnhcortli, son of Isaac W'entworth of Dover, where he was 
born Febrtiary 24, 1802; educated in the pubhc schools of Dover and Frank- 
lin Academy in the same town; commenced reading law in the otifice of 
Hon. William Burleigh, M. C, of South Berwick, Maine, in 1823; admitted 
to Strafford county bar in 1826; opened an office in Somersworth, where he 
practiced his profession se\en years w ith marked success. In 1833 he removed 
to Lowell, Mass., where he practiced his profession forty years, during which 
time he accumulated a fortune of $3OO,cx)0, being one of the great attorneys 
of Massachusetts. He was member of Congress one term. He died in 
Lowell Tune 12, 1875, bequeathing the bulk of his fortune to Dartmouth 
College. 

Nathaniel ll'clls was born in Wells. Maine, in 1805; graduated from 
Phillips Exeter Academy in 1826; read law with Winthrop A. Marston at 
Somersworth; admitted to the StratYord county bar in 1833; was law partner 
of Mr. Marston a few years; then partner with Hon. Charles H. Bell and 
later with George William Burleigh of Somersworth. He died August 
16, 1878. 

\]'i>ithrop A. Marston. son of John Marston of Nottingham, where he 
was born in 1801 : read law in the office of Stephen Mitchell, Esq., at Durham; 
opened an office in Somersworth in 1830: resided there the rest of his life, 
except two years spent in Dover. During the later years of his life he was in 
partnership with Royal R. Eastman, Esq. The firm of Marston & Eastman 
was a very strong one and had a large practice in and out of the courts in 
Strafford county and York county, Maine. His death was sudden on March 
30, 1 85 1. 

Ichabod Goodzvin Jordan, son of Capt. Ichabod Jordan of Saco, Maine, 
where he was born October 6, 1806; graduated from Bowdoin in 1827; 
studied law and began practice in Somersworth in 1830 and resided there 
until 1864, when he removed across the rover to Berwick, Maine, where he 
resided initil his death. He was State Senator in New Hampshire in 1853 
and 1854. 

John Adams Burleigh, son of John Burleigh of Deerfield, was born there 
Jainiary 2, 1800. He was fitted to enter Yale College but took up the study 
of law instead, under the direction of his brother, Hon. William A. Burleigh 
of South Berwick, Maine; commenced practice of his profession in South 
Berwick in 1824 and resided there eight years; removed to Somersworth in 
18^2. where he practiced law six years, and then became agent of tlie Great 
Falls Manufacturing Company, which business he managed with great suc- 
cess until his death August 22, i860. He was one of the great managers of 
mills of the country. 



44 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

George William Burleigh, son of John Adams Burleigh, was born in South 
Berwick, Maine, April ii, 1830; graduated from Dartmouth College in 185 1 ; 
read law with Wells & Bell at Somersworth ; admitted to the Strafford county 
bar in 1854 and became partner of Mr. Wells, Mr. Bell having withdrawn. 
He succeeded his father as agent of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company 
in i860, which position he held until 1874, when he resigned and resumed 
practice of law. He was Representative in the General Court of New Hamp- 
shire in 1863 and 1864; State Senator 1S65 and 1866. He was member of 
the New Hampshire Historical Society and a trustee of Dartmouth College. 
He was also director in several railroads and in the Great Falls National 
Bank, and the Somersworth sax'ings bank. He died .\pril 25. 1878. 

Royal Eastman, son of Richard Eastman of Talmouth, Maine, was born 
there January 2-j, 1816; read law with Nathaniel \\€i\% of Somersworth and 
was admitted to the Strafford county bar in 1844, and opened an office in that 
town, where he practiced his profession successfully many years. He was 
appointed postmaster in 1870 and held the office until his death, February 2, 
1874. 

William J. Copcland, son of Rev. William H. Copeland, was born in 
Albion, Maine, January 24, 1841 ; read law with Hon. Increase S. Kimball 
of Sanford, Maine; was admitted to the bar in Maine about i860, and prac- 
ticed his profession in that state until April, 1868, when he opened an office 
in Somersworth and remained in practice there until his death. He was one 
of the remarkable men and ablest lawyers at the Strafford county bar. In the 
later years of his practice he had James A. Edgerly, Esq., as his partner. 
This law firm was one of the strongest in the county for a number of years. 
Mr. Copeland flied in 1S86. Mr. Edgerly continued in successful practice 
until his death in 1908. 

Following are the Strafford county lawyers of the later period, most of 
whom are living, but only a few reside here at the present time (1913). The 
record is from February. 1894. to August, 1913. 

Adams, James E., Dover; Amey, Harry B., Mihon Mills; Blackburn, 
Frank E., Dover; Boyer, Edmund S., Somersworth; Bragdon, Oscar H., 
Somersworth; Brown, Fred H.. Somersworth; Cartier, George E.. Roches- 
ter; Cochrane, George E. (dec'd), Rochester; Dearborn, Samuel L., Roches- 
ter; Doe, Robert, Dover; Edgerly, James A. (dec'd), Somersworth; Emery, 
Justin A., Rochester; Fairfield, Orren R., Somersworth; Felker, Samuel D., 
Rochester; Femald, Frank F., Dover; Folsom, Ernest B., Dover; Foote, 
Arthur L., Dover; Frost, George S., Dover; Gafney, Charles B. f dec'd), 
Rochester; Galloway, Everett J., Dover; Gunnison. William T., Rochester; 
Hall, Arthur W., Dover; Hall, Daniel. Dover; Hall, Dwight. Dover; Hall, 
Joshua G. fdec'd), Dover; Hayes, Eugene B., Farmington ; Hughes. George 
T., Dover; Jones, Albert D.. Rochester; Kimball, Henry. Rochester; Kivel, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 45 

John, Dover; Knapp, William D. (dec'd), Soniersworth; Marsh, Forrest L., 
Milton Mills; Mathews, William S., Soniersworth; McCabe, James H., 
Dover; McGill, Laurence V., Rochester; Moore, Harry V., Soniersworth; 
Nason, William F., Dover; Parker, Samuel S., Farmington; Pearl, Isaac E., 
Rtichester; Pierce, Da\i(l R., Soniersworth; Pierce, William S., Dover; 
Pike, Robert G., Dover; Putney, Clifton C, Dover; Roberts, William 
H,, Dover; Russell, William F., Soniersworth; Ryan, James, Jr. (dec'd), 
Dover; Scott, Walter Vv., Dover; Sherry, Albert P., Dover; Smart, Elmer J., 
Rochester; Smith, Harold M,, Rochester; Smith, Sidney B., Soniersworth; 
Snow, Leslie, P., Rochester; Stevens, Sidney B., Somersworth; Sunderland, 
John, Jr,, Dover; Templeton, Ernest G., Rochester; Tibbetts, George E., 
Soniersworth; Turner, Henry C, Rochester; Whittemore, Arthur G., Dover; 
Wiggin, Arthur H.. Farmington; Worcester, Joseph H. (dec"d), Rochester; 
Wright, William, Rochester. 

COUNTY SOLICITORS 

There was no county solicitor, as such, up to 1789, but the office was 
created by the Legislature that 3^ear, and William King Atkinson, a young 
lawyer who had been recently admitted to the bar, was appointed by the Gov- 
ernor and Council. He held the office until 1803, inclusive. His successors 
were as follows: Stephen Moody, 1803-1819; Lyman B. Walker, 1819-1834; 
Winthrop A. Marston, 1834-1835; Warren Lovell, 1835-1841 ; Charles W. 
Woodman, 1841-1846; Samuel Clark, 1S46-1855; Charles Doe, 1855-1857; 
Walcott Hamlin, 1857-1862; Louis Bell, 1862, who resigned his office to 
become colonel of a New Hampshire regiment and left for the war in 1863; 
Joshua Gilnian Hall, 1863-1875; Thomas J. Smith, 1875-1876; Charles B. 
Shackford. 1876-1881 ; William R. Burleigh, 18S1-1887; John Kivel, 1887- 
1892; William F. Nason, 1892-1898; Walter W. Scott, 1898-1904; Dwight 
Hall, 1904-1910; George T. Hughes, 1910, now in ofiice. 

.SHERIFFS FOR STRAFFORD COUXTV 

Theophilus Dame, 1773-1S00; James Carr, 1800-1810; Daniel Barker, 
1810-1820; William Badger, 1820-1S30; John Chadwick, 1830-1835; Ben- 
ning Wcntwnrth Jenness, 1835-1840: Ezekiel Hurrl, 1S40-1845: Gorham W. 
Hoitt, 1845-1850; George McDaniel, 1850-1855; George \X. Brashridge, 
1855-1856; Nathaniel Wiggin, 1856-1866; Luther Hayes, 1866-1871; Joseph 
Jones, 1871-1875: John \^^ Iwell, 1S75-1876; Stephen S. Cliick. 1876- 
1879; John Greenfield, 1879-1887; John G. Johnson, 1887-1889; John H. 
Pingree, 1889-1891 ; William S. Hayes, 1891-1892; Bard B. Plummer, 1892- 



46 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

1894; James E. Hayes, 1894-1900; George \V. Parker, 1900-1906; Frank I. 
Smith, 1906-1912; Edward S. Young in office, 1913. 

REGISTERS OF DEEDS 

Thomas W'estljronk W'aldron, 1773-17H5; John Smith 3d, 1785-1791: 
William Smith, 1791-1793; John P. Gilman. 1793-1803; J. C. March, 1803- 
1811; Dominicus Hanson, 1811-1816; Moses L. Neal, 1816-1829; Joseph 
Cross, 1829-1833; George L. Whitehouse, 1833-1839; Thomas T. Edgerly, 
1839-1841; James B. Edgerly, 1841-1843: Charles Young, 1843-1845; S. 
Varney, 1845-1850; Charles Young, 1830-185 1 ; Elijah Wadleigh Wadleigh, 
1851-1855; Andrew H. Young, 1855-1859; David W. Parshley, 1859-1863; 
John S. Hayes, 1863-1868; Nahum Yeaton, 1868-1872; E. H. Twombly, 1872- 
1878; Joseph A. Jackson. 1878-1879; Frank F. S. Tompkins, 1879-1913. 
Mr. Tompkins has ser\'ed thirty-four consecutive years and surpasses all 
previous records in length of time. He is an excellent penman, a courteous 
gentleman and accurate in all his records and transcripts of the same. 

JUSTICES OE THE COURT OF COMMON PLE.AS 

John Wentworth. 1773-1775; George Frost, 1773-1793; Otis Baker, 1773- 
1785; John Plumer, 1773-1796; Moses Carr, 1776-1784; EI>enezer Smith, 
1784-1787; Thomas Cogswell, 1784-1810; Ebenezer Thompson, 1788-1795; 
Joseph Pierce, 1793- 1794; Samuel Hale, 1 794-1 81 3; Daniel Beede, 1795- 
1799; El)entzer Thompson, 1796-1802; Nathaniel Hoitt, 1796-1813; Aaron 
Wingate. 1803-1813; William Badger, 1816-1820; Richard Dame, 1817- 
1819; Valentine Smith, 1819-1820; Samuel Ouales, 1820; Henry Y. Simp- 
son, 1833-1841 ; Henry B. Rust, 1833-1838; Ezekiel Hurd, 1838-1840; Hiram 
R. Roberts, 1840-1853; George L. Whitehouse, 1841-1853 : James H. Edgerly, 
1853-1854; Charles William Woodman, 1854-1855. 

CLERKS OF COURTS OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Ebenezer Thompson, 1783-1788; Benjamin Thompson, 1788-1814; Daniel 
Waldron, 1814-1818; Andrew Peirce. 1818-1833; Francis Cogswell, 1833- 
1841; John H. Smith, 1841-1853; Reuben Hayes, Jr., 1853-1857; John R. 
Varney, 1857-1860; George H. Niebuhr, 1860-1866; Daniel Hall, 1866-1875; 
James M. Folsom, 1875-1876; George E. Durgin, 1876, resigned July, 1904; 
William H. Roberts, August, 1904. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 47 

CLERKS OF SUPREME COURT 

George King, 1774-1780; Samuel Sherburne, 1 780-1 781 ; Nathaniel 
Adams, 1781-1817; Daniel Waldron, 1817-1821; Andrew Peirce, 1821-1834; 
Francis Cogswell, 1834-1835. 

COUNCILLORS FROM 1 776 TO 1 784 

Tlie Council, which was organized by the Revolutionary Assembly January 
5, 1776, and continued until the Constitution was adopted in 1784, had the 
following Strafford county men: From 1776 to 1780, Col. John Wentworth 
of Somersworth, and Ebenezer Thompson of Durham; in 1789, John Went- 
worth and George Frost of Durham; in 1782 and 1783, George Frost and 
John Wentworth, Jr., of Dover; in 1784, George Frost and Ebenezer 
Thompson. 



CHAPTER II 

CONCERNING COURTHOUSES AND JAILS 

When the Assembly passed the law, February 5, 1773, to organize courts 
in Strafford and Grafton counties, one of the conditions was that at the 
county seat a courthouse and a jail must be provided inside of four months. 
Dover complied with the terms by granting permission to hold the courts in 
the First Parish Meeting House, and by constructing a jail on the east side of 
what is now Central avenue and on the side of the hill where Mrs. John H. 
Henderson's house stands at the comer of South Pine street and Central 
avenue. It was built of very thick, white oak plank, and the job was so thor- 
oughly done that no prisoner ever escaped from it, till set free by the law. 
So that hill received the name of "Jail Hill," which it bore for more than a 
century, and it is sometimes now so called. 

The Meeting House in which the courts were held was of wood and 
stood where the present ]>rick house near the comer of Central avenue and 
Silver street stands. It was built in 1758, so was a comparatively new edifice. 
Besides being a place of worship for the First Parish and First Church, it was 
the place in which town meetings were held. This had been the order of 
things from the beginning of settlement on Dover Neck in 1633 ; the town and 
the parish were one. 

The first court was held there, as provided in the law of February 5, 1773, 
and so continued for fifteen years or a little more, when a regular courthouse 
and town house was built, which building is now standing on the easterly 
side of the square, opposite the First Parish ^Meeting House. It is now occu- 
pied, on the first floor, by Bradley's garage. That square is called Tuttle 
square, in honor of Capt. John Tuttle, one of the ancient worthies of the 
town, a century before the courthouse was built. So the town and the county 
were joint owners and joint occu])ants. The first town meeting was held 
there November 23, 1789; Col. John \\'aklron was moderator. 

This "old courthouse" is one of the historic houses of the city. The June 
session of the Legislature was held there in 1792, so Dover was the capital 
of New Hampshire. The courts were held there for more than a half cen- 
tury, until 1843. In its court room many famous lawyers addressed juries. 
Not only the lawyers of Strafford county, but others came here in the trials 
of important cases. Among the number were Daniel Webster, Jeremiah 

48 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 49 

Mason, Ichabod Bartlett, George Sullivan, and Jeremiah Smith. Great legal 
battles were fought there by the giants of those days. 

Previous to 1840, when the old county was divided, the town of Rochester 
made repeated attempts to get the Legislature to remove the courts to that 
town and make it the county seat, the shire town. The zealous citizens of 
"Norway Plains" represented to the general court that Rochester was much 
nearer the center of population; that it was easier of access; and made tempt- 
ing pecuniary offers to have the courthouse located at the "Plains." The 
result of all this agitation was that Dover was compelled to build a new town 
house to be used jointly by the town and county for town meetings and court 
sessions, with provisions for jiroperly keeping the records of both. It required 
a good deal of discussion, diplomacy and some political dealing to induce the 
others towns to join with Dover and continue this as the shire town. But it 
was done and the corner-stone of the town hall and courthouse (under the 
same roof) was laid September 29, 1842; John P. Hale, then Congressman, 
and later United States Senator, delivered the address, a very eloquent 
oration. The first meeting was held in it July 4, 1843. It was a temperance 
meeting and several interesting addresses were delivered. It was held under 
the auspices of the Martha Washington Temperance Society. The hall was 
crowded and addresses were made by Dr. Nathaniel Low, Col. Andrew Peirce, 
John P. Hale, Rev. Enoch Mack, Samuel H. Parker, J. R. Kimball and 
George T. Wentworth. This was appropriate, for the small wooden build- 
ing which had stood on that corner, and partly over the brook, was a liquor 
shop, and an intoxicated man had been drowned in the brook. The Masonic 
Temple now stands on that lot and the brook, a large stream of water, nms 
under Washington street in a big sewer. 

The last annual town meeting held in the old courthouse was on March 
14 1843 and one to draw iurors was July 22, following. The first town 
meeting was held in the new building July 24, 1843- and the courts m the fol- 
lowing September. The courts continued to be held there undisturbed until 
November 23 1866. A ball was held in the hall over the court room that 
night and about an hour after midnight the building was discovered to be 
on fire and was partially destroyed on the interior, the walls remaining stand- 
ing No records were destroyed. This was repaired and came into use again 
\pril 18 1867 The courts continued to be held there until March 22, 1889, 
when a 'fire occurred which totally destroyed the building, and the courts 
were held temporarily in another building in the city, known as Walker hall, 
corner of Locust and Washington streets. 

The city of Rochester, soon after the fire, commenced a campaign of agita- 
tion to have that citv made the shire town and take the courts away from 
Dover A meeting of the representatives in the county was called and he d 
in Walker hall April 8, 1889, to consider the question and decide what should 



50 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

be done. At this meeting it was voted to have a separate building, wherever 
it might be located. Certain committees were appointed and the convention 
then adjourned to April 24 to hear at that time what proposition Rochester 
might have to present. At the adjourned meeting the Rochester committee 
read the following, as a correct copy of the records of the Rochester town 
meeting, held April 22 : 

"Voted, on motion of John Young, in writing, that the town build a court- 
house in connection with its town hall, or build one separately, as may be 
deemed advisable, also all necessary and proper county buildings and offices, 
free of expense to the county, provided that the Legislature, it its next session, 
will authorize the same and change the shire town of the county from Dover 
to RcKhester. And that Ebenezer G. Wallace, Stephen D. Wentworth and 
George F. Richardson be a committee on the part of the town to locate and 
purchase a suitable lot or lots, and to apply for all necessary legislation and 
to erect said buildings and pledge the credit of the town therefor." 

Mayor B. F. Neally of Dover addressed the convention and presented 
the following resolution : 

"Resolved, by the city council of the city of Dover: That the city of 
Dover purchase and donate to the county of Strafford a lot in said city, suit- 
able for the erection of a courthouse and county offices, and such as said 
county may elect, provided the cost of the same shall not exceed ten thousand 
dollars." 

The proposition offered by the city of Dover was accepted, although the 
Rochester party made a hot fight for the adoption of the offer made by that 
city. The convention appropriated $30,000 for construction of the courthouse. 
The lot given is a large and beautifully located tract of land, between First 
and Second streets, and in the rear of National block on Central avenue. It 
is an historic spot, as here was where Maj. Richard W'aldron's garrison stood 
which was destroyed by the Indians June 28, 1689, and the Major was mur- 
dered in a torturing manner bj- the savages. 

This courthouse and county seat contest between Rochester and Dover 
began a hundred years before it ended as above described. It does not seem 
probable that it will be renewed as everybody seems to be satisfied with the 
present arrangement. The county commissioners in their report April 30, 
1890, said: "The new courthouse is practically completed, the interior 
arrangement of which is very convenient. The material used in the construc- 
tion of the interior of the building and the workmanship, is first class: the 
amount expended to date is $34,678.79." The commissioners were George P. 
Demeritt. John F. Rowe and Dwight E. Edgerly, who had charge of the 
construction. 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS 51 

STRAFFORD COUNTY JAILS 

The first jail in 1773, as has been stated, was built of white oak plank four 
inches thick. It was a one-story structure and stood on "Jail Hill," on the east 
side of what is now called Central avenue, near where Mrs. John H. Hender- 
son's house stands at the junction of South Pine street with the avenue. It 
was in use for about sixty years, when the citizens of the county began to 
demand something better and stronger than the old one, notwithstanding that 
had done good service and no prisoner had escaped from it until the law had 
set him free. 

The outcome of this public demand for a new jail was the erection of 
the stone structure on Silver street, with a brick house for the residence of 
the jailkeeper and his family. At the east end of the stone structure was a 
large yard, surrounded by a high board fence, inside of which the prisoners 
could have liberty for exercise, with no chance for escape from imprisonment. 
Silver street is one of the fashionable as well as the oldest in Dover. The 
residents grew weary of having those prison walls to look at as they passed 
and repassed it many times a day. Moreover, they took no pride in showing 
it to visitors. Finally the demand for its removal became so outspoken that 
at a meeting of the Strafford county delegation of representatives held at 
Concord, August 24, 1887, the sum of $25,000 ^as raised and appropriated, 
along with the proceeds of the sale of the old jail and lot. for the purjwse of 
building a new jail. Previous to that the city of Dover had very creditably 
and very liberally deeded the county five acres of land, located on a hill on the 
south side of the Cochecho ri\"er, one of the most beautiful spots in tiie city, 
and removed cjuite a distance from all dwelling houses and factories. It is 
well adapted for the use for which it was given. In the fall of that year a 
contract was signed with the Pauly Jail Company of St. Louis for the build- 
ing of a rotary jail, connected with a house for the jailor. In their rejjort 
the county commissioners, Benjamin F. Hanson, George P. Demerilt and 
Joseph D. Roberts, say: "We presume that before another year the old jail, 
that has stood as a disgrace and dishonor to the fair name of Strafford 
county, will be replaced by one of the most modern in New England." The 
construction was completed in 1888. The old jail property was sold for about 
$5,000. The stone from the jail can now be seen in the wall on the north side 
of the Cochecho river, extending from the Manufacturing Company's coal 
yard easterly toward the Central avenue bridge. 

The new jail was completed in 1888 and the prisoners were taken from the 
old jail in January, 1889. The jailor then was Charles K. Meserve, who con- 
tinued in office up to April i that year, when he was succeeded by John H. 
Pingree. Jailor Meser\"e held the office nine years in succession and was a 
very efficient official. No prisoners were successful in playing any tricks on 



52 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

him, and they were sure not to make any attempt a second time. Jailor 
Meserve was a stern man, but never cruel to his prisoners. He maintained 
military discipline during his nine years' service. Since his term the sheriffs 
have performed the duty of jailer, in person, residing in the house annexed 
to the jail, a beautiful, comfortable and pleasantly located dwelling house. 

THE COUNTY ALMSHOUSE 

In the beginning of Strafford county there were not many poor folks who 
had to be cared for at the public expense ; here and there, now and then, there 
was one and all such were cared for in private families. As the years went 
by conditions changed; town paupers began to appear; soon they became so 
numerous that each town was compelled, by law, to provide a "Poor Farm" 
and pay a man and his wife to manage it, and take care of all the town 
paupers. Then ensued a period of hustling by the selectmen of each town to 
"shunt" the paupers onto other towns of the county whenever possible. But 
as a general tiling the poor on these farms were well cared for, had plenty to 
eat and drink, perhaps too much cider at times, and plenty of clothing to keep 
them w arm in w inter. This arrangement continued for many years. But all 
the time the selectmen kept a sharp outlook at the ancestry of each pauper 
and shoved as many of them as possible onto the county for support. The 
result of this procedure was that the counties felt obliged to establish county 
farms where they could properly care for their poor, instead of paying the 
various towns to do it. In fact the conclusion was reached that the towns 
charged the county too much for board and lodging. The outcome was that 
in 1866 the Legislature authorized the counties to purchase farms and fit up 
houses to properly care for the support of the "county paupers," instead of 
paying the towns for doing it. 

The commissioners for Strafford county to inaugurate this change in 1866 
were Joseph F. Lawrence of Lee, Andrew Rollins of Rollinsford and LTriah 
Wiggin of Dover. The first two mentioned were brothers-in-law. Mr. Law- 
rence in later years removed to Chicago, 111., and became one of the influential 
men of the city and resided there until his death in 1910. It was estimated 
that he was a millionaire at the time of his death. I\Ir. Wiggin died several 
years ago. Mr. Rollins, at four score and two years, is still active on his big 
fami in Rollinsford. 

These gentlemen, by the authority given them, purchased the John Trickey 
farm, located on tlie n(_irth side of the Ci)checho river, in Dover, but about 
four miles from the city hall. They took possession May 21, 1866, and 
employed Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius E. Caswell to live in the large famihouse, 
care for the poor and carry on the fann. The farm contained 165 acres, ninety 
of which were in one field, along the bank of the river, a magnificent tract 



AND REPRESENTATI\'E CITIZENS 53 

of land, which has produced enormous crops year after year ever since. Not 
long after that they purchased the Timothy Sneh farm adjoining it on the 
north. The commissioners in their report said the cost of boarding each 
pauper was $1.50 a week. Soon the old farmiiouse was displaced by a 
large brick edifice, for the better accommodation of the poor and for the 
superintendent and his wife. In 1868 the county farm scheme had come into 
so much favor that nearly all the towns had sold their farms and were board- 
ing their paupers at the county's establishment. In the first published report, 
1867, they estimated the whole property at $43,144.80; the Trickey farm hav- 
ing cost $9,500, Snell farm $6,000, and the new house $16,000. At the last 
report ending with the year 191 2, the total valuation was set at $146,243.33, 
divided as follows: Farm buildings and fixtures, $83,000; house of correction, 
$24,000; personal property, $39,243.33; jail lot and buildings, $35,840.81; 
ccuirthouse, lot and li.xtures, $43,948.57. 

Soon after the beginning a small number of paupers were insane, and these 
were supported at the state asylum in Concord at a cost of $5 a week; so 
the commissioners decided that such as were incurably insane might be 
properly cared for in a house the commissioners could fit up, separate from 
the main establishment. One of the buildings that was on the Snell farm was 
fitted up for the purpose, and the unfortunate ones were confined in it and 
cared for by a humane superintendent, equally as well as at the Concord 
establishment, and at much less ex])ense. As the years went by the number 
of paupers of this kind increased ; the asylum had to Ijc enlarged, but there 
never was any complaint that it was badly managed, or that the inmates 
received improper or cruel treatment. All went along well, Mr. and Mrs. 
Caswell in charge of the main establishment and an efiicient assistant under 
him in charge of the insane asylum. 

All moved along smoothly and satisfactorily under Mr. Caswell's man- 
agement, who was superintendent from 1867 to 1880, when he died. His 
successor was William T. \A'entworth, who was a good manager and held 
the office seven years, 1880-1887. Following him Josiah G. Stiles held the 
office three years, 1S87-1890. His successor was Charles E. Demeritt, who 
was superintendent three years, 1890-1893. The present superintendent, 
Edward A. \\'illand, came into office April i, 1893, and held the office ten 
years; the following six years were filled by R. M. Handy; since then Mr. 
Willand has held the office to date, and his term does not expire until 1914. 
He is a very efficient and popular manager. 

All moved along smoothly until the third year of Superintendent Demer- 
itt's term. His assistant manager was William P. Driscoll, who had special 
care of the insane asylum, he and his wife residing in one apartment of that 
building. For some reason not explained a very bad feeling had arisen 
between them before the winter of 1893. Demeritt gave up all control of the 



54 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

insane and the management of the asylum to Driscoll. The result of these 
disagreements was disastrous. 

On the night of March 9, 1893, a most calamitous event occurred. The 
insane asylum was burned to ashes, and forty-one of the forty-four inmates 
were cremated. It was the most awful sight witnessed in Dover since burn- 
ing of Maj. Richard Walderne's garrison two centuries before when the 
Indians cremated him and a number of other Dover citizens. Soon after the 
fire the State Board of Health visited the county farm and made a thorough 
investigation. The board consisted of the following gentlemen; John B. 
Smith, E. G. Eastman, James A. Weston, G. P. Cann, John J. Berry and 
Irving A. Watson. March 8, 1893, they made a report to the General Court. 
They took the evidence of everyone who was cognizant of the facts in the 
case. 

They said the asylum was a two-story building, with two-story L with 
attic, first floor occupied by the keeper (Mr. Driscoll) and his family and 
seventeen inmates, second floor by nineteen inmates, attic by eight inmates. 
There were fifty-six cells or apartments in all, twenty-one apartments or cells 
on the first floor, twenty-three on second and twelve in attic. The asylum 
was erected twenty-one years ago, repaired and enlarged wholly of wooden 
materials, floorings, partitions, sheathings and furnishings to all the cells of 
pine lumber, flooring and sheathing so dried and shrunken in portions of the 
building as to enable persons to see each other between the floors and cells: 
heated throughout by steam from boiler, pipe hung over head. Its location was 
seventy feet west from the almshouse, and four miles from Dover (city hall) 
and about six miles from Somersworth and Rochester. The outdoor en- 
closure for the use of the inmates was surrounded by a wooden fence alx)ut 
ten or twelve feet high ; windows to asylum barred by four or more bars ; also 
some of the windows had heavy wire screening on the inside. The build- 
ing had four doors, one in main building, one in cell, one leading into 
the outdoor enclosure for women, and one leading into a like enclosure 
for men. The building was supplied with 200 feet of rubber hose. 100 feet 
of which was kept coupled onto pipe leading to tank in attic of almshouse; 
ca]:>acity of tank jo.ooo or more gallons, that was always kept well filled 
by supply from pumping station. Another 100 feet of hose hung on reel 
near standpipe; also supplied with four water pails on first and four on 
second floor, which were always kept full of water. 

At the time of the fire and for several months previous, the management 
and control of the asylum was in the hands of the keeper, William P. Dris- 
coll, with the exception that he had nothing to do with the food and clothing 
of the inmates, the same being supplied from the county almshouse under the 
direction of Charles E. Demeritt, the superintendent. Mr. Driscoll was 
assisted at the asylum by his wife, who was matron of the institution. There 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 55 

were no other employees, the entire care of the forty-four inmates devolving 
upon Mr. and Mrs. Driscoll. Formerly Mr. Demeritt had entire charge of 
the almshouse and the asylum, but, owing to a personal difificuhy which arose 
between himself and Mr. Driscoll, the county commissioners (Dwight E. 
Edgerly of Farmington, Frank P. Reeve of Somersworth and Winthrop S. 
Meserve of Durham) divided the authority by giving Mr. Driscoll full con- 
trol of the asylum, and thereby relieving Mr. Demeritt of that especial duty. 

There was a night watchman, \Vilber Chesley, who received his orders 
solely from Mr. Demeritt, superintendent of the almshouse, and who was re- 
quired to make six rounds each night, one of the stations, No. 4, being in 
the asylum of the insane. In making his 10 o'clock round on the night of 
February 9, he saw upon entering the storm door at the main entrance to 
the asylum, through the glass of the inside door, a reflection from the fire 
in the cell of Mary La P'ontaiue. He entered the asylum as quickly as pos- 
sible, and rushed to the apartment occupied by Mr. Driscoll and family at 
the further end of the corridor in the L and informed him of the iire. With- 
out waiting to dress. Keeper Driscoll rushed to the cell occupied by Mary 
La Fontaine and unlocked it, then turned and unlocked the cell of Jim Daly, 
nearby, telling the watchman to "get some water and open the doors"; 
but while getting Daly out, Mrs. La Fontaine jumjied upon Mr. Driscoll's 
back. Mr. Driscoll almost instantly disengaged himself from her, as he 
states himself, and the watchman also testified that Driscoll had freed himself 
from the woman before he (the watchman) had got the front door unlocked. 
The watchman (Chesley) left the I>uilding as soon as possible, and the spring 
lock efifectually closed the door after him and could not be opened from the 
inside. Driscoll proceeded to unlock the other cells and succeeded with those 
upon the first floor, barely escaping from the building in season to save him- 
self and family. By this time, ow ing to the combustible nature of the build- 
ing, it was thoroughly on fire so that further efYorts to subdue the flames wxre 
unavailable. Two of the inmates whose rooms were unlocked by Mr. Dris- 
coll escaped from the burning building, and the one woman was rescued from 
the second story from outside. The remaining forty-one inmates were cre- 
mated. 

After giving a summary of the testimony of each witness, the board says: 

The board has carefully reviewed all the evidence presented in this case, 
and has arrived at the following conclusions : 

First. That the fire originated in the room occupied by Mary La Fon- 
taine, and was, probably, ignited with a match in her possession. It was 
known that matches were furnished those inmates who smoked. She smoked 
occasionally, therefore it would not be difticult for her to obtain matches her- 
self or from other inmates. That the attendant of the asylum, William P. 



56 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Driscoll, in a manner inexcusably careless, furnished matches to the afore- 
said inmates when called for. 

Second. That the fire might have been extinguished immediately after 
its discovery had the watchman, Mr. Chesley, and the keeper, Mr. Driscoll, 
promptly made the attempt, inasmuch as at the time of its discovery the fire 
was small, being, according to Mr. Driscoll's testimony, "no larger than a 
bushel basket," and there was a fire hose ready for instant use, within a few 
feet of the fire, which was not used at all. 

Third. That Mr. Chesley, upon his own testimony, is shown to be totally 
unfit for a watchman, by reason of his defective eyesight, and also in not 
knowing, after having made the rounds of the institution for several months, 
that there was a fire hose and fire buckets in the asylum. 

Fourth. That the superintendent, Air. Charles E. Demeritt, while having 
many commendable qualities, was inefiicient in his administration of the af- 
fairs of the institution in the following particulars : Neglect in not having 
given specific instructions to his employees (and especially the watchman) 
as to what should be done in case a fire was discovered ; in not disciplining, 
or reprimanding tlie watchman for failure to perform his required duties, 
as shown by the register dial of the watcliman's clock ; in not having a prop- 
erly organized and drilled fire squad, consisting of his employees and such 
inmates as might be available. 

Fifth. That the attendant, William P. Driscoll, was guilty of faulty 
management in not ha\ing instructed the watchman regarding the means 
available for extinguishing fire at tlie asylum, even though the testimony 
shows that he had no authority over the watchman. 

Si.vtii. That the county commissioners were negligent of their duties in 
the following particulars : In not giving explicit instructions as to the man- 
agement of the institution, both the almshouse and the asvlum ; in not exam- 
ining carefully and fully into all the details of the management of both these 
departments, and remedying the defects that might have been readily ascer- 
tained by them; in not providing fire escapes, which they might have done, 
to a greater or less extent, without a special appropriation for that purpose; 
in not furnishing suitable means for promptly liberating the inmates from 
their cells, the testimony showing that several different keys were required 
to unlock the doors ; in dividing the responsibility of the management of the 
institution on account of personal differences between Mr. Demeritt and Mr. 
Driscoll, instead of discharging cmc nr Imth, an<l eni])loving one competent 
man to take their places. 

Sci'enth. That prior boards of county commissioners were guilty of offi- 
cial negligence in not recommending to the county delegation such improve- 
ments and changes as were necessary to the best interests of the institution, and 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS 57 

for not taking action themselves as far as their authority extended under the 
law. 

Eiglith. That all previous count}- delegations have been guilty of allow- 
ing to exist, and of maintaining, after having been officailly warned of its 
condition in 1883, a building for the use of insane which was totally unfit 
for the purpose, and at which has existed at all times the terrible danger 
from fire, which finally destroyed it, with appalling loss of life. 

Ninth. In investigating the rumors of into.xication connected with the 
institution, the board found that Mr. Demeritt has, for a short period, been 
addicted to the use of chloral ; and that, in consecjuence of the use of that 
drug, his efficiency was, perhaps, somewhat impaired — but this had no bear- 
ing upon the question of the fire; that, so far as Mr. Driscoll was concerned, 
it appears from his own testimony and that of others, that several times 
within a year he has been given to the excessive use of intoxicating licjuor, 
and on one occasion, at least, was gone from the institution two and a half 
or three days, leaving nobody, except his wife, in charge of the asylum 
during that time. There was no evidence showing that he ever drank at the 
institution. The evidence further shows that two of the employees of the 
in.stitution had been seen in a condition of partial intoxication. 

The above were the conclusions reached from the investigation by the 
State Board of Health. That system for caring for the county insane was 
the same in all counties, differing only in some minor details. The system 
was the outgrowth of a forced necessity, the guiding principle of which 
was to house, clothe and feed the incurable insane at the smallest possible 
expense to the county. The result of this investigation had the effect on the 
next Legislature to enact a law abolishing all of these county insane asylums, 
and the State assumed the entire support, control and management of the 
insane, and the county asylums were abolished. 

The insane have not been kept at the county farm since then, but another 
class tlie next thing to the insane, is housed there in large numbers — "drunks" 
who are sent there from the police courts in Dover, Rochester and Somers- 
worth, to be cared for in the house of correction, which was built there several 
years ago; formerly they had been sent to jail; but the institution at the 
farm was established so that during the inmates' term of service they could 
be compelled to do farm work and in that way make some return for the 
expense for board and clothing. The superintendent and his assistants have 
given those who have been entrusted to their care very efficient instruction 
in farm work, and sent them out to the world sober men, and in much better 
health than when they began their term of "correction": but the historian 
cannot find record of any permanent reform in their drink habits ; the house 
of correction has failed to "correct," permanently, the bad habits the men 



58 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

contracted which brought them into police court, when the judge could do 
nought else but send them to the county farm. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 

The following have been county commissioners : 1867 and 1868, Joseph F. 
Lawrence, Andrew Rollins and Uriah Wiggin; 1869, Andrew Rollins, Uriah 
Wiggin and Josiah B. Edgerly; 1870, Mr. Edgerly, Mr. Wiggin and Jesse R. 
Home; 1871, Mr. Home, Mr. Wiggin and Richard T. Rogers; 1872, Mr. 
Wiggin, Mr. Rogers and True A\'m. McDaniel; 1873, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Mc- 
Daniel and Ephraim Whitehouse; 1874, McDaniel, Whitehouse and John S. 
Hersey; 1875, Whitehouse, Hersey and Cotton H. Foss; 1876, the same; 
1877, Foss, Whitehouse and John Bartlett; 1878, Whitehouse, Bartlett and 
William Pitt Moses; 1879, George Lyman, Samuel A. Seavey and Cyrus 
Littlefield; 1880, the same; 1881, the same; 1882 and 1883, the same; 1884, 
Ralph Hough, John L Huckins and William E. Waterhouse; 1885, Hough, 
Huckins and Waterhouse; 1886, John F. Torr, Benjamin F. Hanson and 
Joseph D. Roberts; 1887, Torr, Hanson and Roberts; 1888, Hanson, Roberts 
and George P. Demeritt; 1889, Hanson, Demeritt and Roberts; 1890, George 
P. Demeritt, John P. Rowe and Dwight E. Edgerly; 1891, Demeritt, Rowe 
and Edgerly; 1892, Edgerly. Frank P. Reeve and Winthrop S. Meserve; 
1893, William W. Cushman, John N. Haines and John D. Philbrick; 1894, 
Cushman, Haines and Philbrick; 1895, the same; 1896. the same; 1897, James 
A. Reynolds, Jabez H. Stevens and George H. Yeaton; 1898, Reynolds, 
Stevens and Yeaton; 1899, Reynolds, Stevens and Yeaton; 1900, the same; 
1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904, William T. Wentworth, Henry F. Cater and 
William E. Pierce; 1905. 1906, 1907 and 1908, Edwin C. Colbath, Jeremiah 
Langley and William T. Hayes; 1909 and 1910, Benjamin F. Hanson, Walter 
Delaney and Edgar J. Ham; 191 1 and 1912, Ham, Frank M. Libbey and 
diaries E. Hoitt : 1913 and 1914, Ham, Libbey and Hoitt. 

The office of county commissioner has always been one of those most 
eagerly sought by the county politicians. In the years of county conventions 
at which these officials were nominated there was always a very lively 
period of canvassing for the election of delegates who would make the de- 
cision in the nominating convention. Some over-anxious candidates for 
nomination would begin work a year in advance, making combinations that 
would elect delegates who would favor them when the time arrived for 
voting in the convention which would decide the question. The nominations 
are made differently now, but the office is just as eagerly sought for. 



CHAPTER III 
MEDICAL 

STRAFFORD DISTRICT MEDICAL SOCIETY 

The Strafford District Medical Society was organized in i8oS with the 
following charter members : Caleb Morse, Asa Crosby, Benjamin Kelley, 
Simon Forster, Jabez Dow, Joseph Boidin, Jedediah Chapman, Josiah Lane, 
Timothy F. Preston, Ichabod Shaw, Samuel Pray, Jeremiah Jewett, Abner 
Page, John McCrillis, Jonathan Greeley, Samuel Gerrish, Robert Woodbury. 

Presidents: Dr. Asa Crosby, Sandwich, 1808-11 ; Dr. Caleb Morse, Moul- 
tonoborough, 181 2-21; Dr. Jabez Dow, Dover, 1822-24; Dr. Ichabod Shaw, 
Moultonborough, 1825-29; Dr. John McCrillis, Wakefield, 1830-32 ; Dr. James 
Farrington, Rochester, 1833-35; ^^- Stephen Drew, Milton, 1836-38; Dr. 
John P. Elkins, New Durham, 1839-41; Dr. Noah Martin, Dover, 1842-43; 
Dr. J. H. Smith, Dover, 1844-45; Dr. J. S. Fernald, Barrington. 1846-47; 
Dr. C. F. Elliot, Great Falls, 1848-49; Dr. John Morrison, Alton, 1850-51; 
Dr. Nathaniel Low, Dover, 1852-53; Dr. J. C. Hanson, Great Falls, 1854-55; 
Dr. P. A. Stackpole, Dover, 1856-57; Dr. A. Moulton, Ossipee. 1858-59; 
Dr. D. T. Parker, Farmington, 1860-61; Dr. L. G. Hill, Dover, 1862; Dr. 
I. W. Lougee, Rochester, 1863-64; Dr. M. R. Warren, Rochester, 1865-66; 
Dr. A. G. Fenner, Dover, 1867-68; Dr. A. Bickford, Dover, 1869-70; Dr. 
T. J. \Y. Pray, Dover, 1871-72; Dr. J. H. Wheeler. 1873-74; Dr M. C. 
Lathrop, Dover, 1875-76; Dr. B. W. Sargent, Rochester, 1877-78; Dr. J. 
S. Parker, Lebanon, Me., 1879-80; Dr. S. C. Whittles, Portsmouth, 1881 ; 
Dr. John R. Ham, Dover. 1882; Dr. S. C. Whittier, Portsmouth. 1883; Dr. 
J. \V. Parsons. Portsmouth, 1884-85; Dr. Carl H. Horsch, Dover, 1886-87; 
Dr. Charles A. Fairbanks, Dover, 1888-89; Dr. Henry Rust Parker, Dover, 
1890-91 ; Dr. J. J. Berry, Portsmouth, 1892-93; Dr. Miah B. Sullivan, Dover, 
1894; Dr. L. E. Grant, Somersworth, 1895; Dr. A. Noel Smith, Dover, 1896; 
Dr. A. C. Heffinger, Portsmouth, 1897; Dr. Roscoe G. Blanchard, Dover, 
1898; Dr. E. D. Taques, South Berwick. 1899; Allen P. Hichmond, Dover, 
1900; Dr. W. H. Nute, Exeter, 1901 ; Dr. John H. Neal, Rochester, 1902; 
Dr. George P. Morgan, Dover, 1903; Dr. A. E. Grant, Durham, 1904; Dr. 
George A. Folsom, Dover, 1905; Dr. P. H. Greeley, Farmington, 1906; Dr. 

8 

59 



60 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

D. L. Stokes, Rochester, 1907; Dr. Louis \Y. Flanders, Dover, 1908; Dr. T. 
J. Dougherty, Soniersworth, 1909; Dr. M. A. H. Hart, Farmington, 1910; 
Dr. H. O. Chesley, Dover, 191 1 ; Dr. F. L. Keay, Rochester, 1912-1913. 

Presidents pro tern.: Jabez Dow, 183J ; Dr. Noah ^Martin, 1841 ; T. J. 
W. Pray, 1869; M. C. Lathrop, i860. 

Secretaries: Dr. Samuel Gerrish, 1808-9; Dr. Jabez Dow, Dover, 1810, 
1813-16; Dr. Jonathan Greeley, 181 1; Dr. Samuel Pray, Rochester, 1812, 
1817-19; Dr. Asa Perkins, 1820-22; Dr. Stephen Drew, Milton, 1823; Dr. 
Moses Colby, Ossipee, 1824-27; Dr. Thomas Lindsay, Jr., Wakefield, 1828- 
30; Dr. John S. Fernald, Barrington, 1831-32; Dr. J. H. Smith, Dover, 
1833-38; Dr. Levi Merrill, Dover, 1839-44; Dr. P. A. Stackpole, Dover, 
1845-54; Dr. L. G. Hill, Dover, 1855; Dr. A. G. Fenner, Dover, 1856-65; 
Dr. Jeremiah Home, Dover, 1866; Dr. L R. Ham, Dover, 1867-78; Dr. C. 
A. Fairbanks, Dover, 1879-87; Dr. Roscoe G. Blanchard, Dover, 1888; Dr. 
Charles A. Fairbanks, Dover, 1889-98; Dr. Louis W. Flanders, Dover, 1899- 
1906; Dr. H. O. Chesley, Dover, 1907-08; Dr. L. W. Flanders, Dover, 
1909-12; Dr. F. L. Keay, Rochester, 1913. 

Members from 1S10-1913: 1810 — \Mlliam Smith, Xorthwood ; Moses 
Colby, Ossipee; David W. Clark, Parsons' Field, Me.; Thomas Lindsey, 
Wakefield ; William Chadbourne, Conway. 

1812 — Benjamin Kittridge; Thomas Webster, Sanbornton. 

1814 — Henry Sargent, New Durham. 

181 5 — Thomas H. Merrill, Gilmanton. 

1816 — George Kittridge, Epping. 

1817 — William Prescott, Gilmanton; John Morrison, Alton; Jonathan 
Woodbury, Dover; Josiah Crosby, Meredith; John B. Elliot, Barrington; 
Ebenezer Dearborn, New Durham. 

1818 — Jacob Kittridge, Dover; Joseph Hammonds, Farmington; John 
McCrillis, Wakefield ; Asa Perkins. 

1819— Stephen Drew, David S. Libbey, Effingham; Levi Merrill, Tuf- 

tonboro'. 

1820 — James Farrington, Rochester. 

1821 — Daniel Mowe, New Durham; Charles White, Sandwich. 

1822 Reuben Buck. Shapley, Me. ; Ichabod Shaw, Moultonborough ; John 

P. Elkins, Middleton; Moses Colby, Ossipee. 

1823— Nathaniel Low, South Berwick, Me.; Alexander Hatch, Leba- 
non, Me. 

1824 — Freedom Seaver, Dover. 

1825— Thomas Lindsay, Jr., Wakefield; Asael Dearborn, Effingham. 

1827— John S. Fernald, Barrington; Thomas J. Tibbetts, Wolfborough; 
Samuel W. Drew, Dover. 

1828— James Norris, Sandwich; J. B. Warner, Somersworth. 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZEXS 61 

1 83 1 — Jere. Dow, Farmington. 

1832— Richard l«Lusbel. Wakefield ; G. L. Bennett, Middleton, George Kitt- 
ridge, Dover. 

1834— O. W. Austui; M. R. Warren, Middleton. 

1835 — Noah Martin, Dover. 

1S36— J. W. Cowan, Dover; II. G. Ford; C. V. EUiot, Soniersworth; 
George Fabyan. 

I S3 7 — A. G. l'\'nner, Dover. 

1839 — Alvah Aloulton, Ossipee ; David T. Parker, Farmington ; Ricliard 
Steel; Richard Ruzzel. 

1840 — Calvin Cutter, Dover; JetTerson Smith, Dover. 

1 84 1 — Benjamin Woodman. 

1842 — Calvin H. Guptill. 

1843 — P. A. Stackpole, Dover; Stephen W. Drew. 

1845 — J. L. Swinerton. 

1846 — L. G. Hill, Soniersworth ; Jesse A. Sandborn, Wolfborough ; Ciiarles 
Warren, Wolfborough; J. C. Hanson, Soniersworth; Alvah Parker, East Leb- 
anon, Me.; George D. Staples, North Berwick; S. H. Paul, Dover; Jeremiah 
Florne, Dover; W. H. FL ?iIanson, Moultonborough ; David Huckins, 
Sandw ich. 

1847 — Thomas Tuttle, North wood. 

1848 — Yeaton, Soniersworth; Pratt, Wingate, Russell, Tyler, Soniers- 
worth; T. G. Pike, Durham; Oliver Goss, Tuftonborough. 

1849 — Thomas J. W. Pray and Nicholas Folsoni, Dover. 

1850 — Abner Horn, Farmington; J. Farrington, Rochester; C. H. Shack- 
ford and J. T. Page, Soniersworth; G. W. Woodhouse, Alphonso Beckfrird, 
Nathaniel Low, Dover; Leighton and Flanders, Durham; William Water- 
house, Barrington. 

1852 — Palmer of Strafford; C. Trafton, South Berwick; Palmer, Milton; 
L W. Sawyer, Alton. 

1854 — Frank Tuttle, Soniersworth. 

1855 — C. L. Hartwell, Farrington; Andrew J. H. Buzzell, Dover; 
L S. Ross, Soniersworth. 

1858 — A. M. Winn and N. C. Parker, Farmington; Freeman Hall, North 
Berwick. 

i860— E. C. Dow. 

1861 — Jefferson Smith, Do\er; B. N. Fowle, Newmarket. 

1862 — James H. Wheeler and G. E. Pinkham, Dover. 

1864 — J. Ham, Do\'er. 

1866 — John P. Horn and N. Woodhouse, Dover. 

1867 — S. C. Whittier, Portsmouth; Alvah Junkins, Soniersworth. 

1 868— John Bell, M. C. Lathrop. B. F. Kimball, Dover; O. G. Cilley, 
Durham; A. C. Newell, Fannington; J. W. Buckman. Somersworth. 



62 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

1869 — R. B. Foss, Farmington. 

1870— D. A. Wendell, Dover. 

1871 — C. A. Tufts, Dover. 

1872 — W. S. Atkinson, J. H. York, Dover; E. N. Tucker, Canyon. 

1875— Frank Haley, W. P. Sylvester, Dover; W. H. Horr, Salmon Falls; 
J. S. Daniels, Barrington. 

1876 — C. E. Swasey, W. H. Sylvester, Somersworth. 

1877 — Eli Edgcomb, Somersworth; C. E. Blazo, Rochester; J. W. 
Parsons, Portsmouth. 

1878 — E. S. Berry, A. Noel Smith, D. P. T. Chamberlain and Charles 

A. Fairbanks, Dover; N. C. Twombly, Strafford. 

1879- — J. Pitts, Dover; E. Q. Adams, Kittery Point. 

1880— J. L. M. Willis, Eliot ; T. A. Rogers, Kennebuckport, Me. ; C. E. 
Quimby, Somersworth. 

1881— F. J. Harmon, Sanford; W. E. Pillsbury, Milton; S. N. Nash, 
North Berwick; G. O. Robbins, Somersworth; F. P. Virgin, Rochester; M. 

B. Sullivan, Henry Rust Parker, J. G. Hayes, Dover; O. B. Hanson, Farm- 
ington ; J. O. McCarrison, North Berwick. 

1882— Herbert F. Pitcher, Milton. 

1883 — Frank L. Durgin, Sanford, Me. 

1884 — Roscoe G. Blanchard, Dover. 

1885 — Elwin W. Hodson, Carl H. Horsch, Dover. 

1886 — Edwin D. Jaques, South Berwick, IMe. ; Daniel P. Cilley, Jr., John 
Young. Farmington ; Charles M. Sleeper, South Berwick, Me. ; William Hale, 
Dover. 

1887— Frank B. Morrill, North Berwick, Me.; William P. Watson, 
Dover ; George E. Osgood, East Barrington ; Charles D. Jones. Milton ; John 
J. Berry, Portsmouth. 

1 888 — Harry H. Stackpole, Dover; George S. Emerson, South Berwick, 
Me. ; John D. O'Doherty, Dover. 

1889 — ^George B. Emerson, Allen P. Richmond, Do\er; Elwin T. Hub- 
bard, Rochester. 

1890 — George P. Morgan, Do\er; Lindsey E. Grant, Somersworth. 

1892 — Dudley L. Stokes, Rochester; Henri A. Jendrault, Inez H. Ford, 
Dover; Arthur C. Heffinger, Portsmouth; Thomas J. Ward, Dover. 

iggi — George A. Tolman, Dover; Benjamin Cheever. Portsmouth; James 
S. Roberts. Durham. 

i§g^ — Frederick O. Fowle, Portsmouth; Louis W. Flanders, Dover. 

1893 — Marion F. Smith, Hampton. 

iSqCi — Thomas J. Dougherty, Somerswortli ; Joim H. Mudgett, Bar- 
rington. 



AND REPRESEXTATR'E CITIZEN'S 63 

1897 — William H. Dyer, Proxidence, R. I. ; John C. Parker. 

Admitted since 1897 to date — William H. Nute, Exeter; Albert E. Grant, 
Stephen Young, John H. Neal. Frederick L. Hayes. Wesley M. Newcomb, 
Hannibal P. Wheatley, John R. Pattee, Thomas W. Luce, Forrest L. Keay, 
Frank W. Blair, John H. Bates, Chas. W. Hannaford, Ray J. Ward, John S. 
Meserve, Wm. B. Kenniston, Philips H. Greeley, Walter Tuttle, Pearl Tenny 
Haskell. Harry O. Chesley, Louis L. Oilman. A. T. Downing. LinwDod INl. 
Keene ; Eugene B. Eastman, Portsmouth ; Oliver N. Eastman, Burlington, 
Vt. ; E. C. Batchelder, Dover, N. H. : J. J. Morin, P. J. Kitridge, Rochester. 
N. H.; E. N. Carrignan, E. L. Chapman, J. K. Sweeney, Dover, N. H. 



CHAPTER IV ; 

HOMICIDES AND HANGINGS IN STRAFFORD COUNTY 

THE ELISHA THOMAS CASE 

There have been three executions for murder in Strafford county, two in 
the jails here, and one at the Concord state prison ; a fourth was sentenced to 
be hanged, but died before the day arrived on which he was to be executed. 
The first execution was on June 3, 1788, and took place at the foot of Swazey's 
hill in what is the mill yard of the Cocheco Manufacturing Co., on Payne 
street. The unfortunate man was Elisha Thomas of New Durham. He was 
a veteran of the Revolutionar}' army, and in any modern court would not 
have been held for any higher crime than murder in the second degree, man- 
slaughter. It came as the result of an altercation, in the preceding February, 
between Thomas and another man, in a tavern at New Durham ; both were 
badly under the influence of New England riim. Captain Brown, who had 
been an officer in the Revolutionary army, attempted to separate the bellig- 
erants, and in so doing got stabbed with a knife by Thomas and soon died. 
Thomas expressed deep grief as he had not the slightest intention of wounding 
his friend, Captain Brown; but regrets did not count in court. Pie was ar- 
rested, brought to Dover and confined in the jail, which stood on "Jail Hill." 
where Mrs. John H. Henderson's house now stands on the east side of Central 
avenue, corner of South Pine street. Theophilus Dame was jailor. Thomas 
left at home a wife and six children. Some days after he was committed to 
jail, his wife, taking her youngest child to a neighbor's house, set out for 
Dover to visit her husband; that was no easy journey in those days, and on 
foot. One night while she was away, the other fi\-e children being in bed, 
the house caught fire and was burned, and fimr of the children were burned 
with it, the oldest one escaping. While in jail, and a few days before his 
execution, Thomas attempted to escape liy clinil)ing up the big flue in the 
chimney, but failed to get free. The jailor allowed him to attend church on 
Sundays, under guard of the sheriff and his posse. The T'lrst Parish meet- 
ing house then was a wooden building which stood on the site of the present 
brick edifice at Tuttle Scpiare. The .Vr.i' Haiiipslilrc Gaccttc. of current date, 
gave quite an account of the execution, and says: "The very peculiar cir- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 65 

cumstances of this unliappy man's fate induced a vast concourse of specta- 
tors to attend his execution." One of the Dover witnesses of the affair was 
Michael Read, Esq., then a hoy of ten years. Mr. Read died September 3, 
1864, and was prohal.)ly the Last survivor of the vast throng of witnesses 
who stood on the hill and saw the sheriff perform his sad duty. Some Dover 
citizens now surviving (1913) have heard him tell the story of what he saw 
that day, June 3, 1788. 

THE CASE OF ANDREW HOWARD 

The second execution occurred July 8, 1846. in the jail yard, on the south 
side of Silver street, just west of the present Dover and Portsmouth railroad, 
where Mr. Philip Brown's elegant residence now stands. The prisoner was 
Andrew Howard of Rochester, who murdered Phebe Hanson, September 19, 
184^. The executioner was High Sheriff' Gurliani W". Ihntt i>f Eee. The 
final trial was held in the old courthouse, now (1913) Bradley's garage, in 
the summer of 1845; August 11, that year, he was convicted and sentenced 
to be hung on the twelfth of November following. On that day all the 
necessary preparations for the hanging were ready, and the gallows up in 
front of the jail yard, and several thousand persons had gathered to w itness 
the execution, covering all the fields around there, and Sheriff Hoitt was alxiut 
to escort the prisoner to the platform when a fast riding courier arrived on 
the scene and presented from Governor Steele a reprieve of the prisoner to 
the eighth of July, 1846. The crowd was greatly disappointed. They wanted 
to see Howard hung, and some would have taken him out and performed the 
job for the sheriff, could they ha\e got hold of him. Put Sheriff Hoitt was 
a strong man and had a strong posse at hand to assist him in defense of 
the jail and in support of law and order. The affair was a neighborhood 
talk in all parts of the county until the real execution came in the following 

July- 

The Dover Enquirer of September 26, 1843, gave an interesting account 
of the murder, from which the following excerpt was taken. It says: "In 
a remote part of the town (of Rochester) near the line of Farmington, a 
woman. Phebe Planson, was shot in her own house at noon-day. Miss 
Hanson was a maiden lady somewhat advanced in years, and with her 
brother, also unmarried, occupied the house. About noon a neighbor of the 
name of Page, living a few rods distant, heard the report of a gun at the 
house of Miss Hanson, and soon started for there to see what was the matter. 
Before he arri\'ed there he saw three men advancing toward the house from 
an opposite direction, with guns upon their shoulders, and they reached the 
house and entered it a few minutes before Mr. Page arrived. On entering 
he found them seated in the kitchen. On inquiring for Miss Hanson he was 



66 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

told that she was in tlie front entry asleep; they said they had been out gun- 
ning and had called to get some drinks of cider. 

Air. Page went to the entry and found Miss Hanson dead, having bled 
profusely. He told the men she was dead, supposing that she had fallen 
down stairs. They expressed surprise, but left the house and went into the 
woods. The neighbors were informed, and search was made for the men and 
they were found and arrested. An investigation was held and they cleared 
themselves of having any knowledge of the murder. Two other persons, 
brothers, of the name of Howard, one of whom had been often employed 
by Miss Hanson on her farm, and who sustained a bad character, were 
immediately suspected and warrants were taken out for their arrest. When 
the officers reached their house and entered the front door the brothers made 
their escape by the cellar door, and went to Dover; the officers pursued them 
and succeeded in arresting them just as they were entering a car to leave on 
the train for Boston. They w ere taken to Rochester for examination, which 
was held before Richard Kimball, Escj. The officials seem to have made 
it so searching that one of the brothers, Andrew, made a full confesssion of 
his guilt ; as nothing appeared against his brother, Emery, he was set free. 

"From his confession it appeared the object of perpetrating the crime was 
to obtain money from Miss Hanson, which he knew she had in the house. He 
said he left his brother's house, near Great Falls, Tuesday morning (day of 
the murder) with his gun loaded and went to Miss Hanson's house detennined 
to get her money. Her brother was away. He tried to persuade her to gi\-e 
him money, and she gave him a small sum. Then he threatened her if she 
did not give him more; she said that was all there was in the house. He 
told her he knew better, and finding she would not give up. he raised his 
gun, took deliberate aim and shot her through the neck. The ball passed 
completely through and caused instant death. He then took the trunk be- 
longing to her brother, Jacob Hanson, broke it open and stole what was in 
it, about thirty dollars, in cash, and a pocket knife. The trunk of Phebe, 
which was said to contain nearly $i,ocx3, he failed to find. The money and 
knife were found later. Howard is a young man about twenty-five years old." 

llie trial of the case commenced on Tuesday, August 13. 1844. Charles 
W. Woodman, county solicitor, was the prosecuting attorney, assisted by 
Attorney-General W^alker. Counsel for the prisoner were Daniel M. Christie 
and John P. Hale. The trial occupied two days. Mr. Hale's argument, 
about three-quarters of an hour, w as directed against capital punishment. Mr. 
Christie argued that if the prisoner were guilty, which he neither affirmed 
nor denied, he was guilty only of murder in the second degree. The case was 
given to the jury about 12 o'clock (noon) who, after being out all the after- 
noon, came into court and refxirted that they could not agree, six being in 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 67 

favor of returning a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and six 
that it be for murder in the second degree. 

The case was again tried at the February term of the court of common 
pleas, when Attorneys Bell and Christie were counsel for Howard. About 
two hundred jurors were summoned Ijefore the panel was completed. From 
the first fifty only four were chosen. The trial occupied nearly a week, the 
defense l^eing carried on with great skill liy two of the ablest lawyers in the 
state. Mr. Christie, who was then in his prime, occupied five hours in his 
argument which was very ingeniously woven and held the close attention of 
every one in the court room, which was crowded. The jury were out only a 
short time when they agreed upon a \erdict of guilty of murder in the first 
degree. The counsel for the prisoner immediately made a motion in arrest 
of judgment, so the sentence could not be given until the next August. 

The execution took place July 8, 1846, nearly two years after the murder 
was committed. The local papers gave a full account of the scenes attendant 
upon it. The number of spectators in attendance was estimated at three 
thousand, a third of whom were women. The larger part of them could not 
see anything of the hanging of the ])risoner, at which they expressed much 
anger toward .Sheriff Gorham W. Hoitt because be had erected the gallows 
in the rear of the jail, where it could not be seen from the street. The sheriff 
had also endeavored to conceal it by a canvas, from those who had mounted 
fences, but this he was compelled to remove by the threats of the more 
boisterous part of the spectators to demolish the fences of the jail yard if 
the canvas was not taken down. It is the tradition that the sheriff was very 
much frightened by the mob tendency of the spectators and took down the 
canvas as a compromise. When the hanging was booked for the previous 
date, but was postponed by a reprieve from Governor Steele, the gallows had 
been erected in front of the jail where everybody could see. One man, who 
was present and witnessed the execution, told the writer he never saw a more 
excited crowd of people, and when some one shouted, "There he goes," several 
women screamed and fell senseless in swoons. It is the tradition that Sheriff 
Hoitt dreaded to perform the work, and Ijecame so nerved up he was ne\er 
quite himself again. It was well that the Legislature not long after decreed 
that all executions henceforth should be performed in the state prison. The 
Howard murder trial was probal>ly the subject of more talk and discussion 
than any homicide that ever took place in New Hampshire. The Silver street 
jail was built in iSj" and began to be occupied in 1828, the year the old jail 
was sold. 

THE THIRD EXECUTION; JOHN Q. PINKH.\M 

The third execution of a Strafford county man was on the fourteenth day 
of March, 1879; John O. Pinkham was the man and Sheriff Stephen S. Chick 



68 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

perfiirnieil tl:e hanging in the state prison at Cdncurd. Tiie murder was com- 
mitted in New Durham January 9, 1878. The trial began March 5, 1878, 
and was completed i\Iarch 9, and he was convicted of murder in the first 
degree. The prosecution was conducted by Mason W. Tappan, Attorney- 
General and Charles B. Shackford. county solicitor. Counsel for the defense 
were James A. Edgerly and George S. Cochrane. The respondent was sen- 
tenced to be hanged on the fourteenth day of ^larch, 1879. At a meeting 
of the Governor and council the first of March, 1879, the council voted to 
commute his sentence to imprisonment for life, on account of his alleged 
mental condition, but Governor Prescott refused to sign the warrant for 
commutation, so he was hanged as decreed by the court. 

The murder occurred on the afternoon of January 9, 1878, at a farm 
house in New Durham. The \ictim was ]\Irs. Hiram Berry. Pinkham was a 
farm laborer who had been in her employ, but had been discharged a few 
weeks before, as his conduct had Ijecome unendurable; he was a confirmed 
cider-toper, and kept himself boozy cross about all the time that winter. He 
claimed she owed him for work; she refused to pay it, as she did not owe 
him anything. He made the demand twice, and was refused; he came a third, 
on the fatal afternoon, with a double barrel gun loaded, and repeated the 
deman.d; being refused he went into the entry \\here he left his gun when 
he first came in ; returning, he took deliberate aim and shot her dead, in the 
presence of her daughter, who exclaimed, "You have killed my Mother!" 
Whereupon Pinkham exclaimed, prefacing it with an oath: "I have killed 
your mother, and if you speak another word, I will shoot you!" Pinkham 
then left the house and when about forty rods away he pulled out his pocket 
knife and cut his throat, but did not do any serious damage, so he recovered 
all right. Soon after, the alarm being given, he was arrested by Sheriff 
J. G. Johnson and taken to Farmington, where a hearing was held before 
Judge Tuttle, who committed him to jail in Dover. The trial in March occu- 
pied four days, and his counsel, Edgerly and Cochrane, made strenuous 
efforts to make it appear Pinkham was temporarily insane, but Attorney- 
General Tappan and County Solicitor Shackford presented proof that all the 
insanity he had was caused by too much hard cider in his stomach, having 
pre\'iously been on a spree, and the killing was the result of his violent temper. 

THE FOURTH FIRST DEGREE MURDER 

The fourth, and last, first degree murder case was that of Isaac B. Saw- 
telle, which took place in Rochester, though neither party was a resident of 
that city. It was committed on February 5, 1890; the victim was his brother, 
Hiram F. Sawtelle. of Chelsea. Mass. The trial began December 16, 1890, at 
II A. ^I. and was concluded December 25 at 5 o'clock P. M. The prosecuting 



AND REPRESENTATI\'E CITIZENS 69 

attorneys were ^Attorney-General Daniel Barnard and County Solicitor John 
Kivel, with Elmer J. Smart, Esq., as assistant. The counsel for the defend- 
ant were James A. Edgerly, Joseph H. Worcester and George F. Haley, 
Escjs. It was a hard-fought battle, but Sawtelle was convicted of murder in 
the first degree. The case was transferred to the Supreme Court on excep- 
tions, which e.xceptions were o\-erruled. A motion for a new trial was heard 
before the full bench of judges and denied. The resiiondent was sentenced 
on the twenty-fifth of December, 1890, to imprisonment in the state prison 
at Concord until the first Tuesday of January, i<S9^, and then to be hanged 
by the neck until dead. On January 25, 189 1, Sawtelle was stricken with 
apoplexy in his cell and died soon after. 

The murder was the result of a family quarrel about iimperty, at Chelsea 
Heights, Mass., in which Isaac and Hiram and their mother, and Hiram's 
wife were the drainatis pcrsoiiac. Isaac entertained the idea that if he cmild 
get his lirother Hiram out of the way he coukl get possession of quite an 
amount of property. A daughter of Hiram was sent to board with a family 
in Rochester. Isaac went to Rocliester and sent a telegram for his brother 
to come there as the girl was dangerously sick. Hiram went there and was 
met at the train by Isaac, who had hired a team and had it w aiting. They got 
into the team and (lr(n'e t(jwards East Rochester, Hiram supposing he was 
going to see his daughter at a farm house. On the road Isaac drew a pistol 
and shot his brother dead, then held his body upright in the carriage and 
drove across the Salmon Ealls ri\'er into Lebanon, Me., about two miles. 
There in a growth of pine trees he dug a grave and l.)urie<l the liody, ha\ing 
taken along in the carriage a spade and other tools with which to tlig. 
He then returned to Rochester and took the train for Boston. He was not 
suspected or arrested until three or four weeks after. 

The first hearing in the case was before Judge Wentworth in Rochester, 
on ■March 11. The contending lawyers were County Solicitor John Ki\el, 
now judge in the Superior Court, and James A. Edgerly, Es(p, of Somers- 
worth, who died several years ago. Mr. Edgerly was then in his prime, 
and keen as a Damascus sv\^ord. The chief witness at the preliminary hearing 
was Mrs. Sawtelle, widow of Hiram, the murdered man. l"i>r ^Mr. Ki\-el she 
told a plain, straight story. Mr. Edgerly's cross examination was \'ery se\'ere, 
as he knew how to be w hen his powers were aroused. That brought out the 
whole story of the family quarrels about the property, which caused the murder. 

Previous to this first hearing at which the respondent was held, w ilhout 
bail for appearance before the grand jury, there had been a great amount of 
investigation, it taking quite a while to track the murderer's route to the place 
where he buried the body of his victim, wiiich he mutilated considerably, and 
then <|uite a lot of running and searching for evidence the body was that of 
Hiram. Newspaper men were here from all quarters, on the watch for the 



70 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

latest discoveries in the affair. So it was a period of excitement never before 
surpassed in Strafford county. County Solicitor Kivel was on the watch 
constantly and had every clue thoroughly ferreted out before he had the 
preliminary hearing, so that he was ready to counter strike every blow dealt 
by his opponent, Mr. Edgerly. 

At the trial in December following two of the most eminent judges in the 
state presided, Chief Justice Charles Doe and Judge George A. Bingham, and 
they held the contending counsel, who were very bitter at times, strictly 
within the rule of e\'idence and of law. The weather was very cold. The 
court room at each day of the trial was crowded to its capacity. Judge Doe 
was noted for his love of fresh air, both at home and in court. The presence 
of such a crowd in the court room made the atmosphere very much vitiated 
soon after the sitting began ; Judge Doe could not stand it ; he ordered the 
sheriff" to lower every window in the room ; the cold, l)racing air come in with 
a rush ; he put on his coat and kept the lawyers and witnesses working, though 
shivering with cold. When he thought enough fresh air had been admitted 
he ordered the windows closed. This ventilating process was repeated each 
day, whenever the judge got "fidgity." Several persons caught severe 
"colds" and were laid up with pneumonia after the trial was o\er. 

In conducting the defense the respondent's counsel became convinced they 
could not clear him of the charge of murder, so bent all their energy to dis- 
credit evidence that the crime was committed in Rochester; if committed 
across the Salmon Falls river, in Lebanon, Maine, then, of course, no legal 
trial could be held in Strafford County, New Hampshire. Xo witness saw the 
shooting; all the evidence presented was circumstantial. In substance it was 
this: 

\\'hen Isaac and Hiram were on their way in the team from Rochester 
Center to East Rochester village a man with a load of lumber met them ; soon 
after he had passed them he heard three rapid reports of pistol shots in the 
direction of the carriage containing the two men ; he did not recognize the 
men, but afterwards did recognize Isaac Sawtelle as one of the men. Also 
a woman, living near the road to East Rochester, and not far from where the 
lumber man passed the team, heard the three pistol shots fired in rapid succes- 
sion. A third witness was also produced in court who testified to hearing 
the pistol shots. Other circuiustantial evidence \\as also presented. After 
the shooting one witness testified he saw the two men in the carriage and one 
was leaning against the other. Hence it was shown that the murder was 
committed in Rochester, N. H. This was the last case in Strafford county 
of murder of the first degree. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 71 

OTHER MURDER CASES 

From January 24, 1888, to August 2;^, 1908, there were t,^ indictments 
by the grand jury for murder in Strafford county; during the past five 
years there has been no case of the kind before the court. As has already 
been stated, two of these were for murder in tiie first degree and were 
sentenced to be hung; one was hung; tlie other died before the day arrived 
for hanging. Fifteen were convicted and sentenced to state prison; three 
were found to be insane and were confined in the insane asyhim. One 
escaped from jail before his case came to trial. Twelve were acquitted. The 
larger part of those who were convicted were strongly under the intluence 
of into.xicating liquors, and probably never would have committed the acts 
had they let rum alone. 

JOSEPH E. KELLEV OF SOMERSWORTH 

One of the most singular and dramatic of the fifteen manslaughter cases 
was that of Joseph E. Kelley of Somersworth, a young man of about twenty- 
four years of age, who murdered Joseph .\. Stickney, cashier of the Great 
Falls National Bank, April iG. 1897. Kelley, according to his own con- 
fession, did not intend to rnurder Stickney, but only to rob the bank, but the 
latter put up a fight and Kelley killed him by a blow on his head and then 
completed his job of robbery. Following is a brief of his confession : 

He said he was out of money and had been planning the robbery for 
some time. On Thursday previous to the murder he went to the bank to 
carry out his plans, but was prevented by the presence of a lady. On Friday 
he wrapped an old overcoat in paper, with the intention of asking Stickney to 
have the parcel placed in the bank \ault. When Kelley reached the bank 
he tried to open the screen door, and was met by the cashier, who was alone, 
and asked w hat he wanted. Kelley made no rejily but forced open the door. 
Stickney shouted for the police. Kelley then hit him on the head with a 
jimmy, knocking him insensible; he then struck two more blows and cut 
Stickney's throat from ear to ear with a razor. Then he proceeded to 
ransack the safe, putting all the money he could get hold of into a pillow case, 
estimated at $4,125. He carried the spoils to an orchard and hid them, 
returning, unconcernedly, to his boarding house to partake of dinner. After 
dinner he paid his landlady $20, which he owed her, placed the pillowcase 
containing the money into a dress-suit case and drove to Milton. He threw 
the razor away in the orchard. He hitched his horse outside the village, and 
called at the house of Farmer Jones, about a quarter of a mile from the vil- 
lage proper. He asked Miss Jones if her father was at home, saying he 
wished to put up his team for a couple of days. After further chat with 



1-2 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COL'XTV 

Miss Jones, he went to the store of John IMason and purchased a hght. spring 
overcoat anti a slate-colored derby hat. He then drove to Chamberlain's 
livery stable and put up his horse, telling Mr. Chamberlain that he was going 
by train to Sanbornville, about ten miles away. He promised to return in 
three days. He took the Boston and Elaine train without purchasing a ticket, 
getting on to the rear platform. The conductor did not discover him till 
Union was reached. At Sanbornville, he says, he got off and took the next 
train for Cookshire Junction, Que., coming into ^lontreal Junction on the 
Halifax express. "After I saw Stickney dead," he broke in here, "I felt 
sorry, but an hour after I did not even feel ner\'ous about it." 

Xcar Cookshire he sorted over his money, placing the gold in a separate 
pocked from the paper. The silver he left in the dressing case. From the 
description given by Kelley, ]\Ir. Carpenter concluded he had hidden the 
dress-suit case at V'audreuil or St. Tolycarpe Junction, and at once hurried 
Kelley aboard a train. Kelley was not sure of Vaudreuil, but cpiickly recog- 
nized St. Polycarpe. After walking along the Canadian Pacific tracks for a 
distance of about live hundred yards a bag containing $8io was found in a 
covered culvert, where Kelley had thrown it on Saturday. The dress-suit 
case was found in the middle of a plowed field, about one hundred and fifty 
yards from the railway tracks. Kelley stated that after leaving St. Polycarpe 
he had walked to St. Justine de Xewton, through a pouring rain, and after 
having taken several drinks in a saloon, he proceeded to Berard's hotel, wdiere 
he remained until the Canadian Pacific express came along, boarding it for 
Montreal. 

The murder was not discovered until two or three hours after it was com- 
mitted, at noontime, but when the news got abroad, Sherifl:" James E. Hayes 
and his deputies, George \V. Parker, J. S. ^IcDaniel, W'm. H. Rich and Edwin 
B. Bartlett got on the track of Kelley and traced his travels to Canada, where 
they found him in Montreal, and on the 22d of April started with him foi 
Dover. Kelley was willing to return, having confessed the whole story of 
the murder. On the way home Kelley puffed away at a cigar in the train, 
apparently quite unconcerned. On the way home he told Sheriff Hayes that 
he wore a disguise when he went to rob the bank. He had on a mustache and 
a goatee, and this was so eft'ectual a disguise that Stickney did not know him. 
These, he said, would be found in his room. Stickney shouted when Kelley 
drew^ a revolver upon him, but Kelley was afraid to use it, and so hit the 
old man with a jimmy. 

The trial of the case began November 8, 1897, but it was taken from the 
jury November 11, as Kelley made a complete confession to the court of his 
guilt, and the presiding justice fixed the degree of murder in the second degree 
and sentenced him to thirty years in the state prison. He was then about 
twenty-four years old. He was a native of Amesbury, Mass., but had lived 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 73 

in Soniersworth and vicinity two or three years, engaged as porter in hotels 
and other minor occupations. He was courteous in manner and pleasing in 
conversation and had made quite an extended ac(|uaintance among" tlie young 
men of the city. 

THE C.VSE OF JOHN WILLI.XMS 

One of the most daredex'il and sensational murder cases was that of John 
Williams, on Dover Landing, July 4, 1900. The trial was quite brief, occu- 
pying only from 9:15 A. M. Octolier 30 to 11 145 A. M. Nov. i, 1900. The 
prosecution was conducted l)y Attorney-General Edwin G. Eastman and 
County Solicitor Walter W. Scott. Williams had no counsel. The verdict 
was "guilty of manslaughter in the first degree." Williams was sentenced to 
confinement in the state prison at Concord at hard labor for the term of 
thirty years, and pay costs of prosecution. It is said that Williams is not his 
real name and that he is connected with some wealthy family in Massachusetts. 
Four attempts have been made to get him pardoned out on the ground he did 
not do the shooting; the last petition was in September, this year, 1913; but 
no pardon or commutation has been secured. 

A brief of the case is as follows: Williams antl two other voung men, 
all under thirty years of age, had been at work in a stone quarry in Maine, 
and came to Dover to have a "good time" and celebrate the "glorious Fourth." 
They had been drinking before they came here, and drank more beer while 
here, so at night they were in a very hilarious state of mind when they made 
their appearance on Dover Landing, the shipping section of the city. On one 
of the streets they saw Magie Donalson and Kittie Scanlon seated on the 
steps of a residence with John ]\IcNalley and Thomas Dobbins. The men 
stopped and commenced talking to the women. McXalley and Dobbins 
objected to what was said to the girls, when \\'illiams pulled out a revolver 
and began shooting, indiscriminatel_y, among the persons on the doorsteps 
around there. The result was J(jhn McNalley was shot dead, Thomas Dob- 
bins died of his wounds soon after, Joseph Gagnon received two pistol 
wounds, one in the chin, the other in the stomach, and Arthur Russell had 
the bones of one leg shattered by a Ixillet. The shooting occurred about 10 130 
P. M. on the night of July 4. The persons shot were 3'oung men between 
thirty and forty years of age. 

City Marshal James Fogerty and his assistants made vigorous search for 
the three strange men and at length found two of them at a public house near 
the Granite State Park and the third one, John Williams, who did the shoot- 
ing, asleep under some bushes in the vicinity of the park. At the trial it was 
proven that Williams did the shooting, not aiming to hit anyone in particular, 
but at the crowd in general. 



CHAPTER V 
HISTORY OF DOVER (I) 

THE FIRST PERMANEXT SETTLEMENT IX DOVER AND NEW HAMPSHIRE 

In order to give a clear understanding of where the first pennanent 
settlement of Xew Hampshire was made, it seems best to begin with a state- 
ment of the \arious grants of the territory of New Hampshire, to whom and 
when made, as this matter of grants has led to much confusion of ideas 
among the historians, by which tliey have been led into making erroneous 
statements ; several important facts in regard to this question are now known 
which were not known by the early writers, some of the discoveries of 
important papers being of recent date. 

November 3. 1620, King James granted a patent or charter to forty 
persons who were incorporated as "The Council established at Plymouth, in 
the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling, ordering and governing Xew 
England, in .Vmerica ; from the 40th to the -|8th degree of latitude, and from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean." Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. John 
Mason were important and influential members of this powerful company. 
All New Hampshire patents and grants were obtained from this Council of 
Plymouth ; the grants were as follows : 

1. jMariaxa, to Capt. John Alason, March 9. 1621-2, under which it is 
claimed that he had Ambrose Gibbons, as his agent, make a small settlement 
at Cape Ann in 1622 or 'jt,, and they remained there until ousted by the 
Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Mason lost all control there in 1630. 

2. The Province of Maine, to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. John 
Mason, April 19, 1622. This comprised all the cost from the Merrimack river 
to the Kennebec river, and back into the country a rather indefinite but very 
great distance. So far as New Hampshire was concerned, nothing was ever 
done under this grant. 

3. A POINT OF land in THE PaSCATAWAY RIVER, IN NeW EnGLAND, tO 

David Thomson, Mr. Jobe and Mr. Sherwood, always since known as Thom- 
son's Point; this grant was made in 1622; the exact month and day of month 
are not known, but probably in July or August, as only a memorandum of 
the patent and the year it was given has been found. Mr. Thomson made a 
settlement there, as w ill be explained farther on. 

74 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 75 

4. Odiorne's Point and Hilton's Point, comprising a tract of six 
thousand acres, bordering on tlie south side of the Pascataqua river and its 
branches. On this land the first settlement was made in the spring of 1623, 
as will be explained later. The grant was made October 16, 1622, by the 
Council of Plymouth, to David Thomson, alone. 

5. New Hampshire, to Capt. John Mason, November 7, 1629, which 
was bounded as follows : 

"All that part of the main land in New England, lying upon the sea 
coast, beginning at the middle part of the Alerrimac river, and from thence 
proceed northward along the sea coast to the Pascataqua river, and so for- 
wards and up within the said river, and to the farthest head thereof (now 
known as ]\IiIton Three Ponds), and from thence northwestwards, until three 
score miles be finished from the first entrance of Pascataqua river, and also 
from fmouth of the) Merrimack through the said river, and to the furthest 
head thereof ; and so forwards up into the lands westward, until three score 
miles be finished : and from thence to cross overland to the three score miles, 
as accompted from Pascataqua river, together with all islands and islets 
within five leagues distance of the premises and abutting upon the same, or 
any part or parcel thereof, etc., etc." — Captain Mason never did anything 
with that grant. 

6. "THE LAcoxiA GRANT, Only ten days later, to Sir Ferdinando Gorges 
and Capt. John Mason, November 17, 1629. The boundaries of this grant 
extended from the , mouth of the Merrimack river, along the coast to the 
Sagadahock (Kennebec) river, and the side lines extended north and west to 
include Lake Champlain and territory to the St. Lawrence river. Under that 
patent lively work was begun by Captain Mason to make a settlement in New 
Hampshire; he had dune nothing before in this respect. He sent over a party 
in 1630, in the famous ship Warwick, of which Capt. Walter Neal was gov- 
ernor, and they took possession of the Thomson house at Odiorne's Point, 
began the settlement at Strawberry Bank, which twenty-three years later was 
named Portsmouth: and Captain Mason began settlement at the head of the 
Newichawannock river, in 1634, at a point since known as Great Works. 

About the same time. 1634, settlements began to be made on the east side 
of the river, directly across from Dover Point, in that part of Old Kittery, 
now Eliot. The settlement in what is now Kittery began several years later. 
This was not a part of the Laconia Company's scheme, but independent of it, 
after that company failed. 

The historians of New Hampshire, for more than two hundred years, in 
writing of this first settlement, have stated in substance, and the statement 
has been everywhere generally accepted, that Sir Ferdinando Gorges and 
Capt. John Mason having obtained from the Council of Plymouth, consti- 
tuted by the King of England, a grant of all the land between the ri\ers 



76 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Merrimack and Sagadali^ck (Kennebec) extending- back to the great hikes 
and river of Canada, fonned a company w ith several merchants of London 
and other cities, and styhng themselves the "Company of Laconia" 
attempted the establishment of a colony and fishery at the moutii of the Pas- 
cataqua river. For this purpose in the spring of 1623 they sent out David 
Thomson, Edward Hilton and William Hilton, who had been fishermongers 
in London, with a number of other people, in two divisions, furnished with all 
the necessaries for carrying out the design. Thomson landed at the river's 
mouth at a place which he called Little Harbor, where he built a house, after- 
wards known as "Mason Hall," erected salt works, and made other prepara- 
tions for carrying on his fishing business, but the Hiltons set up their fisiiing 
stages eight miles further up the river on a neck of land which the Indians 
called W'innichahannet, but they named it Xortham and afterwards Dover. 
The proper designation of that story is historical "rot." Mason and Gorges 
had nothing whatever to do with Thomson and Hilton, as I will prove later; 
they were here seven years before the Laconia Company sent over the first 
emigrants in the ship Warwick in 1630, and commenced the settlement at 
Strawberry Bank. 

The managers of the Laconia Company entertained most extravagant 
ideas of the geography and topography of the country between the mouth of 
the Pascataqua river and Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence river. They 
thought it was only a short distance between the head waters of the Merri- 
mack and the Pascataqua, from which it would be an easy job to step over 
into Canada and drive out the French. With the Pascataqua as a base of 
operations the company expected to acquire immense fortunes for the indi- 
vidual members, but it proved to be a great failure, after three years' trial, 
and was dissolved in 1634; Mason took the New Hampshire side of the ri\er, 
and Gorges the Maine side, except that Mason retained the settlement at 
Great Works (now South Berwick), as he had invested quite largely there in 
mills and live stock, etc. 

Captain ]Mason died in 1635, '*"'! 'I's widow left the settlers to shift for 
themselves, as she was not financially able to assist them further. They 
speedily made good by gobbling up all the property they could lay hands on. 
That was the end of the Masonian work of making settlements; but a half 
century later, the land owners here were forced to defend themselves against 
Masonian lawsuits, which were handed down from generation to generation 
for nearly a century. 

It is not easy to see wherein, or whereat, Capt. John Mason ever benefited 
New Hampshire. He was its founder only in the fact that he gave the name 
which it bears, from his home county in Old England, making it New 
Hampshire in New England. Captain Mason was a failure as a colonizer 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 77 

in New Hampshire; the settlement was begun seven years before he had any- 
thing to do with it. 

7. The Hilton Grant, commonly called the Squamscott patent to 
Edward Hilton, March 12, 1629-30, which date is only four months after the 
Laconia patent was issued to Gorges and Mason, which entirely covered and 
surrounded what Hilton had come into possession of by David Thomson's 
grant of October. 1622, and which he had occupied peaceably and had 
improved during the seven years, from 1623 to 1630. The Council of 
Plymouth willingly granted his request for a patent to more securely protect 
him in the holding of the property which he had rightfully possessed for 
seven years. This grant will be .spoken of and discussed further on. It 
covered all the territory of Old Dover. 

8. P..\scAT.\w.\v. to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. Juhn Mason, 
November 3, 1631. The object of this patent was to define more definitely 
the territory between Gorges and Mason and the territory covered by Edward 
Hilton's patent, as a dispute had already arisen among the land owners as to 
the boundary line. In brief, the patent says : 

"All that portion of land lying within the precincts hereafter mentioned, 
beginning upon the seacoast about five miles to the westward to or from the 
said chief habitation or plantation now possessed by Capt. Walter Neal, at 
Strawberry Bank, for the use of the adventurers to Laconia (being in the 
latitude of 43 degrees, or thereabouts), in the Harbor of I'ascataquack. alias 
Bassataquack, alias Passataway, and so forth, from the said beginning, east- 
ward and northeastward, and so proceeding northward or northwestward 
into the Harbor and River, along the coast and shores thereof, including all 
the islands and islets lying within, or near unto the same, upwards unto the 
headland opposite unto the plantatiim, or lialiitation, now or late in the tenure 
or occupation of Edward Hilton, and from thence westwards and southwest- 
wards in the middle of the River, and through the middle of the Bay or Lake 
of Bequadack, alias Bassaquack. or by what other name or names it hath,' 
towards the bottom or westernmo-,t part of the river called Pascassockes to 
the falls thereof, and from thence by an imaginary line to pass over to the 
Sea, where the proambulation began, etc.. etc." That is to say. it included 
what is now known as Portsmouth, Rye. Hampton, Greenland and part of 
Newington. 

9. New Hamp.shire and Masonia, to Capt. John Ma.son, April 22, 1635. 
This patent was issued because the Council for New England, at its session, 
February 3. 1634-5, had decided to surrender its charter to the King, and its 
territory was divided by the Council into eight divisions, of which No. 6 was 
given to Captain Mason, and comprised the territory mentioned in his New 
Hampshire grant of No\-ember 7. 1629, and which finally came to be defined 
by the present boundary lines of the state, after a contention with Massa- 



78 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

chuselts for nearly two hundred years; the final decision of the line was made 
less than a score of years ago. 

It may be well here to state a fact that is not generally known, that what 
is now the State of New Hampshire was never so called by the people here; 
nor was the name New Hampshire used in official and legal papers until 
1679, fifty years after it was given to the territory by Captain Mason, that 
is, November 7, 1629. During the period from 1640 to 1679 the towns here 
were a part of Norfolk county of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the ter- 
ritory here was called Pascataqua; that was the name it was known by e\ery- 
where along the coast, from 1623 to 1640. It has been assumed by some 
historical writers, that "Pascataqua" was applicable only to the locality about 
Little Harliur and Strawberry Bank; hut that is a mistaken idea of the ter- 
ritory covered by the word. In writing letters they were dated as from 
"Hilton's Point, Pascataipia ;" or, "Strawberry Bank, l'ascata(|ua;" or, "Pas- 
cataqua in New England," when letters were sent here from England. 

In a statement of Robert Mason's claim for land rent from the Dover 
and Portsmouth farmers, in 1674-5, reference is made to Capt. John Mason's 
various franchises, which have already been mentioned, and "afterwards 
enlarged," and "now called New Hampshire." The inference is plain, that 
it was not so called before 1675. 

The Mason heirs had been trying for years to sell land and collect rent 
from land holders, but the Massachusetts courts would not admit any such 
claims; so, as a last resort, in 1679, the separate province of New Hampshire 
was established, with new courts that Massachusetts could not control, in 
which the lawsuits were tried. But for those lawsuits our state today might 
rejoice in the euphonious name, Pascataqua, instead of New Hampshire. 

Having shown that Capt. John Mason had nothing whatever to do with 
the first settlement in New Hampshire, I will now show that David Thomson 
and Edward Hilton were the leaders in making the first settlements — the 
former at Thomson's Point and Little Harbor, and the latter at Hilton's Point, 
now commonly called Dover Point. Both came with their parties in the 
spring of 1623. Thomson remained two or three years, then removed to 
Thomson's island, in Boston harbor, where he died. Hilton remained pemia- 
nently at Dover Point, and the settlement there has l)cen continuous to the 
present day; therefore I claim that the first permanent settlement in New 
Hamjxshire was made at Hilton Point. I will give the evidence on which I 
base my belief. 

Who was David Thomson that he should receive grants of land from the 
Council of Plymouth? What induced him to come here to settle? Who was 
Edward Hilton that he should come here with David Thomson ? Surely they 
could not have been ordinary men. 



AND REPRESENTATR^E CITIZENS 79 

D.WID THOMSON 

David Thomson was born about 1590; he was united in marriage with 
Amias Cole, of I'lymouth, England, July 13, 1613; she was the daughter of 
William Cole, of that town, who was a shipbuilder. The wedding took place 
in St. Andrew's church, and is on record there. 

The names of his parents are not known. It is said that he was of Scotch 
descent and that he was a son of Michael Thomson, but there is no evidence 
of this. He is nowhere meiUioned as connected with any town in Scotland; 
the inference is that he was born in Plymouth, where he married his wife 
and was in business a number of years previous to coming to New England. 
At the time of his marriage, when he was about twenty-three years old, he was 
called "an apothecary's clerk." His place of residence from 1613 to 1623, 
was at Plymouth. How long he continued in the apothecary business is not 
known. As his father-in-law w as a sliipbuilder, he may have engaged in busi- 
ness with him; but up to 1620 there is no record further than above stated, 
as to what he was employed in doing. But it is quite certain he was a busy 
man and became associated with men who were liigh up in official circles, 
whose records are well known. 

That he was interested in shipping, and had made \-oyages to New Eng- 
land and the Pascataqua river before 1623, is shown by his knowledge of the 
localities here and in Boston harbor and in Massachusetts bay. The proof 
tliat he came here in the ship Jonathan, in the spring of 1623, will be given at 
the close of this sketch. He and his party landed at Little Harbor. The 
precise rock on which they set foot, w hen they landed, cannot be pointed out, 
as the Plymouth Rock is, on which the Pilgrims stepped only two and a half 
years before, but, from the lay of the land, called Odiorne's Point, on which 
it is probable the first house was built, it is quite certain the landing was 
made in some cove on the south side of Little Harbor, and below the bridge 
that leads from Rye to the Wentworth hotel, at Newcastle, as it was not 
possible to anchor their ship safely any further out toward the open bay. 

What interest did Mr. Thomson have in this New England colonization 
business, that was undertaken by "The Council established at Plymouth, in 
the County of Devon (England), for the planting, ruling, ordering and gov- 
erning New England in America, etc., etc."? The Council was chartered 
November 3, 1620; it organized soon after, and David Thomson was elected 
or appointed "Messenger," or confidential "Agent." This is shown by the 
records of the Council, when a hot contest was going on in Parliament, to 
take away the charter, on the ground that the King had exceeded his author- 
ity in granting it. The following are excerpts from the record : 

On the 5th of July. 1622: "It is ordered that David Thomson do attend 
the Lords with a petition to his Majesty for forfeits committed by Thomas 



80 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Weston; As also to solicit the Lords for procuring from his Majesty a 
proclamation concerning fishermen in the western parts. Likewise to pro- 
cure some course for punishing their (the fishermen's) contempt for author- 
ity (of the Council)." 

On the 24th of July, 1622: "Mr. Thomson is appointed to attend the 
Lords, for a warrant to Mr. Attorney-General for drawing the new 
Patent." 

On the 8th of November, 1622: "Mr. Thomson is ordered to pay unto 
Leo Peddock £10, towards his pains for his last employment to New 
England." 

On the nth of November, 1622: "Mr. Thomson is appointed to attend 
Sir Robert Munsell concerning Captain Squebbs' commission." 

On the 15th of November, 1622: "Mr. Thomson and the Clerk are 
directed to see the ton of iron weighed to be sent to Mr. Whitty;" and the 
same day, "Mr. Thomson is appointed to solicit Captain Love to pay in the 
£40 for which Sir Samuel Argall standeth engaged," etc. 

On the i6th of November: "It is ordered that Mr. Thomson pro- 
poundeth to have an order from the Council for transportation of ten per- 
sons with provisions for New England. And the persons so transported to 
pay the Council the usual rate for their transportation, after expiration of 
two years." 

David Thomson's name ceases to appear on the records, as an active 
agent of the Council, after December 3, 1622. He was then preparing his 
emigration party for New England ; the agreement with the three merchants, 
his partners, was drawn up December 14, 1622, and signed that day; which 
agreement will be given later in this article. 

From these briefs from records of the Council, it is manifest that David 
Thomson was an active agent of the Council in the contest with Parliament 
to save their charter. While he was thus active, he secured for himself, a 
Mr. Jobe, and a Mr. Sherwood, a patent or grant of a point of land in the 
Pascataqua river, in New England. The patent itself has not been found, but 
a memorandum of such a grant is on record in the public record office in 
London, and was copied by Mr. Charles Deane, of Boston, when he was in 
London, and published by him in the Massachusetts Historical Register, in 
1876, as follows: "1622. A patent to David Thomson, M. Jobe and 
M. Sherwood, for a Point (of land) in Pascataqua River, in New England." 

In the earliest times of history here, tiie name Pascataqua was applied 
to the river on the east side of Dover Point, and in that river there is a point 
of land, just below the mouth of the Cochecho river, which is called Thom- 
son's Point, and has l)een so called from the the earliest Ijeginning of records 
here. That is undoubtedly the point of land which was granted to those three 
men, and there the first temporary settlement was made in Dover by Thomson 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 81 

before 1622. His object was to use it for catching and curing salmon in the 
spring time, when that fish ran up the river there in immense schools. When 
he first made this discovery that it was a good fisliing point cannot be deter- 
mined ; it may have been before 1620. 

The patent was obtained some time during the summer of 1622. It 
shows that Mr. Thomson must have been there in some spring time before, 
else he could not have known there was such a river, and such a point of 
land in it, which was desirable for fishing. 

It has been supposed by some writers, that the name of the Point was 
derived from William Thompson ; but that is an error, as the land bore that 
name before William Thompson became a resident of Dover, and probably 
before he was liorn. "'ilidiiiMin's I'nint Imuse"' is on the oldest extant tax list 
in Dover, 1648: name of the owner not given. 

DAVID Thomson's indenture 

On the i6th of October, 1622, the Council of Plymouth gave a patent, 
or grant, to David Thomson, alone, of six thousand acres of land and an 
island, in New England. The patent for this grant is not extant, but that 
there was such a patent is proven by an indenture of David Thomson's, 
which was found among the old papers in possession of the late Hon. Robert 
C. Winthrop, of Boston, which he had inherited from his ancestor, John 
Winthrop, the first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony. 

It had lain among the Winthrop papers two hundred and fifty years, 
unknown to the historians of New Hampshire, who, in their ignorance, have 
published a mass of historical "rot" about the first settlement of this state. 

Soon after Mr. Winthrop found the indenture, he gave it to the late 
Charles Deane, of Boston, who read it before the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, at a meeting in May or June, 1876; and it was published in the 
annual of the society for that year. 

In presenting it to the meeting, Mr. Deane first gave a summary of its 
contents, as follows, which is all that is necessary to give in this paper: 

The indenture recites that the Council for New England had granted 
to David Thomson, alone, under date of i6th of October, 1622 : 

Six thousand acres of land and one island, in New England, but did not 
locate it; that Thomson had absolutely conveyed one- fourth part of the island 
to three merchants of Plymouth, viz. : Abraham Colmer, Nicholas Sherwell 
and Leonard Pomernv, with covenants to convey, in fee simple, the fourtli 
part of six thousand acres. In consideration whereof it is agreed between 
the parties, in brief, as follows: 

First. That the merchants, Colmer, Sherwell and Pomeroy, will at their 
own charge, "this present year, 1622," provide and send two men with 



82 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Thomson, in the ship Jonathan of Plymouth, to New England, with vic- 
tuals, provisions, etc., as shall suffice them till they are landed. And if they 
land there within the space of three months after the ship shall pass Ram 
Head (a promontory just outside of Plyniouth sound), the residue of the 
three months' victuals shall he delivered to Thomson, at his landing, there to 
be disposed of by him towards finding a fit place for intended habitation, and 
also to begin the same. 

Second. The three merchants will, this present year {1622), at their own 
charge, provide and send three men more in the ship Providence of Ply- 
mouth, which shij) was owned by Ponieroy, if tlie\' mav be as soon gotten. 
or in some other ship with the first expedition that mav be to New England ; 
the charges of these three men to be born equally by all the parties. 

Thiril. Two men more are to be sent this present year (1622), in the 
Jonathan of Plymouth, the charges of them to be l)orne by all the parties 
equally. 

Fourth. As soon as Thomson and the se\en men are landed in New 
England, Thomson shall, as soon as con\enient, find out a fit place to make 
choice of six thousand acres of land, and a fit place to settle and erect some 
houses, or buildings for habitations, and to begin the erection of the same. 
Adjoining these buildings there shall be allotted before the end of five years, 
six hundred acres of land, which, with all the buildings and everything 
appertaining to them, shall, at the end of five years, be divided equally between 
all parties; and all the charges for building, planting, husbanding, etc., dur- 
ing that time shall be equally borne by all. The residue of the six thousand 
acres to be also divided in a convenient time, between the parties in four parts, 
whereof Thomson was to have three-fourths, and the others one-fourth. 

Fifth. At the end of five years the island shall be divided into four parts, 
where Thomson was to have three-fourths, and the others one- fourth. 

Sixth. Three-fourths of the charge for planting, husbanding and build- 
ing on the said island, shall be borne by Thomson, and one-fourth ]>y his 
partners. 

Seventh. All profits during the five years that may be derived from the 
six thousand acres, and by fishing and trading, etc.. shall be divided equally; 
the merchants, however, were to have liberty to employ ships to fish at their 
own charge, if Thomson does not care to participate in the profits of such 
extra ships. 

Eighth. All benefits and profits arising during the five years, on the resi- 
due of the six thousand acres, and on the island, shall be divided among the 
four men, Thomson to have three parts, and the others one part. Each of 
them shall, on request, deliver a just account of their receipts and payments 
during the five years. 

The above is a summary of the indenture, which was signed on Decem- 



AND REl'RESENTATR'E CITIZENS 83 

ber 14. iO_'_', by Thomson, ColnitT, Sherwell and i'onieroy, ami under which 
the first settlement of New Hampshire was made. As they then reckoned 
time, the year 1622 did not end until March 24; so they had ample time to 
load the ship Jonathan of Plymouth, and get over here before the end of 
the year 1622, which was the agreement they would do, and probably did 
do; anyway, they arrived in the early spring of 1623, as we now reckon 
the year, as beginning in January. 

As regards the location of the six thousand acres: According to the 
indenture, Mr. Thomson was authorized to make his own selection, any- 
where he pleased in New England. The location of the island was not men- 
tioned; but a lawsuit, a quarter of a century later, made it certain it was an 
island in Boston harbor, ever since called Thomson island. 

.According to the terms of the grant, he was not obliged to locate his six: 
thousand acres all in one compact body. It is quite evident he did not take 
it all in a lump. Portsmouth, as now bounded, has 9,000 acres ; so it appears 
his grant was two-thirds the size of that city. It was all that he and his 
partners needed for carrying on their fishing and Indian fur trade business. 
Please keep in mind, also, that Sir Ferdinand© Gorges, Capt. John Mason, 
and the Earl of Warwick, had nothing whatever to do with this grant of 
land; Mr. Thomson's partners were the three reputable merchants of Ply- 
mouth, whose names have already been given. 

Those four men having signed the indenture on December 14, 1622, 
proceeded at once to prepare to set sail in the Jonathan of Plymouth. The 
company started on the voyage across the Atlantic on some day that winter 
— the exact date is not known; neither is the day of their landing at Little 
Harbor, but it was in the spring i)f 1622-3; ni_) douljt aljout that. 

If Mr. Thomson had been as gifted in the use of the pen as he evidently 
was in managing business, he might have left us as interesting a story as 
Governor Bradford wrote for Plymouth; unfortunately he left no record of 
what was done, or when important events took place. He was a young man 
of twenty-eight or thirty years of age then. If he left no records, how then 
do we know that he really came in 1622? W'e know by the written records 
of other men. Look at the evidence : 

William Hubbard, the historian of New England, who wrote at a period 
about as distant from March, 1623, as we are now from the date of the 
firing of the first gun on Fort Sumter, which opened the Civil war, says 
that Thomson and his company landed at Little Harbor in 1623. There can 
be no doubt he knew whereof he wrote. 

Capt. Christopher Leavitt, a famous sea captain, traveler, discoverer, 
colonizer and historian, left an interesting account, which has been published, 
of a voyage he made to the New England coast in the summer and fall of 
1623; he visited the Isles of Shoals, which he describes very accurately, and 



84 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

in November of that year visited Mr. Thomson and his company at Little 
Harbor. He calls it "Pannaway," but he is the only writer who has ever so 
called it; why he used the name has never been explained; Captain Leavitt 
says : 

"The next place I came to was Pannaway, where one Mr. Thomson hath 
made a plantation. There I staid about a month, in which time I sent for my 
men in the East (at Agamenticus and York), who came over in divers ships. 
At this place I met with the Governor (of New England, Robert Gorges), 
who came thither (from Plymouth) in a bark which he had (confiscated) 
from Mr. Weston about twenty days before I arrived at the land. (Weston 
had disregarded the orders of the Council of Plymouth.)" 

"The Governor then told me that I was joined with him in commission as 
Counsellor, which being read I found it was so ; and he then in the presence 
of three more of the Council, administered unto me an oath." 

" In the time I staid with Mr. Thomson, I surveyed as much as possible 
I could, the weather being unseasonable and very nnich snow on the ground. 
"In those parts I saw much good timber; but the ground seemed to me 
not to be good, being very rocky and full of trees and bush wood. 

"There was a great store of fowl of divers sorts, whereof I fed very 
plentifully. About two miles further to the East (Fort Constitution), I 
found a great ri\er and a good harbor, called Pascataway. But for the 
ground I can say nothing, but by the relation of the Sagamore or King of that 
place, who told me there was much good ground along the river, about seven 
or eight leagues above (Dover point)." 

Governor Bradford in his "History of Plymouth," under date of 1623, 
says: "There were also this year some scattering beginnings made iii other 
places, as at Pascataway, by David Thomson, at IMonhegan, and some other 
places, by sundry others." 

Thomas Weston, the London merchant who had planned to finance the 
expense of sending over the Mayflower and its emigrants, but who backed 
out of the agreement just as the Pilgrims were on the point of sailing for 
New England, and left them in great financial straits, was again heard 
from in the summer of 1622. 

He sent over emigrants in two ships, the Charity and the Swan, who 
first landed at Plymouth. There were sixty of these colonists, most of them 
hard characters. After remaining at Plymouth a short time, they commenced 
a settlement at Weymouth, eighteen miles north of Plymouth, Weston himself 
coming over in the spring of 1623, with the Maine coast fishing fleet. He 
left the fleet in the neighborhood of Monhegan, taking two men and a small 
trading stock in a shallop, and sailed along the coast for Weymouth, Mass. 
They sailed along all right until ofif Rye or Hampton beach, where a stonn 
capsized the boat, and they barely escaped to the shore alive. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 85 

When Weston and the two men gathered themselves up on dry land, 
with what of their boatload had washed ashore, they were attacked by 
Indians, who were short of guns and clothing; they took the guns and all 
the clothes the three men had on, and left them. Weston and the men, in 
their naked condition, tramped back along the shore to where they had called 
on David Thomson, a short time before, in sailing along the coast. 

Fortunately for Weston, it was warm summer weather; so they did not 
suffer, except for sore feet. Governor Bradford says in his history: "He 
(Weston) got to Pascataquack and borrowed a suit of clothes, and got 
means somehow to come to Plymouth." 

It is not recorded what became of the other two poor men; probably 
they stayed with Mr. Tliomson, and worked for their board and clothes, help- 
ing him finish his new house on Odiorne's Point. 

Perhaps the following may explain how Weston sailed from Pascata- 
quack to Plymouth ; it may have been that Capt. Myles Standish took him 
along : 

Winslow's book, "Good News of New England,' published in 1624. in 
describing events of the summer of 1623, says: "At the same time, Captain 
Standish, being formerly employed by the Governor to buy provisions for the 
refurnishing of the colony (at Plymouth), returned with the same, accom- 
panied with Mr. David Thomson, a Scotchman, who also that spring began a 
plantation twenty-five leagues northeast from us, near Smith's Isles, at a 
place called Pascataquack, where he likelh well." 

Phineas Pratt, whose manuscript narrative was not published until 1858, 
says he visited David Thomson, at Pascataway, in the year 1623. 

What greater proof would be asked, that David Thomson began his 
settlement at Little Harbor in the spring of 1623 than has been given by 
the witnesses above quoted? 

The year and the season is beyond question. It was in the spring of 
1622. O. S. ; or, 1623, New Style, as we now reckon years. 

HOW LONG DID THOMSON RESIDE AT LITTLE HARBOR? 

The historian, Hubbard, says Mr. Thomson abandoned Little Harbor 
the next year, 1624, "Out of dislike to the place or his employers." 

On the other hand, Bradford's "History of Plymouth" says he was resid- 
ing at "Pasketeway" in 1626; as in the spring or summer of that year, he 
joined with the Governor of Plymouth and Mr. Winslow in purchasing 
goods at Monhegan, where the owners broke up their establishment and sold 
out to the highest bidder. 

When Thomson and the Plymouth party arrived there, and the Mon- 
hegan fellows saw there were competing bidders for their stock in trade, 



86 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

they put up the price ; then Winslow and Thomson stopped bidding and 
withdrew for consultation; the result was they agreed to purchase the whole 
lot, jointly; which they did, and then divided the goods according as each 
had means to pay. Among the lot were some fine animals — goats and hogs ; 
some of these Mr. Thomson took, as a part of his share, and carried them 
to his island, in what is now Boston Harbor, where he established a flourish- 
ing business in raising swine and goats for trade with the settlers along 
the coast. 

As regards Pascataqua and Little Harbor, I have not been able to find 
any reference that would show that Mr. Thomson resided there after the 
summer of 1626. The inference is that he had shut up his house and was con- 
fining his work to his flourishing" estaliiishment nn Thomson's Island. There 
is no record, or hint of a record, that any one resided at Odiorne's Point after 
Thomson left there, in 1626, until Capt. \\alter Neal took possession of the 
house, by order of Capt. John Mas<in. in June. 1630, on the arrival of 
the bark Warwick, with the company tliat Captain Mason sent o\er, and w ho 
began the settlement at Strawberry Bank, which in 1653 L>ecame Ports- 
mouth. Not a name of a single human being, except Thomson, has been 
found who was a permanent resident of Odiorne's Point, or Strawberry 
Bank, j)re\ious to 1630. Thomson left there in 1626; and his fishermen 
and other "hired men" engaged in more profitable employment somewhere 
else. It seems evident that rhomson. Coimer. Sherwell and i'cimeroy did 
not find it a paying investment at Little Harbor, so ga\e it up, and shut up 
the house. 

WHAT ABOUT THOMSON'S ISLAND? 

How do we know that the island mentioned in the Indenture is Thomson's 
Island in Boston Harbor? 

The Indenture simply says, 6,000 acres and an island. Well, that nnght 
mean Newcastle Island, just across Little Harbor from Odiorne's Point. 
Why didn't he select that, instead of the fertile land in Massachusetts Bay? 
The reason is obvious to any one who has seen both islands; the one must 
have seemed to Mr. Thomson's eyes to l^e nothing but ledges and rocks, with 
here and there thin patches of earth ; the other was almost free from rocks, 
and presented an inviting appearance — just the place to raise hogs and goats. 

How do we know that Da\id Thomson li\ed on Thomson's Island ? We 
have the evidence of men who were his contemporaries, and knew him well. 

David and Aniias (Cole) Thomson had a son, John Thomsdu, who was 
born, probably, in 1625 or 1626, at Odiome's Point; hence was the first 
white child lx)rn in New Hampshire. David Thomson died in 1628, leaving 
a widow and an infant son. Later the widow married Sanniel Maverick, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 87 

who was the owner of and first resident on what is now East Boston. In 
1630 the i\Iassachusetts Bay Colony commenced its settlement at Boston. 
Time went on, and other settlements of towns around there w'ere begun, 
receiving their grants of land from the colony officials. 

In 1635, not knowing David Thomson ever had a grant of the island, the 
officials of the Bay Colony granted it to the town of Dorchester, which town 
held it a dozen years, unquestioned; then, in 1647 or 1648, John Thomson, 
son of Da\'id, who had just become of age, entered his claim for ownership 
of the island, as sole heir of his father, David Thomson, who had died in 
1628, on that island; and he petitioned to have it taken from the town of 
Dorchester, and have it restored to him, the rightful owner. 

SluirtlelT's 'TTistor}- of Boston'" gives full particulars of the lawsuit that 
followed, ending in restoring it to John Thomson. In court, in 1648. lie said 
his father began to occupy the island "'in or about the year ifuO." 

In course of the trial, there were among the witnesses, Capt. Myles 
Standish and \A'illiani Trevore, a sailor wdio came over in the Mayflower, 
in 1620, and visited Boston Harbor in 1621 ; and while there took possession 
of this island, under the name of the Island of Trevore, for Mr. David 
Thomson, then of London; he also testified that Mr. Thomson obtained a 
grant of the island from the Council of riymoutli some years before the 
Massachusetts Bay Colony had its grant. 

Captain Standish testified that he knew Mr. Thomson, as a resident of 
the island. Mr. William Blaxton, who was a resident on the peninsula of 
Boston some years before the Massachusetts Bay Company settled there in 
1630, testified that he knew Mr. Thomson well, as a resident of Thomson's 
Island where he was prosperously engaged in raising hogs and goats for trade 
with the colonists. 

There was much other testimony which convinced the authorities and 
the court that jahn Thomson's claim was just and legal; and accordingly 
the island was restored to him much to the grief and vexation of the town of 
Dorchester. 

The court decision, therefore, settles beyond question that David Thom- 
son was a permanent resident of Thomson's Island from 1626 until his 
death in 1628. It appears from the testimony of Trevore, that he was the 
person who informed Mr. Thomson about that island, and that Thomson the 
very next year obtained a patent for it, October 16, 1622. 

WHAT .-VBGUT MASON HALL? 

In all the histories the story is repeated that David Thomson built a 
house on what is now called Odiorne's Point ; that it was a spacious and 
eleo-ant house, built in the style of the great mansions in England, in which 



88 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

the lords of great manors then resided, and in which tlieir descendants reside 
to this day. How Ijeaiitiful and grand it seems as you picture it in your 
mind's eye ! Tlie historians not only say it was a grand mansion, but also 
that he called it Mason Hall. 

Well, what about it? There never was any "Mason Hall." In the first 
place, if Mr. Thomson had built such a fine house, there was not the slightest 
reason why he should name it for Capt. John Mason, who never invested a 
penny in sending over emigrants, and had no interest whatever in Thomson's 
grant of land. Moreover, Mr. Thomson had no time, material or work- 
men, such as would be absolutely needed for the construction of such an 
edifice. For example, it is stated as a fact that it took an expert carpenter 
a year to do the carving and finishing of the council chamber in the Governor 
Wentworth house, at Little Harbor, which was not built till more than a 
century after David Thomson built the first house at Odionif's Point, just 
across the Little Harbor from the Governor's house. 

Consider the situation of things when Mr. Thomson anchored his good 
ship, Jonathan of Plymouth, in the southwest cove of Little Harbor, in the 
spring of 1623. The beautiful plateau of Odiorne's Point was covered 
with a heavy growth of pines, and all the land around was a forest untouched 
with axe since the forest primeval first sprouted, as the glaciers of the ice 
age receded and exposed the earth to sunshine. 

Evidently the first work the men did was to clear the land of the forest; 
they had axes and strong muscles, but no sawmill to cut up lumber, of 
which there was more than enough. 

Mr. Thomson had his men con\ert those huge trees into a large log 
house in the quickest time possible ; it was capacious and substantial, but 
there could not have been very ornamental work. The chimney was built 
of stone, at the north end of the house, and the mortar was tough clay, 
from a clay bank near by. The foundation stones of that chimney can be 
seen today, and were seen by the Pascataqua Pioneers when they visited the 
spot, August 31, 1909. No doubt they had the house completed before 
Captain Leavitt and Gov. Robert Mason and the councillors paid Mr. Thom- 
son a visit, in November, 1623, when he entertained them a month, as Cap- 
tain Leavitt says. 

It is fortunate that we have a description of one of these plantation 
houses, which was built near Cape Elizabeth, by John Winter, ten years 
later, who was the agent of Robert Trelawney, mayor of Plymouth and the 
proprietor of the plantation there. Mr. Winter gave Mr. Trelawney the 
following description of the house ; my opinion is that Mr. Thomson's house 
was of the same style. ]\Ir. Winter says : 

"Now for our buildings and planting, I have built a house here at 
Richmond Island that is forty feet in length, and eighteen foot broad. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 89 

within the sides, besides tiie chimney; and the chimney is large, with an 
oven in each end of him. And he is so that we can place a kettle within the 
mantel i>iece. We can brew and hake and Ixiil uur kettle within him, all at 
once within him, with the help of another house that I have built under the 
side of our house, where we set our sieves and mill and mortar in, to break 
our com and malt, and to dress our meal in. 

"I have two chambers in liini, and all our men lies in one of them. 
Every man hath his close boarded cabin (bunks like a ship, one above 
another), and I have room enough to make a dozen close boarded cabins 
more, if I have need of them; and in the other chamber I have room to 
put the ship sails into, and allow dry goods which is in casks ; and I have 
a store house in him that will hold i8 or 20 tuns of casks underneath. 
Also underneath I have a kitchen for our men to set and drink in, and a 
steward's room that will hold two tuns of casks, which we put our bread 
and beer into. And every one of these rooms is closed with locks and keys 
unto them." 

Enough seems to have been said of Odiorne's Point, Mason Hall, and 
the career of that grand pioneer, David Thomson ,of whom Thomas Morton, 
the historian and personal friend, says he was "a Scotch gentleman, who 
was conversant with those people (the Indians) ; a scholar and a traveller 
that was diligent in taking notice of these things, and a man of good judg- 
ment." It should be borne in mind that Mr. Thomson was a young man 
about thirty-eight years old when he died. 

Hilton's or dover point 

Having shown when and how the settlement at Odiorne's Point was 
begun, and how long the settlers remained there, I will now consider the 
question of how and when the settlement was begun at Hilton's or Dover 
Point : 

The settlement was begun in the spring of 1623, by Edward Hilton and 
his party, and the occupation has been continuous to the present day; some 
of the descendants of the very first party being now residents on Dover 
Neck, about a mile above the Point; so that is the locality where the first 
permanent setileiiient was begun in New Hampshire. 

Who was Edward Hilton? He was a native of London, England; born 
of good parents, with a worthy ancestry ; he was well educated ; he was ad- 
mitted to membership in the Fishmongers Guild, in London, in 1621, when 
he was about twenty-five years old. That society was very exclusive in 
selecting its membership ; none but owners of fishing vessels and wealthy 
bosses in the fishing business were admitted. Mr. Hilton's admission to the 
Guild is evidence that he was a young man of high standing in that city. 



90 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

What his relations w ere with David Thomson are not recorded, but he came 
to Pascataqua in the shij) — -Providence of P'lymouth, \vhich was sent over 
by the three merchants, partners of Thomson — Abraham Cohner, Nicholas 
Sherwell and Leonard Pomeroy — a few weeks after the Jonathan of Plvm- 
outh sailed with Da\id Thomson's company. IMr. Pomerov was owner of 
the Providence, and probably came over in the ship on that voyage. 

When they arrived at the mouth of the Pascatafpia, they must have had 
prexious knowledge that Thomson had landed there, or intended to do so, 
otherwise they would not have known where to make harbor. Of course 
they called on him, and then came up the river to that beautiful point of 
land on which they staked out the settlement, and built their lirst house, 
which it is reasonable to suppose was of logs, of which they had a good 
supply all around here. Perhaps Mr. Thomson may have got his house 
built first: we don't know — but we do know- they were both built in the 
year 1623: and there Edward Hilton had his abode for ten years, when 
he sold out to Capt. Thomas Wiggin's company, which came over and began 
the settlement on Dover Neck, in 1633. 

Where is Hilton's P^oint? The distance from the Odiorne's Point land- 
ing place, in Little Harbor, coming up the west side of Newcastle, to Hilton's 
(Dover) Point, is six or seven miles. The "Point" lies between the Pas- 
cata(|ua and Pack ri\er nu the south and west. Fore river (otherwise Xe- 
wichawannock ) on the east. In coming ui> the Pascatatpia. it lor)ks as though 
it was straight down on the east side of Dover Neck; David Thomson and 
the first \oyagers so regarded and so called it, hence Thomson's grant of 
"a point of land in the Pascataqua river" was on the supposition that the 
water Dover settlers have always called "Fore river," was a continuation 
of the Pascataqua. 

The Point is about a half mile long and a quarter of a mile wide, and is 
nearly level, and in its highest place perhaps fifty feet abo\-e high water 
mark. The soil is excellent. The situation is one of the most beautiful in 
the state. 

There is where Edward Hilton and his party settled. He was a shrewd 
business man, as well as a gentleman ; he was not an ordinary fisherman. He 
saw and appreciated the advantages of that localitv for the purposes for 
which he came over here: that is for fishing, planting and trarling with the 
Indians. 

.At various seasons of the year the waters there, on all sides, were 
abounding in excellent fish : it was but a short distance to the Isles of 
Shoals, then a most excellent localitv for deep sea fishing; the soil all 
about his houses was excellent for raising Indian corn, which the Indians 
soon taught him how to cultivate; also for beans and other garden products. 
Two or three miles above there, he could get all the ovsters thev could 



AND REPRESENTATI\'E CITIZENS 91 

possibly use; and the clams in Back river were so abundant that thev fed 
their hogs on them. Lobsters, wild ducks, and wild fowl of all kind were 
abundant in Little Bay and Great Bay, so that they never lacked for food. 
As Elder Brewster said of the Plymouth colonists that year, 'They were 
permitted to suck the abundance of the seas and of the treasures hid in the 
sands." 

By the way, the Indians never, at any time, troubled the settlers on 
Dover Point or Dover Neck; not e\en during the fiercest Lidian wars. 
Hilton's Point was a most excellent place for meeting and trading with the 
Indians, for the beaver skins and other Indian products of the forests ; and 
Hilton and his men must have found that branch of their business as profitable 
as fishing; perhaps more so. That very year, 1623, while Capt. Myles 
Standish and his soldiers were fighting the Indians, hand to hand at \Yey- 
moulh, all was peace on the Pascata(jua, and it continued so all through the 
troubles at Plymouth. 

Mr. Hilton resided there ten years; then, having sold out his interests 
to Captain Wiggin's company, which came o\er in 1633, soon after removed 
to what is now Newfields, then in the to^vn of Exeter, where he resided 
until his death in 1671. His remains and tho.se of eight generations of his 
descendants are interred in the ancient burial ground, not far from tbe 
Boston and Maine railroad station at Rockingham Junction. 

When Wheelwright and his party came to Exeter in 1638, they settled 
at the Falls, and they found Hilton three or four miles below, where he 
possessed a large tract of land ; and as the 3'ears went by, he built a spacious 
residence after the old English style. He was not a Puritan; probably that 
was one reason why he left Hilton's Point when the Puritan settlers came 
there with Captain Wiggin. Mr. Hilttm was attached in a quiet way to the 
English Church, as is manifest in a petition to the King which he signed 
July 18, 1665, praying that he might be permitted to "enjoy the Sacra- 
ments of the English Church," which he had limg been deprived of. 

When Exeter became settled, Mr. Hilton was one of the leading men 
until his death. He was elected one of the Selectmen in 1645, and in many 
years after that. In the early history of Exeter his name appears fre- 
quently, and he was repeatetUy cliosen by the inhabitants on important com- 
mittees to look after their interests. 

May 3, 1642, he was appointed by the authorities in Boston a magis- 
trate, to hold courts at Dover, for that town and for Exeter; those towns 
having come under Massachusetts rule in October, 1641. Judge Hilton held 
the office for several years. Such was the man who established the first 

permanent settlement in New Hampshire. 
5 



92 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

WILLIAM HILTON 

U'illiam Hiltun, brother of Edward, was one of the party that settled 
at Hilton's Point in 1623. \\hat of him? He was five years older than 
Edward ; he was admitted to membership in the Fishmongers' Guild, in Lon- 
don, in 1616, and was an active member until he came to Plymouth, New 
England, arriving November 11, 162 1, in the ship Fortune. He returned 
in the autumn of 1622, and came over with his brother Edward to Pascata- 
qua, in 1623. His wife and two children came over to Plymouth in the 
ship Ann, in the summer of 1623, and in ,\ugust of that year came from 
Plymouth to Hilton's Point, and resided there as long as his brother did, 
engaged in business with him. He was deputy to the Massachusetts General 
Court in 1O44, and probably in nther years. 

Alter E.xeter was settled he had grants of land there. He also had 
grants of land in Dover. He had a cornfield, in what is now Eliot, directly 
across the river from Dover Point. Probably it was an old Indian cornfield, 
which the Indians had used during an unknown period before the Hiltons 
settled on the Point. Later he built a house and resided there, until he 
was driven off by Capt. Walter Neal, governor of Capt. John Mason's 
settlement at Strawberry Bank, who claimed that the land belonged to 
Mason, under the Laconia grant. 

Captain Neal very summarily destroyed Hilton's house, and granted the 
land to Capt. Thomas Cammock, June 2, 1633; '^^ designates the grant 
as, "Where \\'illiam Hilton lately planted corne." 

Hilton l>rought a suit against Mrs. Mason to recover it; and it was not 
till twenty years later that the case was decided, after Maine came under 
Massachusetts rule. It was on October 25, 1653, that judgment was given, 
in his favor, against Mrs. Ann Mason, executrix of Capt. John Mason, and 
she had to pay him £160, instead of restoring the land which had been 
occupied by some one during the twenty years. It was his land and his 
house that Captain Neal dispossessed him of; the court so decided, and that. 
of course, by right of the David Thomson, 6,000 acres patent. No doubt he 
began planting corn there soon after the settlement was begun on Hilton's 
Point, as it was an old Indian cornfield, all ready to be worked. 

He was assistant justice at Dover in 1642. Later he remo\ed to 
Kittery Point, where, October 27, 1648, he was licensed to keep a public 
house at Warehouse Point, near Phyllis' Notch. He had ferry boats which 
ran to various points on the Great Island and Strawberry Bank side of the 
river. 

In 1650, Mr. Hilton removed to York, where he was one of the signers 
that made that town come under the rule of Massachusetts, November 22, 
1652, and took the oath of freeman; there were fifty signers. He was one 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITI/EXS 93 

of the Selectmen of York in 1652, 1653, 1654. He owned the ferry across 
York river. He died there in 1655 or 1656, as letters of administration are 
dated June 30, 1656, to his son-in-law, Richard White. 

TIIOM.KS ROBERTS 

Another man who came over with Edward Hilton in 16.23 was Thomas 
Roberts, who has lineal descendants, in the name, residing on Dover Neck 
today on the very land that he owned J75 years ago. He was made presi- 
dent of the court in March or .\pril, 1640, hence Governor of the Colony 
at Dover, succeeding Capt. John Underhill, which office he held until Dover 
and all the New Hampshire settlements were united with Massachusetts 
in October, 1641. The correct locality of his first residence on Dover Point 
is not known, but it is probable it was very near that of Edward Hilton, 
the site of which is where the present Hilton Hall stands — at the extremity of 
the Point. 

After Capt. Thomas Wiggin's company came here in 1633, having Itought 
Edward Hilton's land, Mr. Roberts moved further up, on the Neck, and 
located himself on the bank of the Fore river, where the spot on which he built 
his house is still identified and pointed out by his descendants, who reside 
on the land, which has been preserved in the Roberts' family, in uninterrupted 
succession for 275 years. 

In his old age he favored the Quakers, and reprimanded his sons, Thomas, 
and John Roberts, who were constables when the Quaker women were 
whipped by order of the court. 

He died September 27, 1673, about two years after Edward Hilton died. 
They were about the same age. His grave, not marked, is in the northeast 
corner of the old burial ground on Dover Neck. 

LEOX.VRD I'liMERoy 

Leonard Pomeroy, one of the three merchants wdio signed the Thomson 
Indenture, and who was a partner in the 6,000-acre venture, owned the ship 
Providence, in whicli Ivlward lliltnn came ii\er; Mr. Ponierdv i,r()hal>ly 
came with him, to inspect the investment he had entered into with David 
Thomson. .Vbraham Colmer and Nicholas Sherwell. Mr. Pomeroy was 
not a permanent resident at Plilton's Point, as were the Hiltons and Mr. 
Roberts, but he was there on various occasions between 1623 and 1628, so 
many times that his name was given to the cove that is between Dover Point 
and Dover Neck, on the east side. That cove has, from the very first, been 
called Pomeroy's Cove ; and is so called today. That cove is where the Dover 
and Portsmouth railroad crosses the tip-end of it. There was where the 



94 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Providence landed its passengers when it brought Edward Hilton and his 
party up the Pascataqua, in the spring of 1623. 

'I'here was some special reason for calling it Ponieroy Cove; it would 
nut ha\e l)een so named had he not been there repeatedly. No other Pomeroy 
was ever in any way connected with the history of Dover. 

Other families were undoubtedly added to this colony between 1623 and 
1 63 1, but their names cannot be given. 

Now what are the proofs of all this? How do I know they came here 
in 1623? 

evidence of the settlement in 1623, .•\nd that they remained at 

Hilton's point 

What is the evidence that the Hiltons and Roberts, and others, com- 
menced the settlement at Hilton's Point in 1623? 

First. The historian, Hubbard, says so in his "History of New Eng- 
land," which was published about fifty years after that day, but was in 
manuscript much earlier than that. He was, probably, personally acquainted 
with Edward and William Hilton, and conversed with them on the subject. 
Edward Hilton did not die until 1671, and lived at Exeter thirty years; and 
it would seem strange if Hubbard did not interview Mr. Hilton when hv \\a> 
collecting the material for his history. He says in his history : 

"lujr being encouraged Ijy the report of divers mariners that came to 
make fishing voyages upon the coast, they sent over that year (1623), one 
Mr. David Thomson, with Mr. Edward Hilton and his brother, William 
Hilton, who had been fishmongers in London, with some others that came 
along with them, furnished with necessaries for carrying on a plantation 
there. Possibly others might be sent after them in the years following, 1624 
and 1625; some of whom first in proljability seized on a place called the 
Little Harbor, on the west side of the Pascataqua river, toward or at the 
mouth thereof ; the Hiltons meanwhile setting up their stages higher up the 
river, towards the northwest, at or aliout a ]ilace since called Dover." 

Belknap, and other historians following, repeat the statement abo\'e 
quoted from Hubbard. 

Second. William Hilton says they came to Hilton's Point in 1623. The 
New England Historical and Genealogical Ixegister, of 1882, Vol. 36, has the 
following petition, w hich had Iiut recently been fountl in the old court records, 
and no historian had ever known there was such a document ; it settles the 
question of date, as 1623, beyond a doubt: 

petition of WILLIAM HILTON, 1660 

To the Honored Generall Court now Assembled at Boston. The Petition of 
William Hilton Humblv SIk nveth : 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 95 

Whereas your petitioner's father, WiUiain Hilton, came over into New 
England about tlie year Anno: Dom : 1621 : & yr. petitioner came about one 
year and a half after, and in a little tyme following settled ourselves upon 
vc Ri\cr of Paschataq with Mr. h^dward llilton, who were tiie first luiglish 
Planters there, William having much intercourse with the Indians by way 
of trayde and mutuall giving & receiving, amongst whom one Tahanto, Sag- 
amore of Penacooke, for divers kindnesses received from your petitioner's 
father & himself, did freely give unto ye aforesaid William Senior and Wil- 
liam Hilton, Junior, Six Miles of land lying on ye River Penneconaquigg, 
being a riverlette running into Penacooke to ye eastward, ye said land to be 
bounded soe as may be most for ye best accomodation of your said petitioner, 
his heyres & assignes. The said Tahanto did also freely give to ye said 
father & son & to their heyres forever, Two Miles of ye best Meddow Land 
lying on ye North East Side of ye River Pennecooke, adjoining to ye said 
River, with all ye appertenances which said Tract of Land & Meddow were 
given in ye presence of l-'ejld & Severall Indians, in ye year 1636: At 
which tyme Tahanto went with ye aforesaid Hiltons to the Lands, and 
thereof gave them possession. All of wch commonly is known to ye An- 
cient Inhabitants at Paschatq; & for the further confirmation of ye sd gyft 
or grant Your petitioner hath renewed deeds from ye sd Tahanto, & since 
your petitioner understands that there 1>e many grants of land lately given, 
thereabouts, to bee layd out : And least any shoud bee mistaken in Chusing 
yr place & thereby intrench apon yr i>etitioner's rights, for preventing 
whereof : 

Your Petitioner humbly Craveth that his grant may be confirmed by 
this Court, & that A — B — C — , or any two of them, may be fully Impowered 
to sett forth ye bounds of all ye above mentioned lands, & make true returne 
whereof unto this honored Court. And your petitioner, as in duty bee is 
bound, shall pray for your future welfare & prosperity. 

Boston, June i, 1660. The Committee having considered ye contents 
of this petition, do not judge meet that ye Court grant ye same, but having 
considered the petitioner's ground for ye approbaccon of ye Indian's grant, 
doe judge meet that 300 acres of ye sd Land be sett out to ye petitioner 
by a Committee Chosen by this Court, so as that it may not prejudice any 
plantation, and this as a finall end & issue of all future claims by virtue id" 
such grant from ye Indians. 

Thomas D.\nforth, 
Elea Lusher, 
Henry Bartholomew. 

The Magists Approave of this returne if theire ye Depu'ts Consent 

hereunto. 

Edward Ravvson, Secretary. 

Consented to by ye Deputies. William Torry. Cleric. 

(Endorsed.) The Petition of William Hilton Entered with ye Magistrates 
30 May, 1660, & ex. pd. ents Tahanto's Deed dd and p Mr. Danf, William 
Hilton's petition enterred & referred to the Committee. 

Now it is a matter of record that William Hilton arrived at Plymouth, in 
the ship Fortune, November 11, 162 1 ; his wife and two children came to 



06 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTV 

Plymouth in tlie sliip Anne, in June or July, 1623; one of the children was 
William Hilton, Jr., the above named petitioner. He says that he and his 
mother arrived at Plymouth about '"one year and a half later;" that reckoned 
from Noveml>er 11, i6ji, makes the date in June or July, 1623: he further 
says: "and in a Ivttle tyme following, settled ourselves upon ye River of 
P'aschatii, witii Air. Edward Hilton, who were the first English planters there." 
That settles the question. 

Third. We have the evidence of Edward Hilton himself, as shown in the 
New England Historical and Genealogical Register of July, 1870, Vol. 
XXIV, wherein is published the "Grant of the Council of Plymouth to Edward 
Hilton of Land in Xew England, dated 12 Alarch, 1629 (O. S.)," that is, 1630 
(N. S.). It was found among the court records of the lawsuit of Allen vs. 
Waklron, of date of February, 1704-5. This suit was one of the Alason heirs' 
claims against the New Hampshire land owners. It was put in as evidence 
that Capt. John Mason never owned what is Dover and other towns 
adjoining. 

THE HILTON GR.VNT 

Know ye that said President and Council by virtue and authoritv of his 
Majesty's said Letters Patent, and for and in consideration that Edward 
Hilton and Associates hath already at his and their own proper cost and 
charge transported sundry servants to plant in New England aforesaid, at 
a place there called by the natives Wecanacohunt, otherwise Hilton's Point, 
lying some two leagues from the mouth of the River Paskataquack, in New- 
England aforesaid, inhere Ihcy have already built some houses and planted 
Come. And for that he doth further intend by God's Di\-ine Assistance to 
transport thither more people and cattle, to the good increase and advance- 
ment, and for the better settling and strengthening of their plantation, as 
also that they may be better encouraged to proceed in so pious a work 
which may especially tend to the propagation of Religion, and the great 
increase of trade, to his Majesty's Realms and Dominions, and the advance- 
ment of public plantations — 

Have given, granted and Engrossed and confirmed, and by this their pres- 
ent writing, doe fully, clearly and absolutely give, grant, Enfeoffe and Con- 
firme unto the said Edward Hilton, his heirs and Assigns forever: All that part 
of the River Pascata(|uack. called or known by the name of Wecanacohunt, 
or Hiltons Point, with the south side of said River, up to the fall of the 
River, and three miles into the main land by all the breadth aforesaid; 
Together with all the shores, creeks, bays, harbors, and coasts alongst the 
sea, within the limits and bounds aforesaid, with woods and i.slands next 
adjoining to the land not being already granted by said Council unto any 
other person or persons, together also with all tlie lands, ri\-ers, mines, min- 
erals of what kind or nature soe ever, etc. etc. : 

To have and to hold all and singular the said lands and premises, etc. 
etc. unto said Edward Hilton, his heirs and assigns, etc. they paying unto 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZEXS 97 

our sovereign Lord the King, one-fifth part of gold or silver ores, and 
another fifth part to the Council aforesaid and their successors, by the rent 
hereafter in these presents reserved, yielding and paying therefor yearly 
forever, unto saitl Council, their successors or assigns, for every one hun- 
dred acres of said land in use, the sum of twelve pence of Lawful money 
of England into the hands of the Rent gatherer for the time being, of the 
said Council, for all services whatsoever: And the said Council for the 
afifairs of England, in America aforesaid, do by these presents nominate, 
depute, authorize, appoint, and in their place and stead put William Black- 
ston, of New England, in /vmerica, aforesaid. Clerk: \Villiam Jeffries and 
Thomas Lewis, of the same place. Gents, and either or any of them jointly 
or separately, to be their (the Council's), true and lawful Attorney or 
Attorneys, and in their name and stead to enter into each part or portion 
of land and other premises with the appointments by these presents given 
and granted, or into some part thereof in the name of the whole, and peacable 
and quiet possession and seisin thereof for them to take, and the same so 
had and taken in their name and stead, to deliver possesssion & seisin 
thereof unto Edward Hilton, the said Edward Hilton, his heirs, associates 
and assigns, according to the tenor, forme and effect of these presents. Rati- 
fying, Conforming and allowing all & whatsoever the said Attorney, or 
Attorneys, or either of them, shall doe in and about the I^remises by virtue 
hereof. 

In witness whereof the said Council for the affairs of New England in 
America aforesaid, have hereunto caused their Common Seal to be put, the 
twelfth day of March. Anno: Domi : t()29. (1630. N. S. ) 

Ro. Warwick. 

Memo: That upon the seventh day of July, Anno: Domi: Annoq ; R's 
Caroli pri. Septimo : TBy Virtue of a warrant of Attorney within mentioned 
from the Council of the affairs in New England, under their common Seal 
unto Thomas Lewis, he the said Thomas Levas had taken quiet possession 
of the within mentioned premises and livery and seisin thereof, hath given 
to the within named Edward Hiltun in the presence of us: 

TttoMAS WlGGIN. 

Wm. Hilton. 
Vera copia efficit per nos. Sam'l Sharpe, 

Tim ; Nicholas. James Downe, 

Pet. Coi'pur. 
Vera Copia, Attest. Rich : Partridge. Cleric 



ic. 



In conclusion it may be well to repeat \\hat has already been mentioned — 
that the reason for his getting this grant was that Capt. John Mason had 
obtained his New Hampshire grant on the 7th of November preceding; and 
the Laconia company only ten days later; which grants entirely surrounded 
Hilton's possessions. The result was that Hilton did what every sensible 
business man would do under similar circumstances; that is, he secured a new 
and specific patent, to cover what he had had possession of for seven years. 



98 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

under tlie David Thomson grant of six thousand acres. If he had not done 
that, no doubt Capt. Walter Neal would have tried to drive him ofif, as he did 
Wilham Hilton from the cornfield in Kittery, now Eliot. The very wording 
of the grant shows that the C(_iuncil regarded him as a permanent settler; not 
a new man just come over; and that he really owned the land. 

Again, there is further evidence that he had been settled there several 
years before 1630. In 1628 Governor Bradford sent a letter to Thomas 
Morton, the head man of a lively lot of settlers at Merry Mount, in Wol- 
laston, requesting him not to sell guns, ammunition and rum to the Indians, 
as he and his men had been doing. To this letter Morton replied that he 
defied the Plymouth authorities to molest him ; and assured the Governor 
that there would be bloodshed should they attempt it. 

Upon receipt of this letter, Bradford, in June, 1628, sent the Plymouth 
militia, under the command of Captain Standish, to subdue them. When tlie 
Captain arrived he found the settlers barricaded in Morton's house ; and 
Morton, after taunting Standish with a volley of abuse, led his men out 
against the men of Captain Shrimp, as he styled Standish. In the scrimmage 
which followed, Morton was taken prisoner, and the others surrendered ; the 
only shedding of blood being from the nose of a drunken Merry Mount 
settler which was scratched with the sword-ix>int of one of Standish's 
soldiers. 

Soon after this, Morton, under arrest, was sent to Engand in a ship that 
sailed from the Isles of Shoals. The charges incident to arresting Morton 
and sending him to England were apportioned among the settlements along 
the coast, from Plymouth to Monhegan. The total was £12, 7s; of which 
Edward Hilton paid £1 ; his men at Pascatarjuack £2, los ; Thomson, at Thom- 
son's Island, 15 shillings; Pljiuouth, £2, los; Naumkeag (Salem), £1, ids; 
Jeffrey and Burslem, £2; Xantascott, £1, los; Blackston at Shawmut (Bos- 
ton), 12 shillings. 

That shows that Hilton was one of the most substantial citizens in New 
England, and was an old resident, interested in preserving order. It also 
shows that Hilton and his men at Pascataqua paid more than any other place. 

As regards the names of the two places: Hilton's Point was so named 
because Edward Hilton settled there in 1623, and stayed there. Odiorne's 
Point was so named from the Odiorne family that settled in that neighbor- 
hood more than a century after David Thomson built his house there in the 
spring of 1623. It never had any name before that. If David Thomson 
had remained there, a j)ermanent settler, as Hilton did at Dover, the place, as 
a matter of course, would have been called Thomson's Point. He did not do 
that; he went to Boston Harbor in 1626, and resided on the island that had 
been granted him in 1622; and the place bears the name, Thomson's Island, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



99 



to this day. The names themselves show that the first permanent settlement 
in New Hampshire was at Hilton's Point, in Dover. 

In conclusion it seems proper to say that it has always been the tradition in 
the Roberts family, passed clo^^n from father to sons to the present day. that 
Thomas Roberts came over with Edward Hilt(,n, and settled at Dover Point: 
and that they came in the spring of 1623; and that he remained there ten 
years; m 1633, \vhen Capt. Thomas Wigsin's company arrived, and the settle- 
ment was begun on Dover Neck, Mr. Roberts remoxed from the Point to the 
Neck, and built his house on a grant of land the town gave him on Fore river, 
which land has remained in possession of his descendants to the present day. 

The Laconia grant of November 17, 1620. led to the first settlement of 
Strawberry Bank ( Portsmouth ). m 1630. The Thomson grant of October ih 
1622, led to the settlement of Hilton's Point (Dover), in 1623. Dover was 
never in any way under control of the Laconia company. Dover is seven 
years older than Portsmouth, and fifty years older than New Hampshire 



CHAPTER VI 
HISTORY OF DO\'ER (II) 

EARLY NAMES IN OLD DOVER 

As has been stated, the first settlement began in Dover at Hilton's Point 
(Dover Point), in the spring of 1623. The founder was Edward Hilton; 
two of his associates were his brother William and Thomas Roberts. The 
place where they landed the ship in w hich thev came over is called Pomeroy's 
Cove, named for Leonard Pomeroy. who owned the ship. It is where the 
Dover and Portsmouth railroad crosses the tidewater between Dover Neck 
and Dover I'oint. Edward Hilton built his house where Hilton Hall now 
stands. The settlement on the hill, above this cove, began ten years later. 

As regards names. At first the locality was Hilton's Point-on-the-Pascat- 
aqua and that part of the town continued to be called Hilton's Point for more 
than two hundred years ; the present name, Dover Point, is of comparatively 
recent use. \Mien Hilton sold out to Capt. Thomas \\'iggin's company in 
1 63 1 and the colony came over in 1633 and began the settlement on Dover 
Neck, the settlement was called Bristol, as many of the men came from towns 
in tile west of England, along the Bristol Channel; but the whole settlements 
at Dover and Portsmouth were known by the common name Pascataqua; 
locallv Portsmouth was Strawberry Bank and Dover was Bristol. In 1637 the 
name was changed to Dover. 

When the First Church was organized in Xfjvember, 1638, a new element 
was introduced. The second minister. Rev. Thomas Larkham, had been 
pastor of a church at Northam, England, at the mouth of Bristol channel, and 
he induced the settlers to change the name from Bristol to Northam, by which 
name it was known a few years. After I\Ir. Larkham had left the church and 
the town had come under the rule of Massachusetts in 1642, the name was 
changed to Dover. So the names have been Hilton's Puint-on-the-Pascat- 
aqua, Bristol, Northam, and Dover. It is not known that any of the settlers 
came from Dover. England. 

Dover is fifty years older than New Hampshire; that is, the town is half a 
century older than the province and state. New Hampshire was never a 
colony, except for a few months in 1775, when it was so called for con- 

100 





FIEST PARISH CONGKEGATIONAL 
CHURCH, DOVKR, N. H. 



ST. (IIAKLKS cnrKCIl, DUVKK, X. II. 





WASHINGTON ST. F. B. CIIUKCH, DUVEK, 
N. H. 



PKIHCt; .\Ii;.\l(.)KIAL (■lllli( 11, IK)\ KW, N. H. 



AXD REI'RKSKXTATRE CITIZENS 103 

venience in actin.i,' with the other colonies. The name New Hanii)shire was 
not used until ahnut i(>--,. up to which time Dover was a town in Norfolk 
county, Massachusetts, and it sent its representatives to the general court in 
Boston every year and helped make die laws ; but in addition to which it made 
many of its own local laws in town meetings at Dover Neck. 

Old Dover comprised the present city and Somersworth, Rollinsford, Dur- 
ham, Madbury, Lee and Xewington. I'T)r more than a century, when you 
hml tiie name Dover in the old records, town and province, it means what we 
now call Dover Neck. There was the meeting house, what in modern parlance 
is called town house, and church. There was the business center of the town, 
and they were strung men who ruled in those days. Other localities had local 
names for convenience in use in business affairs. Here, where nnw is the heart 
of the city and now the center of business, was called Cochecho-in-Dover. 
Durham was Oyster River-in-Dover, Newington was Bloody Point-in-Dover. 
The great lumbermen, like Major Waldron, had names for their timber lijts. 
which were granted to them by the town. Many of those names remain to 
the present time. For example, Tolend is simply an abbreviation of Tolland. 
England, near where Major A\'aldron emigrated from when he came to 
Dover and settled, and built his mill here at the Cochecho falls, in i64_'. Mad- 
bury gets its name from a timber lot up in that territory, which was called 
Modbury by its owner, who came from the neighborhood of that town in 
England. The men remembered their old homes. Timber lots had to have 
names in order to designate transfer titles in buying and selling land, so thev 
applied names that were familiar to them in their old lionie in England. 

There is one name of special interest on account of its origin — "Bloody 
Point." that section of Old Dover now Newington. It will be seen in the 
first cha])ter of these historical sketches, that Capt. John Mason secured a 
grant from the Council of I'lymouth defining the boundarv line l>etween his 
territory and that of Edward Hilton; the local name for [Mason's territory 
was Straw])erry Bank; the other was Hilton's I'oint. At the beginning in 
1630. and for several years following. Capt. Walter Neale was Governor at 
Strawberry Bank; in 1^)33 and for several years following. Capt. Thomas 
Wiggin was Governor at Hilton's Point and the settlement on Dover Neck. 
Cai)tain Wiggin contended that the line between his territory and that of 
Strawberry Bank was wdiere the present division is between Newington and 
Portsmouth. Captain Neale contended that Mason's territory extended up 
to w here the Newington railway station is now- located, at the east end of the 
railroail bridge. So, many collisions occurred while the contriwersy was goin"- 
on. not only between the settlers, but between Captain Neale and Captain 
\\ iggin. in regard to the division line. On one occasion they came near fight- 
ing a duel with swords. The Massachusetts historian, Hubbard, informs us 
that Wiggin, being forbidden by Neale "to come upon a certain point of land. 



104 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

that lieth in tlie mitlway between Dover and Exeter, Captain Wiggin intended 
to have defended his right by the s\\ urd, Ijut it seems both the litigants had so 
much wit in their anger as to wave the battle, each accounting himself to have 
done very manfully in what was threatened; so as in respect not of what did, 
but what might have fallen out, the place to this day retains the formidable 
name of Bloody Point." So, in the town records of Dover, as well as in com- 
mon speech among the people, Dover territory on the south side of the Pas- 
cataqua river was called Bloody Point in Do\er until it was made a separate 
parish and town in 171 2. by the Pro\incial Assembly, and given the name 
Newington. 



CHAPTER VII 
HISTORY OF DOVER (III) 

THE FIRST PARISH AND FIRST CHURCH 

Edward Hilton was a Cliurch of England constituent; he does not appear 
to have had any special sympathy with the Pilgrims or the Puritans. For ten 
years he and his associates attended strictly to business, fishing and trading 
with the Indians. It does not appear that any clergyman of any persuasion 
did service at Hilton Point during the first decade. But as they were fre- 
quently going back and forth between Old England and New England, they no 
doubt kept in touch w ith the religious mo\ements that were going on in their 
old home. The}- were not (iodlcss men, but God-fearing and honest in their 
dealings. 

When Hilton sold his plantation to Thomas Wiggin's company, and the 
new company took possession, in the fall of 1633, a new religious element was 
introduced. The newcomers were reputed to be "of some account for 
religion," that is to say, they were largely made up of those who entertained 
Puritan views, as regarded the Church of England religious forms of church 
government. 

So the first parish was organized in 1633 with Re\'. William Leveridge, 
"a worthy Puritan divine," who came with the company that arrived October 
10, 1634. That winter they built a log church a short distance down the hill 
southwest from the present meeting house site that is marked with a wall and 
a bronze tablet on the road side. Mr. Leveridge served the people two years, 
then went elsewhere for a more lucrative position. Fie was succeeded by the 
Rev. George Burdet, who remained two years, when steps were taken to have 
a regularly organized church, which was completed in the fall of 1638 with 
the Rev. Hanserd Knollys as the first pastor of the first church in Dover and 
New Hampshire. Mr. Knollys served two years and was succeeded by the 
Rev. Thomas Larkham, \\ho had been minister in a Puritan church in 
Northam, England. He was so popular with the people that they were induced 
to change the name nf the town from Dnxer and call it Xortham, which name 
it retained about four years and then was changed to Dover, having come 
under Massachusetts rule in 1642. 

105 



106 HISTORY OF STRAl'FORD COL■XT^• 

The first parisli and the town continued to work togetlier until June ii, 
1762, when the parish was made separate from the town in the management 
of business affairs. Up to that time the town built the meeting houses, and 
there were held the town meetings as well as the church meetings, and the 
town voted support for the ministers and other current expenses. After 1762 
the parish organization did what the town formerly had done, and the parish 
organization has continued to the present day. All persons are members of 
the parish who attend divine service at the "meeting house," or pay for sup- 
port of the minister; and all members of the church are members of the parish ; 
but members of the parish cannot be members of the church until formally 
admitted according to the established rules of the church, which have \aried 
from time to time. 

That is to say, the town and parish were one until 1762. They built the 
first meeting house of logs. They voted to ha\'e the second meeting house 
built, and Maj. Richard Walderne was the contractor (he was not a regular 
major then) ; he was to build it in consideration of the extensive grants the 
town had given him, covering all the lower falls of the Cochecho, where he 
had his sawmill and grist mill, with much timber, besides a rent of £12 per 
annum in boards or plank, bound himself, heirs and administrators, to erect a 
meeting house upon the hill, near T'ldcr .Xutter's residence; the dimensions of 
it were to be forty feet long, twenty-six feet wide, sixteen-foot studs, with 
six windows, two doors fit for such a house, w ith a tile covering, and to plank 
all the walls; with glass and nails for it, the whole to lie finished "betwixt this 
(April. i''>53) and April next come twelvemonth, which will be in the year 
1654." Alajor Walderne completed it according to contract. As there was 
no bell on it, Richard Pinkham was hired to "beat the drum" on the Lord's 
Day to call the people to meeting. 

December 21, 1658. — It was voted that the meeting house on Dover Neck 
be underpinned, and catted and sealed with boards, a pulpit and seats con- 
venient l)e made, and a bell purchased, to be paid for bv a rate upon each 
man's estate according to the law of the country. But it appears by the records 
that the bell was not purchased until 1665, when the selectmen authorized 
Peter Cofiin to agree with some workmen to build a "turrett uixDn the Meeting 
House for to hang the bell," which they had bought of Captain Walderne, the 
cost to be paid out of what credit the Neck had in Mr. Coffin's hands, and if 
it cost more they engaging to pay him on the town account. And that year, 
1665, the bell was first rung on the meeting house, taking the place of Richard 
Pinkham's drum. 

The next meeting house was built on Pine Hill "at Cochecho in Dover," 
in 1 7 12, and soon after this became the official seat of government in the tow n. 
Always before that the seat of government was at Dover Neck, and when- 
ever Dover is spoken of as a place where somebody lived or something was 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 107 

done, that is the place meant; the other places were simply localities in Dover 
Ot course religious meetings continuerl U> he held in that house on the Neck 
for a long tune after it ceased to be used to hold town meetings in and con- 
duct the town business. The minister of the first church officiated at both 
places. The last public town meeting was held in that house March lo 1760 
A new house had been built in 1758-9, where the present first parish meeting 
house stands on Tuttle square. That was the fourth house the parish had. 
It was built ot wood. That was taken down in 182S and the present brick 
edifice was erected in its place. The t<nvii had s.,nieth,ng tn ,1,, with its oui- 
struction. but on March 30, 17^1, at a public town meeting it uas \,,ied (,, 
petition the general court Un- a huy u, ciiip,,wer the first parish to transact their 
affairs exclusive of other town business. This petition was granted June i 1 
1762. The meeting house continued to be used for town m^eetings until ilij 
courthouse came into use about 1790. That building is now use<l as Bradlev's 
garage, on Tuttle square. 

It is an interesting fact in reference to these meeting houses that when the 
Indians began to be troublesome and dangerous the following order was passed 
111 town meeting for building a f<.rtification around the house in Dover: 
"4 : 5 mo : 1667. It is Agried with Capt. Coffin to Build the forte about the 
Meeting House on Dover Neck one hundred foot square with two Sconces of 
sixteen foot square and all the timber to be twelve inches thick and the wall 
to be eight foot high with sills and braces, and the Selectmen with the military 
officers have agreed to pay him one hundred pounds in day workes at 2s 6d per 
day, and also to all persons concerned in the workes on day to help to raise 
at so many as he shall appoint." 

The earthwork in which this timber was set is still preserved. Margery 
Sulhvan Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution has had iron rails 
placed over the earthwork, so observers can easily imagine how the stockade 
must have looked in Indian war-times. The Chapter also had a nice face 
wall placed along the east (road) side, on which is placed a bronze tablet. 

The meeting house that was erected in 1758 was dedicated December 13 
that year. February 16, 1829. the parish voted to sell the old meeting house 
and build the present brick one in its place ; this was done and the new house 
was dedicated December 30, 1829. The northern end of the old meeting 
house was removed to Court street and converted into a dwelling house. It it 
located on the east side of the street, north of where the Ijrook used to be. 



MINISTERS OF THE FIRST CHURCH 



Mention has already been made of four of the ministers of the first church 
and parish. There have been twenty-five. All were college graduates and 



108 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

heUl high rank among the Congregational cluirches with wliich the first 
church affiliated. 

Daniel Maud, fifth minister, born about 1585, "a man of quiet and peace- 
able disposition," had been a minister in Englantl, arri\ed at Boston in 1635, 
was admitted freeman ]\Iay 25, 1636, and officiated as schoolmaster for some 
3-ears. He came to Dover in 1642, being recommended by the ministers in 
answer to the request of the people of Dover. He died in 1655, his will being 
dated 17th nth mo., 1654 (Feb. 17, 1655), and proved June 26, 1655. The 
second meeting house was built in 1O53, in accordance with a town vote dated 
5th loth mo.. 1652; a bell was placed upon it in 1665, and a fortification built 
round it in 1667. the remains of which are still visible. 

Jolni Rcyjicr, sixth minister, came to America in or near 1635, settled 
in Plymouth, ]\Iass., in 1636. left that place in November, 1654, and settled 
in Dover in 1655. "He was a man of meek and humble spirit, sound in the 
truth, and every way irreproachable in his life and conversation." During 
the last few years of his life he was assisted by his son and successor, John 
Reyner, Jr. He died April 20, 1669, aged sixty-nine. His will was dated 
April 19th, and proved June 30th, his widow Frances being executrix. He 
owned and bequeathed an estate in the parish of Batley, Yorkshire, England. 

In his tiine extra services were held at Cochecho on the Sabbath in the 
winter for several years, William W'entworth, an elder of the church, being 
employed b)- the town to preach there. 

Jolm Rcxiicr. Jr., seventh minister, son of John Reyner, his predecessor, 
was born, probably, in Plymouth in 1643: graduated at Harvard College in 
1663, and became assistant to his father about 1667. Upon his father's death 
he was invited, July 22, 1669, to become pastor, and continued to officiate, 
but was not regularly settled until July 12, 1671. He died at Braintree, Mass., 
Dec. 21, 1676, "of a cold and fever," says Hull, "that he took in the field 
among the soldiers." His wife was Judith, daughter of Edmund Quincy, of 
Braintree. Of him it is said, "he possessed a double portion of his father's 
spirit." 

JoIni Pike, eighth minister, was bom in Salisbury, Mass., May 15, 1645: 
graduated at Harvard College in 1675, came to Do\er "for the work of the 
ministry-," Nov. i, 1678, and was settled Aug. 31, 1681. He was absent some 
of the time during his settlement here on accoiint of the Indian wars, but he 
died here in the pastorate, March 10, 1709-10. His wife, Sarah, daughter of 
Rev. Joshua Moody, died Jan. 24. 1702-3. His will was dated March 6, 
1709-10. "He was esteemed as an extraordinary preacher, and a man of 
true godliness." 

Nicholas Sever, ninth minister, was born in Roxbury, Mass., April 15, 
1680; graduated at Harvard College in 1701, and was ordained at Dover, 
April II, 171 1. He resigned his charge in the spring of 1715, on account of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 109 

an almost total loss of voice. In 1716 he was appointed tutor in Harvard 
College, where he remained for twelve years. Not long after he was appointed 
judge of Court of Common Pleas in Plymouth county, Mass., a station for 
which he proved himself eminently qualified. He died April 7, 1764. 

Prior to his settlement the regular meetings of the Sabbath had been held 
at Do\er Neck, but ]\lr. Sever preached partly at Chochecho. The third 
meeting house was erected on Pine Hill, about 1713, but the old one at the 
Neck was used until almut 17JO. 

Jonathan Cushing, tenth minister, was born in Hingham, Mass., Dec. 20, 
1690; graduated at Harvard College in 17 12, and was ordained pastor of this 
church Sept. iS, 1717: during most of his ministry he preached at Cochecho; 
he died March 2-,, 1769, having had a colleague for the two years previous.' 
He "sustained the character of a grave and sound preacher, a kind, peaceable, 
prudent, and judicious pastor, a wise and faithful friend." During his min- 
istry one hundred and thirty-three were added to the church, of whom nine 
were by letter. 

The fourth meeting house was dedicated Dec. 13, 1758, and stood upon the 
site of the present house: the former one was sold in pursuance of a vote 
passed Nov. 26, 1759. The parish was incorporated distinct from the town 
June 1 1, 1762. 

Jeremy Belknap, D. D., eleventh minister, was born in Boston, Mass.. June 
-i, 1744: graduated at Harvard College in 1762; was ordained colleague with 
Mr. Cushing. Feb. 18, 1767, and became sole pastor in 1769. He' married 
Ruth Eliot, June 15, 1767. His connection ceased Sept. 11, 1786, and he was 
installed pastor of the Federal Street Church in Boston ( afterwards Dr. Chan- 
ning's) April 4. 1787; he died of a paralytic attack June 20, 1798. In his 
ministry here forty-three were added to the church, of whom five were by 
letter. 

Doctor Belknap was distinguished for his literary attainments and beloved 
for his personal character. Pie was an ardent patriot in the Revolution, and 
by his writings and correspondence did eminent service. He published 
numerous works, the best know of which is his "History of New Hampshire." 

Robert Gray, twelfth minister, was born in Andover, Mass., Oct. 9, 1761, 
graduated at Harvard College in 1786, and was ordained over this church 
Feb. 28, 1787. He married. March 27, 17S7, Lydia Tufts, of Charlestown, 
Mass. His connection as pastor ceased May 20. 1805. He preached after- 
wards in the western part of Barrington. though he was never again settled. 
and died in Wolfborough. N. H.. Aug. 25, 1822. During his ministry thirty- 
four were added to the church. 

Caleb Hamilton Shearman, thirteenth minister, was born in Brimfield, 
Mass., in 1779: graduated at Brown L'niversity in 1803: was ordained at 
Dover May 6, 1807, and dismissed May 7, 1812. He left Dover about 181 s, 



110 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

went to Charleston, S. C, and afterwards to New York State, where he died. 
Six persons are recorded as having united with the church during his 
ministry. 

Joseph Ward Clary, fourteenth minister, was bom in Rowe, Mass., Nov. 
21, 1/86; graduated at Middlebury College in i8o8, received his theological 
education at Andover, and was ordained pastor of this church May 7, 181 2. 
He was dismissed, by mutual council, Aug. 6, 1828, and on the 29th of Novem- 
ber was installed pastor at Cornish, N. H. ; he resigned his pastoral charge in 
1834, and died April 13, 1835, "a good and pious man, a serious and faithful 
pastor." Mr. Clary was reinterred Dec. 19, 1835, in Pine Hill burying- 
ground, by desire of this church. During his ministry sixty-nine united with 
the church. 

Hubbard W'inslow, D. D., LI.. D., fifteenth minister, was born in Willis- 
ton, Vt., Oct. 30, 1799; graduated at Yale College in 1825, received his 
theological education at New Ha\en and Andover. and was ordained pastor 
Dec. 4, 1828. In the midst of a promising revival his health failed and he 
was obliged to leave the jilace; he was dismissed Ijv council Nov. 30, 1831. 
During his ministry and previous to the settlement of his successor, one hun- 
dred and eighty were added to this church, of whom thirty-one were by letter. 
Mr. Winslow was installed pastor of the Bowdoin Street Church in Boston 
Sept. 26, 1832, and dismissed in March, 1844. He was in active service 
many years, especially in charge of seminaries for the liberal education of 
young ladies. He published various works, mainly educational. He died at 
Williston, Vt., Aug. 13. 1864, aged sixty-five. 

David Root, sixteenth minister, was born in Piermont, N. H., June 17, 
1791 ; graduated at Middlebury College in 1816; received his theological edu- 
cation principally under the direction of Dr. N. S. S. Beman, late of Troy, 
N. Y. ; labored as a missionary some time in Georgia ; was ordained pastor of 
the Second Presbyterian cliurch in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1819; resigned 
his charge in 1832. and was installed pastor of this church Feb. 6, 1833: his 
connection ceased Sept. 4, 1839. During his ministry here one hundred and 
sixty-six were added to the church, of whom thirty-nine were by letter. 
Mr. Root settled in Waterbury, Conn., in 1840. and afterwards at Guilford. 
He died in Chicago, 111., Aug. 30, 1873, aged eighty-three. 

Jcrcuiiah Smith Young, seventeenth minister, was born in Whitestown, 
N. Y., Sept. 10, 1809; received his theological education at Andover, where he 
graduated in 1839; was ordained here Nov. 20, 1839; his connection was 
dissolved September, 1843, i" consequence of ill health, and he never after- 
wards settled. During his ministry one hundred and eighty united with the 
church, of whom thirty-four were by letter. He died in Somerville, Mass., 
April 26, 1 86 1, aged fifty-two. 

Homer Barrows, eighteenth minister, was born in Wareham. Mass., Dec. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 111 

19, 1806; graduated at Amherst College in 1831, and at Andover Theological 
Seminary in 1834; was ordained pastor of the Second church in Middle- 
boro', Mass., June i. 1836; left that place in 1842; was stated supply at 
Norton, Mass., for three years, and was installed pastor of this church July 
9, 1845. His connection was terminated by a mutual council held July 6, 
1852. During his pastorate fifty-eight were added to the church, of whom 
twenty-seven were by letter. Mr. Barrows was installed pastor of the church 
in Wareham, Mass., Oct. 27, 1852, and was afterwards, from 1859 to 1S69, 
acting pastor at Tlaistow. X. H. 

Benjamin Franklin Parsons, nineteenth minister, was born in Wiscasset, 
June 22, 1820; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1841 ; received his theological 
education at New York and Bangor, graduating at Bangor Theological Semi- 
nary in 1846. He was ordained as the first minister of the Congregational 
church at Watertown, Wis., Jan. 25, 1847: installed as first pastor of the 
First church at Waukegan, 111., Nov. i, 1848; resigned his charge in October, 
1852, and was installed pastor of this church Jan. 12, 1853. He was dismissed 
Sept. 3, 1856, and at once became pastor of the Belknap church in this city, 
from which he was dismissed Oct. 24, 1861. 

Ellas Huntington Richardson, twentieth minister, was born in Lebanon, 
N. H., Aug. II, 1827; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1S50, and at 
Andover in 1853; was ordained pastor of the church in Goffstown, N. H., 
May 18, 1854; dismissed Oct. 30, 1856. He was installed over this church 
Dec. 10, 1856, and dismissed Dec. 10, 1863. He was settled in Providence, 
R. I., Dec. 30, 1863. afterwards in Westfield, Mass., and in 1872 became pastor 
of the First church in Hartford, Conn. During his ministry ninety were 
added to the church, and thirty ])y him after he was dismissed. 

Avery Skinner Walker, twenty-first minister, was born in Union Square, 
Osage county, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1829; graduated at Oberlin College in 1854, 
and at Union Theological Seminary in 1857. He was ordained by the Third 
New York Presbytery, June 14, 1857, and was acting pastor at Lodi, N. Y., 
from 1875 to June, i860. He was installed pastor at Rockville. Conn., Feb. 
13, 1 861. dismissed Sept. 20, 1864, and was installed over this church Nov. 16, 
1864. He was dismissed Sept. 7, 1868, and was installed pastor at Fairhaven, 

George Biirlcv Spahling, twenty-second minister, was born in Montpelier, 
Mass., from which place he removed to Gloversville, N. Y. 
Vt., Aug. II, 1835; graduated at the University of Vermont in 1856, studied 
law at Tallahassee, Fla., entered the Union Theological Seminary, New York 
City, in 1858, remaining two years, graduated at Andover Theological Semi- 
nary in 1861 ; was ordained and installed as minister at Vergennes, Vt., Oct. 
S, 1861, dismissed Aug. i, 1864; installed over the North (now Park) church 
in Hartford, Conn., Sept. 28, 1864, dismissed March 23, 1869: installed over 
the First church in Dover, N. H., Sept. i, 1869. Doctor Spalding remained 



112 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

here fourteen years, then went to Manchester, X. H., where he served two 
years. He then became pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Syracuse, 
N. Y., where he was pastor twenty-five years. He is now retired. 

George E. Hall, D. D., twent3'-third minister, was born Feb. J3, 1^51, in 
Jamaica, West Indies; graduated from OberHn College, 1872; graduated from 
New Ha\en Theological Seminary, 1875 ; pastor of the Congregational Church 
at Littleton, Mass., September, 1875-February, 1877: pastor of Congregational 
Church at \'ergennes, Vt., May, 1877-December. 1883: was installed pastor 
over the First Church in Do\-er Jan. 2, 1884 : recei\'ed the degree of Doctor of 
Divinity from Dartmouth College in 1893. Under his administration the brick 
chapel was built in 1888, at a cost of $16,218. It was dedicated April 21, 1889. 
Doctor Hall closed his ministry July i, 1908, completing twenty-four years and 
six months ser\'ice. During his pastorate 374 members were added to the 
church roll. Doctor Hall became western secretary of the American Mis- 
sionary Association, with head(|uarters in Chicago. He resigned after one 
year's ser\ice. on account of failing health. 

Evarts JV. Pond succeeded Doctor Hall and ser\ed two years. 

IValtcr A. Morr/aii. the twenty-fifth and present pastor, was installed in 
January, 1913. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. Jonathan Cashing, 
fifty years. 

Rev. Dr. Belknap says that "mention is made of persons with the title of 
elders from 1647 to 1662, and it appears that there were three elders, viz.: 
Nutter. \\'entworth, and Starbuck." (They were called elders as early as 
1638, and probably were chosen when the church was organized.) 

Elders: Hatevil Nutter, died 1675: Edward Starbuck. left Dover 1659, 
and went to Nantucket; died Dec. 4, 1690, aged eighty-six; William Went- 
worth, died March 16, 1697, ^g^d eighty-one. 

Deacons: 1655, John Hall, died about 1693, aged seventy-two; 1675, 
Tohn Dam. died Jan. 2j. U^gi : ^J^J. Oct. 15. Gershom W'eutworth, died 
March 2, 1731, aged eighty-two; 1717, Oct. 15, Samuel Tebbetts, died Dec. 
9, 1738: 1 73 I. March 2. John Hayes ( 2 ), died July 3, 1759. aged seventy-three; 
1745, April II, John Wood, died July 27, 1773, aged sixty-five; 1758, April 
20, Shadrach Hodgdon, died Nov. i, 1791, aged eighty-two; 1758, April 20, 
Daniel Ham, deposed July 6, 1774, died 1803, aged eighty-nine; 1769. Dec. 
27, Thomas Hayes, died April 7, 1774, aged fifty-nine; 1774, June 12. Ephraim 
Kimball, died March 19, 1792, aged sixty-six; 1780, Nov. 5, Benjamin Peirce, 
died Sept. 12, 1823, aged eighty: 1700. Dr. Ezra Green, dismissed Fcli. 13. 
1829, died Tuly 23, 1847, aged one hundred and one years and twenty-seven 

days: 1823, , John Wingate Hayes, left Dover 1838, died Nov. 11, 1845, 

aged sixty-eight; 1829, , Peter Gushing (2), died June 6, 1874, aged 

seventy-eight; 1838, Dec. 30, Andrew Peirce, died Sept. 4, 1862, aged seventy- 
six; 1838, Dec. 30, Edmund J. Lane: 183S. Dec. 30, Isaac A. Porter, dismissed 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS 113 

to Belknap clnirch April 24. 1856, died April 15, i860, aged eighty-one; 1858, 
Aug. 9, Joshua Banfield. removed to Hampton 1867, died March 20, 1869, 
aged sixty-six; 1869, Jan. 19, Nathaniel Low; 1869. Jan. 19, James H.' 
Wheeler; 1869. Jan. 19, Alvah :\Ioulton ; 1874, Oct. ly, Oliver Wyatt; 1874, 
Oct. 27, George Quint, died Oct. 22, 1877; 1878, Jan. 15, John R. Varney,' 
died May 2, 18S2; 1878, Jan. 15, John R. Ham. 



CHAPTER VTII 
HISTORY OF DOVER (IV) 

LATER RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN DOVER 

Next in order of age to the First Church in Dover is the Society of 
Friends. The first mention we find of any Quakers in Dover in any history, 
is that in 1662 three missionary Quakeresses, who had been lecturing among 
the residents on Dover Neck and had caused much annoyance and disturbance 
in the First church, of which Rev. John Reyner was minister, were whipped 
out of town by a court order issued by Maj. Richard Waldeme. 

Doctor Belknap says in his "History of New Hampshire," that the Friends 
once comprised a third part of the citizens of the town. At present their num- 
ber is not very large, but very respectable. They did not become sufficiently 
numerous to organize a "meeting" until 1680, so the society is about forty 
years the junior of the First Church. Tiieir meeting house was on the west 
side of High street, Dover Neck, about one-third of a mile north of the one 
built by the First parish in 1654. The exact year when it was built is not 
known, but it was between 1680 and 1700. It was taken down about 1770 
and removed across the river and set up again in Kittery, now Eliot, where 
there was quite a settlement of Friends. It stood there a hundred years or 
more and then was taken down. The Friends built a second meeting house 
at "Cochecho in Dover" about 1720, a few years after the First parish built 
their meeting house on Pine Hill, a short distance northwest of the Cushing 
tomb. This second Quaker meeting house stood on the southwest corner of 
what is now the junction of Silver and Locust streets. Their third house was 
the present one on Central avenue, at Pine Flill, which was built in 1768; soon 
after that the old house at Dover Neck was sold to the Friends in Kittery, 
now Eliot. 

The first "monthly meeting" was established in 1702, and their records 
extend back to that time. The records of this society are the l)est kept of 
any ancient records in Do\er, and have been carefully preserved. In matters 
of family records they are of great value. The first "quarterly meeting" 
was established in 1708, and have been held regularly ever since. 

114 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 115 

ST. John's methodist episcopal church 

Up to 1819 the First churcli and the Society of Friends suppHed the 
citizens of Dover with their rehgious instruction, but that year the first 
Methodist Episcopal meetings were held at the "upper factory" village, which 
was called Williamsville, from the name of the founder of the manufacturing 
concern which was established there about 1814, and the village at one time 
had three hundred or more inhabitants, the larger part of whom worked in 
the (cotton) mill. 

Rev. John Lord, since a prominent minister in Maine, now deceased, 
seems to have visited this locality and preached to the people, organizing a 
class, and subsequently a Sunday school. "Reformation" John Adams also 
visited and labored among them, as did Mr. C. G. Chase, a local preacher of 
excellent reputation, who was for many years after an influential and useful 
man in this church. Thomas Greenhalgh, a calico-printer, employed at his art 
in the very beginning of what is now the Cocheco Print-Works, and an English 
local preacher, also labored with them. The late Solomon Gray and the late 
George W. Wendell, of Great Falls, both resided at the Upper Factory at 
this time, and were pioneers in Methodism in Dover. Father Gray was a 
class-leader, and probably the first in that office in this church. 

Dover was erected into a distinct cliarge in 1823. Rev. Jotham Horton 
was appointed as the preacher; admitted to the Conference in 1820. He 
preached alternately at the Upper Factory and in the old courthouse at the 
village. 

Measures were taken in 1824 — Mr. Morton's second year — for the erec- 
tion of a house of worship. A lot of land (that on which the present house 
stands) was procured of the heirs of the celebrated Maj. Richard Waldeme, 
whose grave is in the immediate vicinity. It was donated on condition that it 
should be used only and always for the sacred purpose to which it was 
devoted. The committee appointed to conduct the enterprise conveyed the 
lot and buildings in due form and time by deed to the trustees of the society 
as a legal corporation. 

The church was not quite completed when Mr. Horton's term of service 
expired. Rev. John N. Maffitt was appointed his successor. His ministry, 
owing to his remarkable and peculiar eloquence, secured much attention. The 
church was finished and dedicated by Rev. Ephraim Wiley, of Boston, April 
28, 1825. Mr. Maffit reriiained in the pastorate two Conference years. Dur- 
ing his ministry in 1827, January 28th, a regular "legal society" or parish 
organization was formed, according to the usage of thnse days. The first 
board of trustees were Joseph Smith, Lewis B. Tibbetts, Bamabus H. Palmer, 
Richard Walker, George Piper, George W. Edgerly, and Theodore Littlefield. 
The Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt, the presiding elder, acted as moderator at the 



116 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

meeting at which tlie legal society was formed. Elder Hoyt served as pastor 
two years, with great success. 

A parsonage house was built in i8j8. A \estry had been built previous 
to that in 1827. When Elder Hoyt closed his two years' work the number 
of members in the church was reported as 125. 

Rev. John F. Adams was successor of B. R. Hoyt as presiding elder, and 
served four years. In 1829 Re\'. Bartholomew Otheman became minister in 
place of Elder Hoyt. The number in the church w hen he left in 1830 was 212. 

The Quarterly Conference records begin Dec. 22, 1828, with Rev. J. F. 
Adams as presiding elder, and B. R. Hoyt preacher-in-charge. In the report 
of this appears the first note of preacher's salary. 

Re\-. John G. Dow succeeded ^Ir. Otheman and served the customary 
two years. During his pastorate the house of worship was enlarged by the 
addition of sixteen and a half feet to the rear end. The vestry was also 
enlarged and the whole inclcsure fenced. The membership in 1832 was 224. 
Rev. R. H. Deming followed I\Ir. Dow in 1832 and remained one }-ear; his 
successor was Rev. Holmes Cushman, who did not complete his year. The 
membership had then dropped to 22^. Re\'. James Perkins was the next 
pastor. It was during this time that the great agitation of the public mind on 
the slavery question began to cause considerable trouble and disturbance in 
the Methodist Episcopal church. I\Ir. Perkins .sympathized strongly with 
the growing anti-slavery sentiment of the time, and readily admitted to his 
church and pulpit Rev. George Storrs, who came to lecture on the sin of 
slavery, the "vilest that ever saw the sun." It was on such an occasion that an 
attempt was made to mob j\Ir. Storrs, when Mr. Perkins and Rev. Mr. Root, 
pastor of the Congregational church, with other friends, led the lecturer 
between them safely through the raging rabble to the pastor's house. 
Mr. Perkins began his labors in 1833, and closed his two years in 1835. The 
membership in 1S35 is reported as 22^. Rew Eleazer Smith was appointed 
to the charge as Mr. Perkins' successor in 1835, but l)y a peculiar arrangement 
the latter was permitted to remain in Dover a third year, and Mr. Smith 
served at Great Falls, to which charge Mr. Perkins had been appointed. 

Rev. E. Smith became pastor in fact after Mr. Perkins, as he had been in 
name for the year before. This was in 1837. Re^'. Silas Greene was appointed 
as his successor in 1838. He labored two years with great acceptance. He 
returned a membership of 314 in 1839. 

Rev. J. G. Dow was the presiding elder from the Conference of 1832 to 
that of 1836, and Schuyler Chamberlain succeeded him in 1837. and served 
till 1840. 

At the Conference of 1840 Rev. E. Scott was appointed pastor. Through 
his efforts a fine bell was placed in the church tower, and many other improve- 
ments were effected. 



AXD REPRESENTATHE CITIZENS 117 

The New Hampshire Conference lield its annual session in Do\er in 1841. 
The bishop presiding was Rev. Joshua Soule, D. D. 

Rev. Ehjah Mason was appointed pastor next after Mr. Scott, in 1842. 
He remained two years, antl was generallv respected as an able and de\oted 
minister, but these were troublous times in the country and in the church. 
The anti-slavery agitation and the excitement attendant upon the preach- 
ing of William Miller, and the predictions of the coming of Christ and the 
end of the world in 1843 ^^'^^''e more or less sources of contro\ersy and party 
feeling in the Dover church. 

Besides, unfortunately, just at this time there arose "no small stir" among 
the people on the c^uestion of instrumental music in the church. This last mat- 
ter resulted in a very bitter controversy, and was undoubtedly the real cause, 
if not the occasion, of the extensive secession which took place during 
Mr. Mason's second year, 1843. That the c|uestion of slavery in the church, 
and the policy of the church on that matter, as well as the "Second Advent" 
excitement, contributed their share in disaffection and alienation may be very 
true, yet it is evident tliat no division would have resulted but for the agita- 
tion on that fruitful source of difticulty, church music. As it was, some sixty 
members withdrew from the church. This secession finally organized into a 
"True Wesleyan" church, and built a small chapel on Charles street (now the 
Charles Street Free-V\'ill Baptist church), where they flourished for a while. 
Like similar movements elsewhere. In iw ever, it soon came to naught. Some 
few of those good people came back to the old church, some .scattered among 
other denominations. 

Rev. Jacob Stevens succeeded Mr. Mason in 1844, and labored two vears. 
March 15, 1845, there were two hundred scholars in the Sunday school. 

Rev. Samuel Kelley came to this charge as the successor of Mr. Stevens 
in 1846. Mr. Kelley's two years were prosperous. The church was repaired 
at a cost of about $900. 

Rev. Charles N. Smith followed Mr. Kelley as pastor in 1848, and con- 
tinued two years. ]\Iembership, 173 in full; 41 probationers. 

Rev. Justin Spaulding followed Mr. Smith in 1850, and served two years. 
Number of members in 185 1, 180: probationers, 10; Sunday school scholars, 
228; raised for missions, $51. At the close of his second year, in 1852, 
members, 160, a loss of 20, probably by a needed revision of the records; 
probationers, 19; Sundaj- school scholars, 230; raised for missions, $105; 
salary, $500. 

Rev. J. C. Cromack came to the charge in 1852. He served two years. 
He had some revival, and left the church in good condition. His salary was 
$550, the largest ever paid up to this time. He reports at the close of his 
ministry in 1854, members, 212; probationers, 38; Sunday school scholars, 
240; raised for missions, .$185. 



118 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

Rev. Lewis Howard was Mr. Connack's successor, coming in 1854. He 
served two years. He reports at tlie close of his second year, members, 220; 
probationers, 6; Sunday school scholars, 230; missionary money, $50. 

Rev. F. A. Hewes was Mr. Howard's successor. He died in i860 at South 
Newmarket, and was buried in our cemetery at Pine Hill. He reported at the 
close of his service, members, 225; probationers, 8; total, 233; raised for 
missions, $71 ; number of Sunday school scholars, 233. The church was 
frescoed and some other repairs effected during Mr. Hewes' service. 

Rev. Calvin Holman came to the pastorate in 1858. He served one year, 
and was then appointed presiding elder of Dover District. The salary was 
advanced to $700 this year. Members in 1859, 252: probationers, 47; total, 
299, a gain of 66 during the year; Sunday school scholars, 375, a larger 
number than at any previous time; missionary money. $73.10. 

Rev. James M. Buckley came in May, 1859. He reported at the conclu- 
sion of his two years, members, 293; probationers, 50; total, 343, a gain of 
44 in two years. 

Rev. Dudley P. Leavitt came in 1861, and served two years. At the close 
of his first year a total membership of 207, 19 of them being probationers. 
Number of scholars in Sunday school, 310; raised for missions, $115. 

Mr. Leavitt was followed by Rev. Linville J. Hall, who served two years. 
During his terms the old vestry was abandoned, and a new and commodious 
chapel erected on the eastern side of the church, at a cost of more than 
$2,000. It contained a principal room, seating some 200 persons, used for 
general prayer meetings, and two fine class rooms. 

The parsonage also was removed to the site of the old vestry, and brought 
to face St. John street. An addition was built on the rear, and the whole 
building greatly improved in capacity and convenience. He reports at the 
close of his labors in 1865, 299 members and 26 probationers: total, 325. 
Sunday school scholars, 241, and $90 raised for missions. 

In April, 1865, the Xew Hampshire Annual Conference held its session 
in the Dover Church, Bishop Ames presiding. 

Rev. O. H. Jasper was appointed to the charge from this Conference. 
He served two years, commanding the respect and confidence of the church 
and the community by his ability as a preacher and his faithful pastoral 
administration. The indebtedness of the society for the removal of the par- 
sonage and the building of the new chapel was liquidated. It being the 
occasion of the celebration of the centenary (A. D. 1867) of American 
Methodism, the ])eo])k' ai)propriatcd their cnntri1)utions in this direction. Mr. 
Jasper reports at the close of his labors, members. 250; probationers, 22; 
total, 272. Another sifting of the membership had e\idently taken place. 
The Sunday school numbered 280. The largest sum was raised for missions 



AND REPRESENTATI\-E CITIZENS 119 

of any year up to this time. $300. Mr. Jasper left the church in a heahhy 
condition. ^ 

Rev. James Piice was appointed presiding elder, as Mr. Manson's suc- 
cessor, in 1867. He served four years from that date. 

Rev. R. S. Stubbs came as Mr. Jasper's successor in 1867. He had two 
good years. An extensive revival was enjoyed during his labors, which 
added considerable strengtii to the church. He reports at the close of ins 
second year, in 1869, 259 members and 70 probationers. 

Mr. Stubbs was naturally desirous of remaining a tliird vear in our 
pastorate but this arrangement did not meet the approval of 'the "official 
board that body ha\ing taken the ground that the old rule of two ye-irs 
should still be the ma.ximum limit of pastoral service in tlie Dover Church 
Mr. Stubbs was removed ostensibly on this ground, and naturally there was 
considerable discontent among some of the people, but no serious iniurv 
resulted. ■" ■^ 

Rev^ James Thurston was appointed as tiie successor of Mr. Stubbs in 
1869. He remained two years. He was received with unexpected cordialitv 
and sustained by a strong official board and a generous people He hones 
his ministry, so pleasant to himself and familv, was not without its ^ood 
fruits to the church and people. He found a large list of probationers^ left 
by his predecessor-seventy in number-but uas not able with his best efforts 
to find many of them, or to lead a large number of those he did find to full 
Christian life and church membership. Mr. Thurston's health uas ver3' poor 
during a part of his term of service, and failed entirely just at the close of 
his second year. He reports at the Conference of 1879, members, 310- proba- 
tioners, 8; Sunday school scholars, 263; collected for all benevolent pur- 
poses, $600, $300 being for missions. Tiiis uas the largest sum ever yet 
rai.sed for church benevolences. The salary was $1,300, the same as it had 
been for some three or four years previous. 

r fr'S: ^' •^'''^'"'' °- ^^ ''■'" ^PPO'"ted presiding elder at the expiration 
of Mr. Pikes term in 1871. He served four years, having his residence in 
Dover. 

In 1871, Rev. M. C. Brittain, who had been transferred from the Balti- 
more Conference, was stationed at Dover. Owing to habits of intemperance, 
which he said he had formed in the navy, in uhich he had served as a chap- 
lain, he resigned the charge at the request of the official board and the 
presiding elder in December. He removed from the city soon after his 
resignation. The church was deeply affected with grief at this unfortunate 
event, but treated Mr. Brittain with the greatest kindness, and bore with him 
some time with charitable hopes of his reformation, which was of no avail 
notwithstanding his strong promises and feeble efforts 

By request of the Quarterly Conference, and with the greatest concur- 



120 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

rence of the church and congregation, tlie presiding elder appointed Rev. 
James Thurston, who was stil! resi(hiig in this city, as a supernumerary 
minister, to assume tlie pastoral charge of the church. Taking charge in 
January, he acted as pastor the rest of the Conference year, preaching occa- 
sionally as he was able, but supplying the jjulpit by help from aliroad most 
of the time. This sad episode in our history resulted in less hami to the 
society than was feared, though a source of some discouragement and a 
slight loss. 

In 1872, Rev. C. W. iVIillen was appointed pastor, and reapixiinted in 
1873. '■^ "^w house for the society's use on the Hedding campground was 
erected at a cost of $400. ]\Ir. Millen reports at the Conference of 1^74. 
members, 290; probationers, 19; total, 309; Sunday school scholars, 302. 
Mr. Millen's salary was $1,500. 

Rev. Wilber F. Crafts came in 1874. Numbers in church in 1875, 265; 
probationers, 80; total, 345, a gain of 55. Sunday school scholars, 353. 
Raised for missions, $218, $41 of which was by the \V omen's Foreign ]Mis- 
sion Society. 

The juvenile department of the Sunday school was organized as a 
separate, though not independent branch, under the direction and care of 
Mrs. Crafts. 

Rev. O. W. Scott came to the charge after Mr. Crafts, in 1875. 

It was decided early in the first year of ]Mr. Craft's labors to build a 
new church. Tliis enterprise was commenced in August. 1875, and the elegant 
structure which now stands on the site of the old edifice was completed and 
dedicated to God by Bishop Foster, September 6, 1876. 

The old church, which had served its purpose for fifty vears, though un- 
suitaljle for the uses of the society on account of limited cai>acitv and ill 
adaptation in style and convenience, was yet dear to the older members of 
the church, and given up with natural reluctance. 

The last service in it was held on Sunday. August 1, 1875. The >er\ ice 
of the laying of the corner-stone was observed on October 2, 1875, under the 
direction of Rev. Dr. Barrows, presiding elder of Dover District, who gave 
an address and laid the stone. The prayer for this service in the ritual 
w'as offered by Rev. J. Thurston. The singing was by the choir of the church, 
led by John S. Hayes. A large congregation attended, and the service was 
solemn and impressive. The stone contains documents giving an account of 
the building and demolition of the old edifice, the names of the present pastor, 
presiding elder, church officials, building committee, city papers, coins, etc., 
closely sealed up in a copper box. 

The new church was dedicated September 6, 1876. It is built of brick, 
with basement entirely above ground. It is 56 feet w^ide and 100 feet long, 
exclusive of the chancel and tower projections, which make its entire length 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 121 

about 120 feet. Its walls from the ground are 45 feet high, and the tOAver, 
which IS at one corner. i,as a height of 140 feet. The tower contains a 
chnne of nnie l,ells. u ith an aggregate weight of 8,600 pounds, costing 
about $3.too. These bells are of excellent tone. .This is the only chime 
of bells HI a Methodist Church ui the world, except the Metropolitan at 
Washuigton. The basement contains a complete set of church rooms Aside 
from the entries it has a lecture room. w,th seats for about 600 persons- a 
smaller vestry, with 175 sittmgs; a library room, opening into both these 
apartments, tor the accommodation of both the adult and juvenile divisions 
of the Sunday school ; a completely appointed kitchen, a parlor for the ladies' 
circle. The organ was built by Hutchins & Plaisted, of Boston, and cost 
$3-000. I he church \m11 seat nearly i.ooo persons. The entire cost of the 
building with furniture was $35,700. 

Rev. Morris W. I'rince was appointed as the successor of Mr Scott and 
remained till 1879. L- C. I'ield was pastor from 1879 to 1880; C E Hall 
1880-1881. The present pastor is the Rev. Elwin Hitchcock, who' is the forty- 
third minister, m regular succession, and the churcli is in a pn,sperous 
conditii_)n. 

The First Uuircrsalisf Socicly was organized March 27,. 1825 on which 
occasion Jonathan Locke was chairman, and (. H. Curtis, clerk Hiram 
Rollins. N. W. Ela. Joseph Badger and John Moore were also prominent 
members. This society was reorganized in 1837, under the name of the First 
Universalist of Dover. They have a neat house of worship, pleasantly 
situated on Third street. It was erected in 1837, and dedicated December 
8th. the .same year. It cost $2,800. Rev. Rufus O. Williams was their 
pastor. He was installed May 2^,. 1838. Resigned his office May, 184 1. A 
fine-toned bell was placed upon the church November, 1842, at a cost of 
$375- It weighs 1.365 pounds. The church was publicly recognized with 
appropriate services December 25, 1838. Rev. Eben Francis was born in 
Boston, May 28. 1819. Began his labors in Dover June 6, 1841 ; ordained 
pastor October 13. 1841 ; dismissed 1844. 

Flis successors have been W G. Anderson, 1845-46; J. G. Forman, 
1847-48; Thomas J. Greenwood. 1848-58; F. F. Hicks, 1858-61; Benjamin 
F. Eaton, 1862-66; E. Hewitt. 1868-70; J. Crehore, 1871-73- H W Hand 
1877-78; J. Gorton. 1878-79. 

The house was sold in 1874. lUit the organization was preserved and 
worship was renewed in 1883. A new and elegant brick church of fine archi- 
tecture was erected on Central a\enue by the munificence of Thomas W. 
Peirce, a former citizen of Dover, in commemoration of his parents The 
building is called the "Peirce Memorial Church." and is an ornament to the 
city. 

The First Free-mil Baptist Church. Some time in or near the year 1824, 



122 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

individuals, members of Free-Will Baptist Churches iu the main village and at 
"Upper Factory," began to assemble at the latter place for religious worship. 
In 1826 a revival was enjoyed. 

Organized September 15, 1826, with twenty-five members, at the house 
of Mrs. Webster, at Garrison Hill. Elder Roger Copp was moderator, and 
Samuel Davis served as clerk. September 2, 1827, the Lord's Supper was 
administered for the first time by Elder E. Place. Garrison Hill schoolhouse 
being too small for the assembly, they gathered under some shady oaks 
near by. 

Meetings were held in Garrison Hill schoolhouse, old courthouse in oppo- 
site direction, in a hall in Sawyer's building on Landing, an unfinished room 
over the blacksmith shop on the hill. Main street, which took the name of 
"Iron Chapel," at Deacon Jenness' vestry under G. W. Wendell's house, 
corner of School and Main streets, at the academy, and in manv pri\ate 
dwellings in the village and at L'pper Factory. 

October 27, 1830, steps were taken to purchase a lot and to erect a 
meeting house on (what is now known as) the corner of Chestnut and 
Lincoln streets. This was accomplished at a cost of $2,000, and May 
20, 1832, it was dedicated; sermon by Re\-. A. Ca\'erno. The strength 
and efficiency of the church was essentially in the women who worked in 
the factories, who, under God, were the soul of the movement in building 
a house of worship. In September, 1834, the churcli numbered 250. 

From 1838 to 1839 was a time of severe trials, resulting in a division and 
the formation of a new church (now AX'ashington street). Under the bless- 
ing of God, a precious revival followed. 

In 1843, under the labors of Elder Hiram Stevens, the church endured 
a severe shock from the intense excitement of Millerism, in which the pastor 
for a time was carried away. It soon recovered, by the help of God, from 
the injury received. From the unfortunatet trials of 1872 and 1873, "^2'' 
the close of Rev. E. A. Stockman's pastorate, it has measurably recovered. 

August 17, 185 1, the society abandoned its house of worship on Chestnut 
street for a new one, remodeled at a cost of $1,500, on Charles street, 
since which time three thousand dollars or more have been expended in 
vestry, repairs and changes. The church has seen many trials, but it has 
also seen many precious revivals and man}' souls converted. Sixteen hun- 
dred have been members of the church, as near as can be ascertained by 
the records. 

Pastors: Andrew T. Foss, in 1S27, one year and a half; ALn^hew 
Clark, in 1829, short time; Nathaniel Thurston, in 1831, about three years; 
Enoch Mack, October, 1835, to May, 1837; A. D. Smith, June, 1S37, about 
two years; Aaron Ayer, in 1839, about two years; Hiram Stevens, in 1842, 
about two years: S. W^ Perkins, in 1844, some over one year; A. D. Smith, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 123 

in 1846, three years; A. Caverno, in 1849, to April, 1852; Mooers Cole, 
Augnst, 1852, to May, 1855; '\- Caverno, May, 1855, to May, 1856; J. M. 
Durgin, May, 1856, to April, i860; James Rand, October 14, 1S60, to 
September 29, 1867; John Malvern, March, 1868, to September 24, 1871 ; 
E. A. Stockman, November 15, 1871, to January, 1873; Charles E. Blake, 
June, 1874, to July, 1875; E. W. Ricker, February, 1876, to March, 1882; 
H. F. Wood, May, 1882. The church was disljanded in 1899, several min- 
isters having served up to 1895. 

The First Unitarian Society of Christians in Dover. The first meeting 
for fonning this society was held August 28, 1827. The society was organ- 
ized on September 4, following. 

The first meeting for public worship was held at the courthouse, Novem- 
ber 4th of the same year, when Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., then pastor of the 
New Brick Church, Hanover street, Boston, and afterwards Professor of 
Pulpit Eloquence in Cambridge Divinity School, ofiicicated. The house was 
built of brick, seventy by eighty-three feet, in the year 182S, situated on 
Locust street, opposite head of Kirkland street, and cost $12,000. It was 
dedicated, and Rev. Samuel Kirkland Lothrop ordained February 17, 1829. 
The dedicatory services were performed by Rev. Dr. Nichols, of Portland, and 
ordination sermon by Rev. Dr. Parker, of Portland. The church was 
gathered the evening previous. 

Mr. Lothrop was born in Utica, N. Y., October 13, 1804, was graduated 
at Harvard College in 1825, received his theological education at the Theo- 
logical School at Cambridge, and was approbated for the ministry August, 
1828. He was pastor of the church and society until May, 1834. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Edgar Buckingham, who was ordained December 30, 
1835. He resigned June 17, 1839, and removed to Trenton, N. Y. Rev. 
John Parkman, native of Boston, Mass., graduated at Harvard College in 
183 1, had been settled in the ministry in Greenfield, Mass., and was installed 
pastor of this church and society April 22, 1840. He remained until 1849. 
His successors have been : 

Henry F. Bond, ordained May, 185 1. 

Edwin M. Wheelock, ordained January 27, 1857, appointed chaplain, 
October, 1862, of the Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers. 

Francis E. Abbot, ordained August 31, 1864. 

Thomas W. Brown, settled December 15, 1869, left May 2, 1875. 

Charles A. Allen, settled September 5, 1875, resigned March 30, 1879. 

W. R. G. Mellen, began labor October i, 1880, served several years and 
has had able successors to the present time. 

Franklin Street B-aptist Cliurch was constituted with thirteen members, 
and recognized in the usual form by a council on August 23, 1828. The 
names of members were John Alden, Samuel Chase, John Roberts, Dorcas 



124 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Alden. Cliarity Woodward, Hannah Wentworth, Louisa A. Ayer, John 
Gould, Joshua W. Bazin, WiUiam E. Lord, Mary E. Harris, Sarah Went- 
worth, Sarah J. Ayer. 

Before organization, in ]\Iarch, 1S2S, Dev. Duncan Dunbar was invited 
to preach to this body of Baptist friends, and as a resuU of a few Sundays' 
stay three were baptized on profession of tlieir faith. 

Octol>er 21, 1829, Brother Elijah Foster was ordained. On the same day 
the i)resent church edifice was dedicated. The Rev. Elijah Foster continued 
pastor of the church till the spring of 1831, when he received and accepted 
a call to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Salisbury and Ames- 
bury, Mass. 

In Decemlier. 183J, Rev. Xoah Hooper was elected pastor, and remained 
until July, 1833, when he was dismissed to become pastor of the Baptist 
Church of Sanbornton, N. H. At the same meeting of the dismissal of 
Rev. Mr. Hooper it was also \oted to call Rev. Gibbon Williams to the 
pastorate. He remained \\ ith the church until the summer of 1835, when he 
accepted the call of the church at Chester. 

In November, 1835, Brother Benjamin Brierly was ordained to the work 
of the ministry and settled as pastor of the church. His stay was nearly 
two years. 

In June, 1838, Brother Lucien Hayden, of Hamilton Theological Sem- 
inary, was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and remained three 
years. 

The successor of Rev. Mr. Hayden was Rev. A. M. Swain, who came 
to the pastorate of the church in No\'eml:)er, 1842, and remained until 
May, 1844. 

In September, 1844, Rev. Oliver Ayer became pastor of the church. He 
officiated six years and eight months. 

Rev. L. D. Hill followed as pastor, coming to the work June i, 185 1. and 
remaining a little more than two years. 

Rc\'. John Cookson succeeded him March 16, 1854. During his pastorate 
of one year alterations and improxements in the house of worship tn the 
amount of $550 were made. 

Brother Warren C. Clapp, a licentiate of the Franklindale Church, New 
York, accepted a call from the church, and was ordained as its pastor May 
27. 1856. He remained six years. 

In August, 1862, Rev. L. D. Hill was again called to the pastorate c"^ 
this church from Thomaston, Me., and officiated four years. 

Deacon John Gould, for thirty-five years an office-bearer in the church, 
and one of its first deacons, a man greatly loved, died. 

In May, 1867, Rev. Alden Sherwin, of Brattleborough, Vt., accepted a 
unanimous call to the pastorate of the church, remaining until October, 1868. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 125 

In September, 18O9. Rev. W,ll,a,n T. Cliase con:nienced pastoral labors 
with the church. After four years and two months he was dismissed to 
the pastorate of the Baptist Church at Lewiston Me 

In February. 1S74, J^ev. A. Bryant uas chosen to tlie pastorate whose 
stay extended over a period of a year and two months 

On the 30th of September. 1875, P.rother Charles A. Towns was or- 
damed to the work of the ministry, and was settled as pastor of the church 
He was dismissed May, 1881. 

Rev. Robert L. Colwcll became pa.fu- ,„ ( )clob.r, ,88,, and served seve.-al 
years: .ull„wnio- ]„,„ h.-ue been a nn.nber ,,f able pa.stors. and the church 
lias prospered. 

During the f^rst fifty years of its existence there have been added to the 
church 662 members, 411 of whom were baptized into its fellowship and the 
remamder by letter and ex];erience. 

The year following the organization of the church the Sundav school 
work was taken up. and has been engaged in ever since that time ' 

Rowan Catholic Church. Mass was first .said in this town in the winter 
of 18.0, by Rev. Virgil H. Barber, S. J. Aniong the prominent pioneer 
Catholics m Dover were Willia,n Ashcroft, John Burns, Francis G O'Neill 
Philip b. Scanlan and \\'il!iam AIcDevitt. 

Services were f^rst held in the courthouse. May 17, i8^S the corner- 
stone of the first Catholic Church was laid, and was' completed and accepted 
111^ June, ^ii2ij. It cost $j,8oo. The church was coiiseci-ated September '6 
1830, by Rt. Rev. Dr. l),,niinick Fenwick, of Boston. The rapid o,-,nvth of 
the church demanded a more commodious church edifice, and in 1872 the 
present building was completed. 

The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Ivather French, in 1827 
who remained two years after the erection of the first church edifice and 
was succeeded by Rev. blather Lee, M. D., D. D. He remained three years 
and was followed Iw Rev. Father McXamee, M. D., D. D. He officiated until 
1839, and was succeeded by Rev. Father Conovan, who stayed until iS^S- 
Father McShane came next, succeeded by Father Brady. Next came Father 
Niccolo, who was followed by leather Drummond, assisted by the Rev. Father 
Blodgett, a convert, who was given full charge of the parish before he had 
been here a year on account of the feebleness of Father Drummond. 

Father Blodgett was one of the most able and enterprising priests that 
ever presided over this parish. It was through him that the New Hampshire 
House property and the new Catholic cemetery was secured, and, had he 
lived, he would have erected upon this property one of the finest churches 
in the state. Father Blodgett died May 15, 1881, and was the first priest 
to be buried in Dover. Rev. Father Murphy succeeded, and was soon given 



126 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

full charge of the parish, as Father Drunimond became demented, and died 
in October, 1882. 

Feather ^lurphy improved the Xew Hampshire House property by erecting 
on it one of the hnest parochial schools in the county: he also remodeled the 
main Iniilding of the hotel for a nunnery. The present church was imiiroved 
at once, at an expense of thousands of dollars. Xew steam-heating apparatus 
was put in, and tiie church was frescoed by one of the best artists in that busi- 
ness. The parsonage was remodeled and extended under the suj)ervision of 
Father Murphy. Since his death \arious other improxements ha\'e been made, 
St. Thomas' Church. The first account of services in the vicinity of 
Dover in accordance with the doctrine and ritual of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church I if America is to be found in the report of Rew Henry Blackwaller to 
a convention held at Hopkinton. Wednesday, September 8, 1830. Therein 
he reports a flourishing parish by the name of St. Paul's Church, Great 
F\alls, Somersworth. In the spring of 183 1, Mr. Blackwaller removed to 
Salmon Falls to take charge of an Episcopal Church (Christ Church) just 
then established there. In the Convention journal of 1832, Mr. Blackaller 
reports that since the month of February, 1832, "he has held occasional 
services in the increasingly populous village of Dover." Friday evening, 
February 15, 1832, he reports "that our venerable prelate (the late Right 
Rev. Alexander V. Griswold) preached in the Congregational place of wor- 
ship in Dover on the doctrines of the church before a numerous and respec- 
table audience, with much apparent interest to all present." He adds that a 
church of our order is much desired by several respectable families in Dover, 
and expresses a belief in its ultimate establishment and success. The per- 
manent establishment of this church in Dover is not due entirely or chiefly, 
however, to the efforts of Mr. Blackwaller, but rather to the venerable 
rector of St. John's Church, Charlestov n. Mass., the Rev. Thomas R. 
Lambert, D. D., who in 1839, being chaplain in the navy, began the regular 
services of the church in what was then Belknap School, a wooden building, 
then situated on Church street, since moved to Third street, and occupied 
for business purposes. September 2, 1839, gentlemen interested in the forma- 
tion of a church met in this schoolhouse and entered into an association for 
this purpose. The signers of the original articles of association were Asa A. 
Tufts, Richard Steele, Caleb Duxbury, Thomas C. Oakes, \\'illiam Wil- 
liamson, Thomas Hough, Stephen Hardy, William Johnson, Daniel Hallam, 
Samuel H. Parker, Sanborn B. Carter, Thomas R. Lambert, Charles Hus- 
band, Edward Husband, Thomas Hampton, James Duxbury, Charles W. 
Woodman, John Duxbury. The church was called St. Thomas' Church. 

December i, 1839, Rev. William Horton, before rector of Trinity 
Church, Saco, became rector of St. Thomas' Church, Dover. In 1840 a lot 
of land was bought on what is now the corner of Central and St. Thomas 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 127 

street, then a part of the Atkinson estate. A church bniliHng was erected 
and finished January, 1841, at the cost of $5,800. The first service was held 
in the new church January 17, 1841. The church was consecrated by Bishop 
Griswold, Marcli 17, 1841. August, 1841, the parish consisted of sixty 
families and forty communicants. Rev. Mr. Horton resigned his rectorship 
November 10, 1847. The Rev. Thomas G. Salter became rector December 
12, 1847. In i860 gas was put into the church, and the church bell was 
hung. July i, 1861, Mr. Salter resigned his rectorship, and September i, 
1861, Rev. Edward M. Gushee became the rector. During our late Civil 
war Mr. Gushee was chaplain of the Ninth New Hampshire Regiment, and in 
his absence Rev. Charles Wingate officiated as rector. Mr. Gushee resigned 
in April, 1864. December i, 1864, the Rev. John W. Clark became rector. 
Mr. Clark resigned September 16, 1866. February 3, 1867, Rev. George 
G. Field was chosen rector. Mr. Field resigned August 16, 1868. Rev 
John B. Richmond became rector November 8, 1868. During the rectorship 
of Mr. Richmond the church building was altered inside and out, and its 
seating capacity increased. Mr. Richmond resigned April 29, 1876, and 
was succeeded by the Rev. Ithamar W. Beard, who was chosen rector, and 
entered upon his duties November 5, 1876, and served to November, 189S. 
During his pastorate the beautiful house of worship was built on Hale street. 
At present the number of families in the parish is about 150; the number of 
conununicants, 106; the Sunday school, 150 teachers and pupils. The ]iarisli 
has been subject to the usual changes incident to a manufacturing town, h 
ranks perha|is third (jr f(iurth in order among the parislies of this church in 
New Hani])shirc. 

JVashiugtoii Street Free-Will Baptist Cliiireli. The church was organ- 
ized in the Central street vestry, February 4, 1840. The first covenant was 
signed by thirteen persons, as follows : William Burr, Enoch Mack, Tobias 
Scruton, Jonathan C. Gilman. Asa H. Littlefield, M. D. L. Stevens, E. B. 
Chamberlain, Alfred Scruton. Lucy ^'. Foss, Eunice Colbath, Elance Fuller, 
Chloe Holt, Mary Willard. 

Of these none is now living. The first settled ])astor was Rev. J. B. Da\-is 
He entered upon his pastorate No\'ember i, 1840. and remained Init one year. 

The subsequent pastors have been as follows : Rev. A. K. Moulton. 
settled in 1841, remained one year; Rev. R. Dunn, settled in 1843, remained 
one year; Rev. Elias Hutchins, settled in 1845, remained thirteen years; 
Rev. Charles E. Blake, settled in 1866, remained but one year; Rev. Willet 
Vary, settled in 1859, closed his labors in 1866; Rev. I. D. Stewart, settled 
in 1867, remained until 1874; Rev. G. C. Waterman, began his pastorate in 
1874, and closed in 1879. The Rev. Frank K. Chase began his pastorate in 
October, 1879, and served until 1892. Since then four pastors have served, 
and the church is prosperous. 



128 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Tliree hundred and thirty-six converts liave been baptized by the pastors. 
The whole number connected with the church to date is about seven hundred 
and ten. The church has always been forward in all benevolent work, has 
been actively engaged in the Sunday school work, and has enjoyed the 
presence and counsel of many noble men and women. Upon all great moral 
questions she has spoken with no uncertain voice. 

The services were held at first in the Central street vestry. When that 
became crowded they were removed to what was then known as the "Bel- 
knap schoolhouse," standing in the rear of the First Parish Church. After 
that the services were held for a time in the old courthouse. The first house 
of worship owned by the society was the building on Washington street now 
known as the Odd Fellows building. 

This was dedicated September 21, 1843. During the pastorate of Rev. I. 
D. Stewart the society sold out its interest in this building, and erected its brick 
church I in Washington street. This was dedicated October 28, iS(K). 

On the morning of Tuesday. ,May 2, 1882. a fire broke out in a small brush 
factory near the church. The fire soon spread to the church itself, and in 
a painfully short time the church was a mass of smouldering ruins. In the 
afternoon a heavy wind blew the northern gable over. The bricks fell upon 
the audience room floor, crushing it like an eggshell. 

A number of persons were standing in the vestry, and five of them were 
buried beneath the ruins. Four of these were taken out alive. The fifth, 
Judge John R. Varney, was not missed until late at night. A midnight 
search was made, and he was found crushed and dead under the bricks and 
broken timbers. 

At an informal meeting of the society, held on \\'ednesday evening, in 
the chapel of the First Parish, it was decided to accept the otter of the 
Belknap Church, which was then without a pastor and not holding regular 
services. The first service in this church was held Sunday, May 7th. The 
rebuilding of the church, much improved, was completed in 1882. 

Belknap Congregational Church. This church was the result of public 
worship begun in the town hall 1)_\- Re\-. Benjamin F. Parsons, after his resig- 
nation of the First Church, from which he was dismissed September 3, 
1856. A Sabbath school was organized July 6, 183(1, with forty-five scholars. 
A society was organized July 7. 1856. and the church September 3, 1856. 
with forty- four members. The corner-stone of the house of worship was laid 
July 4, 1859, and the house was dedicated December 29, 1859. Rev. Mr. 
Parsons was dismissed, on his resignation, October 24. 1861. His successors 
in service have been Charles H. Pratt. James B. Thornton 1 lu-gan December. 
1861), E. A. Spence, Ezra Haskell ( l)egan in 1862). Charles C. Watson 
(installed July 11, 1867), J. W. Savage. Frank Haley. Isaiah P. Smith, 
James De Buchananne. from 1877 to 1882: Ezra Haskell, 1889-1895; R. K. 



AND REPRESENTATI\-E CITIZENS 129 

Jones. ,895-96. The churcli was closed until 19,0, when services were 
resumed. 

The Advent Christian Church was organized Mav 4, 1881, by a body of 
Christians who had worshiped in houses an<l halls since 1843, having been 
literally without a resting place during that period. They erected a house of 
worship m 1881-82. on the corner of St. Thunias and Atkinson streets which 
was dedicated April 16, 1882. Since then f^ve able ministers have served as 
pastors. 

At a meeting of the society and its friends in the spring of i88r George 
E. Durgni, John Brooks, and William H. Vicery were appointed to contract 
for the building of a house of worship. 

It was built from the plans and under the direction of Geor^^e Brown 
the architect, at a cost of $5,ooo-Jacob Emery, contractor aifd builder.' 
The seats are free and the church is supported by free-will ofTerings. 



CHAPTER IX 
HISTORY OF DOVER (V) 

THE VARIOUS FORMS OF GOVERNMENT 

The various forms of government under which tiie people of Dover have 
lived have been progressive. During the first decade, 1623 to 1633, it does 
not appear that Edward Hihon and his associates were governed by any 
except the Common Law of England and such formal agreements they were 
under to those with whom they had dealings, in the way of trade, in England. 
Being a small community, they had no need for a formal code of by-laws. 
They conducted business just as they would have done in England. 

When Edward Hilton secured his grant, March 12, 1629-30, renewing 
and confirming what he had obtained and occupied for seven years, under 
the Thomson grant of 1622, there appears to have been quite a number of 
Bristol men, in England, names not known, who became financially interested 
with Hilton in his endeavor to increase the number of settlers. These Bristol 
men appointed Capt. Thomas Wiggin as tlieir agent to act for them in con- 
junction with Hilton, and Captain Wiggin came over in 163 1 and spent 
a year with Hilton, prospecting, and he made up his mind it was a good 
place to bring a colony for an enlargement of the settlement Hilton had 
already made. He returned to England in 1632 and spent another year in 
doing missionary work among his well-to-do acquiantances to induce them to 
emigrate and take possession of the grand opportunities which Hilton's plan- 
tation presented on the Pascataqua in New England. \Mien he had perfected 
his arrangements, he brought over a shipload, in the ship James, and they 
landed at Salem, Mass., October 10, 1633. The number was about thirty — 
ships were small in those days — "some of whom were of good estate and some 
account for religion," that is to say, they were Puritans. The report says they 
had been eight weeks between Gravesend and Salem. They took ship imme- 
diately for Hilton Point on the Pascataqua, Captain Wiggin writing from 
that place to friends in England in November. They at once commenced the 
settlement on Dover Neck, cutting "Hight street" from Pomeroy Cove to 
the top of Huckleberry Hill. Captain Wiggin, acting as Governor, granted 
house lots along the street, as he had been given authority to do. About that 
time, it is said, the Bristol company (land speculators) sold their interests to 

130 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 131 

the ruritan lords. Say and Erouk, George Willys and William Whiting 
(another group of land speculators). These men continued Captain Wiggin 
in authority, as Governor, or agent, or business manager, with authority to 
issue land grants, and be chief ruler among the pei^ple. He held this position 
until 1637. 

In the autumn of 1637 the people formed a "combination" for govern- 
ment, and Rev. George Burdett was placed at the head. Up to that time it 
does not appear the settlement had any special rules of law, or by-laws, more 
than the laws in force in England and Captain Wiggin's dictum of what to 
do and what not to do. Simple fact appears to be that Captain Wiggin 
withdrew to his plantation on the east side of Great Bay, as Hilton had 
withdrawn to his big land estate at what is now Xewfields, and the rest of the 
settlers deemed it necessary to make a formal organization to maintain 
order and keep peace and harmony. As was perfectly natural, they chose 
their minister, Mr. Burdett, for the head officer, whatever you may be pleased 
to call him. He served one year. His successor was Capt. John Underbill, 
w'ho became Governor and commander of the militia in November or Decem- 
ber, 1638. He continued in office until March or April, 1640, but remained 
commander of the militia until 1642. Thomas Roberts succeeded Captain 
Underbill as Governor and "president of the court," and served two years, 
until the town came under formal control of the Massachusetts Bay Colony 
in 1642, in accordance with the vote of the townsmen in town meeting, 
held in October, 1641. In 1642 Dover Iiccame a town in Norfolk County, 
Mass., and so remained nearly forty years, when New Hampshire was 
brought into existence as a province separate from Massachusetts, so far as 
courts and local laws were concerned. 

That the people of Dover had a combination for government under their 
minister, Rev. George Burdett, has been shown by a letter of that person 
dated November 29, 1638, wherein also it appears that he had held the 
power as chief ruler for the preceding year in such a ccmiljination. Whether 
this combination had dissolved, or whether a new one might be considered 
more binding, or the old one was not sufficiently formal, a new- one was 
entered into on October 29, 1640. This document is the oldest extant record in 
Dover history. It is as follows : 

"Whereas sundry mischiefs and inconveniences have befaln and more and 
greater may in regard of want of ci\-ill government his Gratious Ma"' haveing 
hiteherto setled no order for us to our knowldge: 

"Wee whose names are underwritten being Inhabitants upon the River 
Pascataquack have voluntarily agreed to combine ourselves into a body 
politique that wee may the more comfortably enjoy the benefit of his i\Ia"" 
Lawes together with all such Orders as shallbee concluded by a major part 



132 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of the Freemen of our Society in case they bee not repugnant to the Lawes 
of England and administered in the behalfe of his Majesty. 

"And this wee have mutually promised and concluded to do and so to 
continue till his Excellent Ma'"' shall give other Order concerning us. In 
Witness whereof wee have hereto set our hands the two and twentieth day 
of October in the sixteenth yeare of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles 
by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of 
the Faith &c. Annoq Dom. 1640. 

"John Follet, Robert Nanney, William Jones, Phillip Swaddon, Richard 
Pinckhame, Bartholomew Hunt. William Bowden. John Wastill, John 
Heard. John Hall. Abel Camond. Henry Beck, Rol)ert Huggins, Thom. 
Larkham, Richard Waldern, William Waldern. William Storer, William 
Furbur. Tho. Layton, Tho. Roberts, Bartholomew Smith, Samuel Haines, 
John Underbill, Peter Garland, John Dam, Steven Teddar, John Ugroufe, 
Thomas Canning, John Phillips, Tho : Dunstar, Fran : Champernoon, Hansed 
Knollyes, Edward Colcord, Henry Lahorn. Edward Starr, James Xute, 
Anthony Emery, Richard Laham, William Pomfret, John Cross, George 
Webb. James Rawlins. 

"This is a true copy compared with y" Originall bv mee 

"Edw. C.\n field. 
[Indorsed.] 

"The Combination for Government by y*" people at Pascataq 1640 Rec'd 
abt. 13th Febr. 82-3." 

This combination appears to ha\-c embraced all the important names in 
Do\'er. We miss those of Edward Hilton and Thomas Wiggin, but both 
those persons had removetl outside the limits of the patent. On the roll is 
the name of Underbill, the commander of the military forces, although he 
was still continuing his machinations for union with Massachusetts; Knollys 
and Larkham. the two clerg)'men. of university education, soon to be at 
the head of rival factions; William Walderne and William Pomfrett. suc- 
cessively recorders ; Edward Colcord, an unpleasantly active citizen, to whom 
Hubbard gives an apocryphal governorship; Roberts, president of the court; 
Emery, a wealthy landowner, ancestor of judges ; Starbuck, an elder in the 
Dover church ; Hall, whose beautful fami on the Great Bay became the 
foundation of the great modern properties of his descendants, the March 
and Peirce families; Rawlins, whose picturesque lands on the Piscataqua 
are still held by descendants of his name, and whose posterity numbers judges 
and senators; Chanipern(.ion, in whose \eins flowed the blood of the I'lantage- 
nets, and no less honored in being the kinsman of Gilbert and Raleigh ; 
Richard Walderne, many years a Speaker of the Massachusetts Assembly, 
and commander of the soldiers of New Hampshire in years of Indian war- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 133 

fare. Of the whole at least fifteen are still represented on Dover soil by 
descendants of their own name. 

From the date of this combination there has been an uninterrupted gov- 
ernment, town and city, to the year 1913, 2-/T, years. That combination was 
purely democratic. It originated with the peo])le and by the people and for 
the people. It began with the first element of nati\e rights, that of estab- 
lishing a government by the jiopular voice, and without consent of king or 
lord. At this time the interests u\ the lords. Say and Brook, hafl ceased ; 
by what arrangement with the settlers is not recorded. \\'hen those high- 
rank Englishmen bought the interests of the British company which sent 
over Capt. Thomas Wiggin in 1631 to investigate the locality here, they were 
purposing to come here thenisehes and put their time and their money into 
building up a colony that would ri\al and surpass John W'inthrop's colony 
at Massachusetts Bay, which had l)een located at Boston in 1630. In antici- 
pation thereof they sent over their proposals for a form of government. 
They would ha\'e two classes only take jjart and ha\'e power in public 
affairs. These two they called, the one class "gentlemen," the other class 
"freeholders." They, thenisehes, were conung here to li\e antl, with such 
others as they should select, were to be the upper class called gentlemen, 
from whom alone the magistrates could be chosen, and, moreover, these 
gentlemen were to be an hereditary upper house in the government, pre- 
cisely like the English House of Peers. The Dover sentiment positively 
refused to accept the liereditary projiosal. They would ha\e no House of 
Peers. The result was that not long after this proposition was rejected the 
noble lords. Say and Brook, dropj.ed out of New Knoland history, and 
the settlers in this town thereupon established a simple democracy. The 
Dover of today, with its city form of go\-ernment. is in si)irit the Northam 
of 1640. 

Although in the year following, namely 1*^)41, the pei)[)le consented to 
come under the general government of Massachusetts, and did so come in 
1642, they did so upon two conditions. One was that the people here should 
have their own courts ; the other w as that they would not consent to the 
Massachusetts law- that none but church members should have the right 
to vote. In this way Dover jjeople preserved the right of local self-govern- 
ment and nurtured that spirit which has always characterized our people. 

Thus it is manifest that the political history of Dover did not begin with 
a general government, but was first, and the government developed from it. 
Dover was never incorporated. The name of the town was Northam when 
the people voted to come under, or rather unite with Massachusetts. It was 
made one of the towns of Norfolk county, and the representatives who 
were sent to the Massachusetts General Court were among the leading men 
of the Bay Colony. The town continued to transact its own local atfairs in 



134 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

its own town meetings, being subject only to the general laws that were 
enacted by the General Court. It was the sole grantor of lands within its 
limits, and its citizens held these lands in fee simple. It levied and collected 
its own taxes. It made its nun municipal regulations. The town records 
contain many examples of this sort; just what the local conditions demanded; 
they they did not ask the General Court to do anything of this kind for them. 
They decided in town meeting whether or not a man might become a resi- 
dent among them. Not every one who came along was allowed to reside 
in its settlements; they looked carefully at the quality of its citizens. They 
did not require everybody to become a member of the Church to have the 
right to vote, but they took good care that none but reputable men were 
made freemen and voters in town meetings. No man could be taken out 
of his neighborhood for trial as to his person or property; the local courts 
had entire control in such matters. No person or soldiers could be drawn 
out of Dover without the consent of the tinvn. 

Dover was under the authority of the general laws of Massachusetts 
for forty years. It sent its Representatives to the General Court; they 
called them Deputies. Maj. Richard Walderne was one of the number 
many times and was seven years Speaker of the House in that General 
Court, and was one of the most influential men in that ofiicial body, but his 
constituents kept close watch of him and the Court. Dover repeatedly 
passed such votes of instruction as this: "You shall stand to maintain our 
privileges by virtue of our articles of agreement and bring the proceedings 
of the Court that concern us in writing.'' And again : "In town meeting 
voted orders for the Deputy to the General Court: He shall not with his 
consent pass any act impugning our privileges, but shall enter his dissent 
against all such acts." And again: "You shall stand to maintain our priv- 
ileges concerning military ailairs that we may not be drawn out of our 
county of Dover and Portsmouth according to our first (1641) agreement." 
These instructions were not solely for Deputy Walderne, l>ut fur every 
Deputy the town sent to the Massachusetts General Court. They did not 
have newspapers in those days, so when the Court was through its session 
Major Walderne had to read his report of the proceedings, and laws enacted, 
to the people assembled in public meeting in the meeting house on Dover Neck. 
No doubt the leading men cross questioned him closely, as he read his reports. 

At the end of forty years, the same number that the Patriarch [Moses led 
the Israelites in the Wilderness, the New Hampshire towns were made into 
the Province of New Hampshire, which made its own laws but had a 
common Governor with Massachusetts. In 1742 the province was separated 
completely from Massachusetts and had its own Governor. In 1775 the 
Province changed to a Colony, and very soon to a State. Dover men took 
an acti\e and important part as the various changes were made, through 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS 135 

wars and revolutions. Do\-er conlinncd the town meeting fonn of govern- 
ment down to i85(), twu centuries and a (|uarter, 'Jlie to\vn_ liad grown so 
numerous tliat the town meetings were \ery unwieldy bodies to govrern and 
transact public business in an orderly and satisfactory manner, so in 1855 
the New Hampshire General Court granted the petition of the citizens for 
a city charter. The last regular town meeting was held .March 13, 1855; 
Joseph Dame Guppy was moderator. The selectmen elected were Charles 
Clement, Daniel Hussey and David Steele ; town clerk, Amasa Roberts ; Rep- 
resentatives to the General Court, Daniel M. Christie, Nathaniel Wiggin, 
James Bennett, William S. Ste\-ens, I\ory Paul and lulniund J. Lane. These 
were the last before the city government was organized. The last special 
town meeting was August 13. 1855: Charles A. Tufts was moderator. At 
this meeting the city charter was accepted, and the ancient town meetings 
came to an end. The first city election was held in November, 1855, at 
which Hon. Anrew Peirce was elected mayor, and the city government was 
organized on March 25, 1856. 



CHAPTER X 
HISTORY OF DOVER (VI) 

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF DOVER 

Following are some of the most important events in the history of Dover, 
mentioned in the order of their occurrence. There are others, but these 
are milestones which w ill mark the journey of the school boy and school giil 
and every student in search of Dover history. The complete story of each 
one would make an interesting chapter, but that will not be attempted in 
this work. 

First. if:-'3: '1 he beginning uf settlement of Hilton Puint in the spring 
of 1623, by Edward Hilton and his party. 

Scco)id. 1^.33: The arrival of Ca])t. Thomas \\'iggin's company in Octo- 
ber, 1633. They organized the village on Dover Xeck, and established the 
First Parish. 

Third. 163S: The organization uf the First Church in December, 1(138, 
by the Rev. Hanserd Knollys and Capt. John Underbill. 

Fourth. 1640: The Combination Agreement for government of the 
Dover settlement, signed in 1640, Thomas Roberts being Governor. 

Fifth, 1642: The vote in 1641 to unite with the Massachusetts Bav 
Colony, which union was completed in 16)2, which remained in force, prac- 
tically, a half century. 

Sixth, 1643: Settlement of the boimdary line between Bloodv Point and 
Strawberry Bank by commissioners from the Massachusetts General Court. 
Practically the line now between Portsmouth and Xewington; the latter town 
was "Bloody Point in Dover" until it was made a separate town by the Pro- 
vincial Assembly in 1712 with the name of Xewington. 

Sn'cnth. 1642 : Beginning of the settlement at "Cochecho in Dover," and 
the erection of a sawmill and gristmill by Richard \\'alderne, later known 
as "Major Richard." at the falls east of Central avenue bridge. He was 
granted fifteen hundred trees, either oak or pine, for the accommodation of 
his sawmill he was shortly to erect. 

Eighth. 1650: Grants of waterfalls to various persons for sawmills, 
with timber adjacent, at the second falls of the Cochecho, and the .second 
falls of the Xewichawannock. 

136 



AND REPRESEXTATINT. CITIZENS 137 

Ninth. 165J: Disputes about boundaries of sawmill grants. 

Tenth. i()5_>: Capt. Richard Walderne contracted to build the meet- 
ing house, on Meeting House hill, l,Jo\er Neck, between April. 11153, ^^'i'' 
April, 1654. And it was so built. 

Elcvoith, 1052: The boundary of Dover was fixed by a committee 
appointed by the General Court, consisting of William I'ayne, Samuel Wins- 
low and Matthew Boyse. The territory included what is now Dover. Som- 
ersw-orth, Durham, Madbury, Lee and Newington. 

Ti^'clftli, 1662, December 22: Order by the Court, Richard Walderne 
presiding, for the expulsion of the Quaker women who had made disturbance 
in town ; and they were whipped and expelled in accordance with the order. 

Tliirti'cnth. 1665: Peter Coffin was authorized to "Build a Turrett upon 
the Meeting House for to bang the Bell which we have bought of Capt. 
Walderne." It was built and the bell was hung. It is supposed that the tra- 
dition is true that that bell forms a ]iart of the bell metal which composed the 
old licU on the Virst Parish meeting house. 

Fourteenth, 1666: Various persons were warned out of town as lieing 
undesirable inhabitants. 

Fifteenth, 1667: Left. (Peter) Cofiin engaged by the selectmen to Iniild 
a fort around the meeting house, one hundreed feet sipiare, with two sconces 
sixteen feet square, all of timber twehe in.ches thick, and the wall to be eight 
feet high with sills and liraces. 

Si.vteeiith. 1(175: The beginning of Indian wars in 1675 which continued 
fifty years, ending at Knox Marsh in 1725. The first garrisons were built in 
1675. There had been no trouble with the Indians in Do\-er u]) to that date. 

Seventeenth, 1675: The advent of the Capt. John Mason claimants in 
1675, who demanded rent from e\'ery land owner; and the settlements here 
on the Pascataqua river were then first called "New Hampshire." 

Eighteenth', 1674: The first execution of wdiite men in any of the Pas- 
cataqua plantations. The record says : "A fisherman about Pascataqua 
had two ser\-ants. w ho in anger conspired to kill yr master, did so, tooke his 
money & fled, but were taken & both executed." Where they were hung is 
not stated, but probably on Dover Neck. 

Nineteenth, 1678: Rev. John Pike came to Dover and became minister 
of the First Church November i. He commenced keeping a diary which is 
of great historical value. 

Tzwntietli, 1679: September 18, the union with Massachusetts was dis- 
solved at this date by royal proclamation. John Cutt was appointed president 
of the province with a Council of six of the principal inhabitants, of whom 
Richard Walderne of Dover was one. Agreeably to the royal direction these 
six chose three other gentlemen into the Council, of whom John Clements 
of Dover was one. President Cutt nominated Major Walderne to be his 



138 HISTORY OI' STRAFFORD COUNTY 

deputy, or vice-president, and John Roberts marshal. That was the begin- 
ning of New Hampshire. Dover is fifty-six years older than New Hampshire. 

Twentieth. 1685: The attempt of the heirs of Capt. John Mason to 
obtain possession of lands claimed by them, and the countenance which they 
received from the courts whicli had been established for that very purpose, 
at the instigation of Governor Cranfield. led to forcible resistance on the 
part of some of the inhabitants in Dover. Executions were issued for the 
arrest of Major Waldeme and other principal citizens of Dover. 

Twenty-first, 1689, June 27-8: Destruction of Cochecho, in which 
Major Walderne's garrison was burned, as also Richard Otis' garrison, and 
their bodies were burned in the buildings, etc. 

Twenty-second, 1690; End of the provincial government of 1680. Steps 
taken to return to a union with Massachusetts, as before 1679. 

Tzcenty-third, 1691 : New Hampshire reorganized as a province, with a 
Lieutenant-Governor, having the same Governor as Massachusetts. 

Twcnty-foitrtli. 1694: Massacre of settlers at Oyster river, on July 17. 

Twenty-fifth, 1709: The first pound at Cochecho Falls was ordered 
built this year. 

Tzveuty-si.vlli. iju: Meeting hnuse built un Fine Hill by the residents 
of Cochecho. 

Tii.'cnty-sei'enth, 1715: Place for town meetings changed from Dover 
Neck to the meeting house on Pine Hill. 

Tz^vnty-cightli, 1717, September 18: Rev. Jonathan Gushing was 
ordained as minister of the First Church, which position he held fifty years. 

Tzt.'enty-ni)ith. 1724. .Vugust 2j : Ts date of the end of Indian wars in 
Dover, when the house of John Hanson at Nock's Marsh was attacked by 
the Indians, two of his children killed, and his wife, maid servant and four 
children carried to Canada, prisoners. 

Thirtieth. 1744: Capt. Samuel Hale raised a company of Dover men 
and was in command of them at the capture of Louisburg in 1745. He was 
a noted schoolmaster in Dover for two or three years preceding that war and 
later far more famous as a schoolmaster and public official in Portsmouth. 

Thirty-first. 1754, April 22: The parish of Somersworth incorporated 
as a town. 

Thirty-second, 1755: Madbury was made a parish separate from Dover. 

Thirty-third, 1758: A new meeting house was built on Tuttle square, and 
the old house on Pine Hill was torn down in 1760; the last town meeting 
was held there March 31, 1760. 

Thirty-fourth. 1762: First Parish was incorporated by the Provincial 
Assembly, to be distinct from the town. 

Thirty-fifth. 1768: The parish of Madbury was set off from Dover and 
made a town. 



AND REPRESENTATRE CITIZENS 139 

_ Ihirty-sixth, ij-jz, November lo: This day Rev. Jeremy Belknap, min- 
ister of the First Church, preached a sermon before his Excellency John 
Wentworth, Esq., Governor of His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, 
at a review of the Second Regiment of Foot, at Dover, in said province; 
and met so favorable a hearing that the officers requested a copy for the 
press, which was granted. ( Life of Doctor Belknap. ) 

Thirty-sixih. 1774: Beginning of the Revolution. Do\er men in town 
meetmg took patriotic action. 

Thirty-scraith, ijc)2. June 6: The State Legislature held its first and 
last session m Dover this year. It closed its work on June 22. During the 
session there was a presentation of an opera, called the ""Beggar's Opera"!" at 
the theatre in Dox'er. The entertainment on another txmmg was Garrick's 
"Satyracal Farce Lethe, or Aesop in the Shades." 

riurty-cujhth, 1805, May 17: The Dover turnpike road from Dover to 
South Benvick was opened to public travel. 

Thirty-ninth, 1817: IVesident Monroe visited Dover in July this vear 
and was given a grand reception. 

Fortieth, 1821 : The corner-stone of the new factory was laid on the 

4th of July, with Masonic ceremonies; Col. Andrew Peirce delivered the 

address. The Nail Factory was also .set up at the Lower I-alls this year. 

Forty-first, 1825: General Lafayette's visit to Dover in June, this year. 

He was given a grand reception. 

Forty-second, 1824-1830; Period of great religious excitement and dis- 
cussion. Division of the First Church and formation of the First Unitarian 
Church. The Unitarians dedicated their brick church on Locust street Feb- 
ruary 18, 1829. The First Parish dedicated its new brick church December 
31, 1829. 

Forty-second, 1840: The turnpike road from Dover to South Berwick 
was made a free road February 7, by decree of Court of Common Pleas. 

Forty-third, 1841 : Boston & Maine Railroad was opened for business 
at the west side of the cut through the hill at Washington street, September 
1st, and the company held its annual meeting in Dover. 

Forty-fourth, 1842, June 30: Cars of the Boston & Maine Railroad 
crossed the Cochecho for the first time, arriving at the new depot on Frank- 
hn square at 10:30 o'clock, which, with the bridge across the river, was com- 
pleted a few days before. 

Forty-fifth, i860, March 2: Abraham Lincoln addressed a mass meeting 
in the city hall, Dover. The hall was packed to the doors. 

Forty-sixth. 1861, April 15: A mass meeting of citizens was held in 
the city hall to take action in relation to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 
volunteer soldiers. The first recruiting office was opened April 17,' by 
George W. Colbath, and in three days more than one hundred and fifty men 
had volunteered. 



CHAPTER XI 
HISTORY OF DO\'F,R ( MI) 

DOVER NECK 

Dover Neck is that section of Old Dover which is separated from Hilton 
Point by Pomeroy's Cove, over which the Portsmouth & Dover Railroad 
crosses. It is bounded on the east by Newichawannock river, on the west by 
Back ri\er, on the south by the Pascataqua river, and on the north by "Upper 
Neck," which is the land included between three rivers, Back river on the west, 
Cochecho river on the north and the Newichawannock on the east. The 
ground is le\el for a third of a mile above Pomeroy's Cove and Sandy Point, 
then rises gradually to the summit of Huckleberry Hill, a distance of a mile 
or more. It was on this hill that Capt. Thomas Wiggin's company settled 
in the fall of 1633. It is a beautiful location; no finer view of hills, rivers, 
bays, broad fields and forests can be found in New Hampshire. It was on this 
hill the first meeting house was build in New Hampshire, and the outlines 
of where the second meeting house stood are yet preserved and properly 
marked. The First Church owns the land. Margery Sullivan Chapter D. A. 
R. paid the expense of constructing a wall along the roadside of the lot and 
enclosed it with iron rails, that mark where the stockade was placed when 
it became necessary to fortify it against possible attacks by the Indians, about 
1670. But they never made any attempt to attack the settlement on the Neck, 
although they wrought havoc all around it. 

The hill slopes gently to each river. For convenience the inhabitants 
called the river on the east Fore river, and that on the west Back river. Along 
the summit of the hill they built a road and called it High street. This- was 
the business street of the settlement. About an eighth of a mile from this, 
toward Back ri\'er, they built another road and called it Low street. Between 
these, at various points, were cross streets called lanes, some of which also 
extended down to landings on Back river. Back Cove especially was a busy 
shipping point on that river. The historic "Hall's Spring" is near there and 
was marked \\ ith a curbing a few years ago by Col. Daniel Hall, a lineal 
descendant of Deacon John Hall, from whom it recei\ed its name. 

There ^\ere also lanes, at several places, from High street to shipping 
points along Fore river. The dwelling houses were along each side of High 

140 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 141 

street, and also along Low street. Each householder had an acre or two of 
land connected with his house, on w hich he raised his garden stuff and had his 
various outhouses for whatever work he carried. The cooper business was 
especially flourishing. Everybody had a trade and everybody worked. There 
were no gentlemen of leisure or lords of manors. Every known trade in 
England was in some way represented by a tradesman who was an expert 
in that line of business. All the boys were compelled to have a trade. If 
they could not be instructed by their parents they were set to "serve their 
time" of apprL-nticesbip with sumcnne cnmpctenl to properly instruct them to 
become good workmen and good citizens. 

It was in the fall and winter of 1633-34 that Captain Wiggin and his men 
staked out the bounds of the village and began clearing tlie forest. It must 
have been a very busy time, and strenuous work was put forth in muscle 
and brain to cut down the trees, convert the logs into houses, clean up the 
brushwood and keep comfortably warm in the cold weather. The winds 
from the northwest l)low very cold there in winter, having a clear sweep 
from the mountains in the White mountain region. It is easy to understand 
why those sturdy Englishmen built their first meeting house under the south- 
west protection of the bill ; it was a warmer place, less exposed to the fierce 
blasts and blinding snowstorms from the east. Twenty years later, when the 
village had become well built up with substantial houses and other comfort- 
able surroundings, they then built the historic meeting house on the summit of 
the hill, ready to withstand fierce winds, howling storms and all sorts of 
weather, and they had leisure hours to enjoy the beautiful grand and pic- 
turesque views, as you can see them today. 

At the beginning Captain Wiggin is said to have had authority t(.) make 
allotments of land to each man. Just how he did it there is no record. There 
is no record of when the first town meeting was held. It is doubtful if they 
held any as long as Captain Wiggin remained in supreme control as governor. 
Of course they had their parish meetings from the beginning. As they had 
a minister, one of the first public undertakings was to build a meeting house 
for him to hold the services in on the Lord's Day. The fair inference is that 
the parish meetings antedate the town meetings by several years. Probably 
the era of town meetings began when the first "combination" was formed in 
1637. When the town meetings came to be a fixture, the right of making 
grants of land to individuals, which Captain ^^'iggin exercised as long as he 
was in control, was assumed by the town meetings, and it was in those meet- 
ings that all grants were made, as long as there was any public land remain- 
ing in control of the town. 

As tourists pass along High street, now the State road, they do not, from 
present appearance, have anything in view to indicate this locality was the 
busv center of business, with two streets lined with dwelling houses and 



U2 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

places of business. Yet for ninety years this was "Dover," and when you 
read history of the times, up to and past 1700, and Dover is referred to, this 
is tlie locahty, and not where the present city building stands. What is now 
. called the Dover Point road was called the "road from Dover to Cochecho." 
The cellars can now be traced by hollows in the fields and orchards, where 
for a hundred and fifty years was a very busy and prosperous business center. 
There was the meeting house in which religious meetings, town meetings, 
courts and public assemblies in general were held. In the early years near by 
were the jail and the stocks. On the bank of Fore river is the spot where the 
first brewery and the first tannery were built in New Hampshire. For a great 
many years shipbuilding was largely engaged in at shipyards on Fore river. 
At a cove about a mile and a half above Pomeroy"s Cove a frigate was built 
for the English navy before 1660, being the first ship of its kind built on this 
side of the Atlantic. In the next century Capt. Thomas Millet, who came 
there in 17^0, was a famous shipbuilder and sailed his ships after he built 
them, and while he was away his wife. Love Bunker, bossed the shipyard 
work and kept everything in perfect order until the Captain returned from 
his voyage to the West Indies. An apple tree is now standing near where his 
house stood, which he set dut 190 years ago; it was brought over from Eng- 
land in a tub; it was kept in a tub in order to keep it properly watered while 
on shipboard. 

It was here at the meeting house that the Quaker women were tried in 
a court held by Richard ^^■alderne, and were sentenced to be whipped and 
sent out of town: and it was here the order began to be executed, and not at 
Chochecho, as the poet \\'hittier states in his poem. It was here that from 
time to time all the great men of the period assembled for business that con- 
cerned various public interests. The great shipping point of the town in those 
years was Sandy Point at Pomeroy's Cove, the landing place of the first 
settlers. The cause of the change to the present conditions of that of a farm- 
ing district is easy to explain. Business changed as the province progressed. 
The young men went to points where new business called them. The old 
men died. The deserted houses went to ruin. The cellars were filled. The 
fanners changed the land into fertile fields and flourishing orchards. But 
the far-reaching landscape of land and water remains as beautiful and grand 
as ever. 



CHAPTER XII 
II ISTURV (JJ- DOVER (\qil) 

COCHECHO 

Wliat is called Cochecho-in-Dover for the first seventv-five years of its 
existence, has been the leading part of the town since 1715; it is the business 
center around which cluster the chief nianufacturinsj interests Hilton's 
Pomt began to be settled in 1623: Dover Neck, which V.r several years was 
calle.l Northani. until Ur.j. l;,oa„ t(, be settled in lO^,: Cochccho had its 
first begmnmg; i„ ,642, \vhen a grant ..f land at the lower falls was given to 
Richard \Valderne, who later \von fame as Major Walderne. L'p to that year 
the water had run undisturbed. In that year is the first we iind notice of them ; 
the settlers had been too busy elsewhere to come here. On the ist of the 6th 
mo. 1642, granted \\-alderne fifty acres on the north side of the falls This 
grant covered the territory up as far as New York street and up the river 
to Fourth street bridge. On the 30th 6th mo. 1643 the town gave him 
another grant of sixty acres on the south side of the falls, .so he came into 
control of the waterpower here, and it reniaine<l in possession of his family 
one hundred and seventy years, the last of his descendants who owned it 
bemg Daniel Waldron, as the family had come to spell the name. 

Major Walderne built mills on both sides of the river; a sawmill on the 
south side and a grist mill on the north. In 1649 Joseph Austin bought a 
quarter part interest in the south side mill. In i6;i Peter Cofl^n bought a 
quarter mterest of Walderne's south si.lc mill. Mr. Coft^n lived in a house 
that stood on Orchard street, near the Williams belt factory about where the 
south end of Freeman N. Davis' bowlmg alley n(,w is. but the house stood on a 
hill as high as the roof of that building is. The hill was cut down when 
Orchard street was constructed, up to which time it had remained in posses- 
sion of the Coffin family, more than two hundred years; and the street was 
called Orchard street because the Coffin orchard covered the ground west of 
the house. 

Major Walderne's house stood where the east end of the courthouse 
stands and out near to Central avenue ; that house was made a garrison by a 
stockade around it about 1673, when the Indians began to become dangerous; 
it was burned June 28, 1689, when the great massacre took place. The laiicl 

143 



144 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

about the falls passed from the possession of the \\'aldron family in 1821 to 
William Payne, of Boston, and a beginning was made of what finally merged 
in the Cochecho Manufacturing Company, and which recently became merged 
in the Pacific Mills Company of Lawrence, Mass. Pa)aie street had its name 
from this founder of the great company. This was the beginning of things; 
we cannot go into details. The first printing of calico in these works was 
under the superintendence of Dr. A. L. Porter, who was succeeded before 
1830 by John Duxbury, a thoroughly experienced printer, who had learned 
his trade in England. The original printery was in No. 5 mill and other 
buildings near, but now removed. The last printing of calico here was in 
1912, following which the machinery was removed to Lawrence, much to the 
regret of all Dover people. For more than four score years the establish- 
ment had sent goods to market equal to the best product of the best mills in 
New England or the whole manufacturing world. 

From the close of the War of the Revolution until the introduction of 
cotton manufacturing, the town grew somewhat slowly. Its population in 
1790 was 1,998: in 1800, 2,068; in 1810, 2,228; in 1820, 2,871, which by 
i860 had increased to 8,186, the valuation at that time being $3,629,442. It 
was, so far, a farming and shipbuilding town. But with the erection of cot- 
ton mills a change came over the place. The succession of sawmills, grist 
mills, fulling-mills, oil mills, and nail factory, finally merged into the 
"Cochecho Alanufacturing Company" (now the Pacific :\Iills Company). To 
this enterprise alone must be ascribed the steady growth and commercial pros- 
perity of Dover. 

In 1841 the opening of the Boston & Maine Railroad, and the construc- 
tiiMi. after 1830. of the Cochecho railro-ad to .Alton, to 1-oth of which Dover 
people contributed liberally, had a marked efl-"ect upon the business of the 
town. \Miile its local trade and interests were on the increase, its importance 
as a distributing point for interior trade declined. The Dover-Packet Com- 
pany, which had for many years given life and activity to the wharves and 
storehouses on the river, soon discharged its last cargo, the Landing ceased 
to be the center of business, which from this time gathered around the rail- 
road station and the streets leading to it. In 1847 the introduction of slioe 
manufacturing for the southern and \\-estern markets added largely to the 
business of the place, employing after a few years a large capital, and in a 
good season more workmen than any other industry. The shoe business is 
now flourishing here better than ever before. 

The act incorporating the city of Dover was signed June 29, 1855, and 
was accepted by the citizens at a town meeting held August 15, 1853. The 
first mayor, Andrew Peirce, took the oath of office March 25, 1856, and the 
city government was then inaugurated. The first attempt to change from 
town to city government was made in 1850. and the proposition was voted 



AND REPRESENTATR-E CITIZENS 145 

down by a very large majority. Gas lighting was introduced September jo, 

The schools of Dover are regarded with much favor by our citizens and 
large appropriations are devoted to their use each year by the city government. 
They are under the control and direction of a school committee consisting of 
fifteen members, each ward electing one member annually for two years, the 
remaining members being chosen by the city councils. Their sanitation, 
heating and ventilation are carefully attended to, and the course of study 
prescribed is judiciously selected to meet the requirements necessary for the 
imparting of a sound education to the pupils. The high school is situated on 
Locust street, next to the public library, and is an imposing and beautiful 
buildmg. wholly up t„ date. It was erected in 1904 and put into use in the fall 
of the following vear. Its curriculum is of the highest order. It has an 
excellent commercial course; manual training has been introduced, as well as 
domestic science. The teaching force number forty-six and the total enroll- 
ment of pupils is 1.398, exclusive of the parochial' school. There is also a 
well managed and largely attended business college, where pupils are fitted 
for commercial pursuits. 

The parochial schools in the city are also largely attended. The authori- 
ties of St. Mary's parish have recently completed a very large and beautiful 
schoolhouse, technically called St. Mary's Academy, in which^hey have every 
convenience for doing first-class work in teaching boys and girls, from the 
lowest grade to the end of a high school course. 

-SAUVEK WOOLEN JIILLS, NOW .\MEKIC.\N WOOLEN COMP.XNV 

These mills are located on the Bellamy Bank river, about a mile from the 
Cochecho Falls. They are run by the waterpower of the three lower falls, 
with added steam power, as also a reservoir in Barrington. The tide water 
of Back river reaches to the lower mill and is navigable for coal barges and 
power boats of moderate siz. The Portsmouth & Dover Railroad has a 
station there, about sixty-eight miles from Boston. From small beginnings 
it has grown into a large establishment. The mills are equipped with 
machinery of the latest and most approved patterns. It passed from control 
of the Sawyer fanfily to the American Woolen Company about fifteen years 
ago. 

The business was commenced by Alfred I. Sawyer, who came to Dover 
from Alarlborough, Mass., in 1S24. 

The Great Falls Manufacturing Company then owned all of the water- 
power on the Bellamy Bank river in Dover, having secured them by pur- 
chase made through the agency of Isaac Wendell, in 1823-24. They had also 



146 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

securtd land covering the outlet of Swain's I'ond, in liarrington, upon which 
now is built the reservoir dam. 

Alfred I. Sawyer leased of the company the pri\ilege near the bridge, upon 
which v>-as a grist mill called the "Libliey Mill." Another building was erected 
in i8_'6 in connection with the grist mill, and on the same fall, in which he 
carded rolls, fulled, and dressed cloth. In 1832 he bought the Hanson Cotton 
Factory at Bellamy, moved and erected it on the falls about twenty rods 
below. In this mill he commenced the manufacture of woolen flannels with 
one set of machinery. The business prospering, the miU was enlarged, another 
set of machinery added in 1837. 

In 1845 Air. Sawyer bought of the Great Falls Manufacturing Companj 
all of their rights in the property, and continued the business without inter- 
ruption until his death, which occurred in 1849. The business then passed 
to his brother, Zenas Sawyer, 1849-50; Z. & J. Sawyer, 1850-52; F. A. & J. 
Sawyer (Francis A. Sawyer, of Boston, and Jonathan Sawyer, of Dover), 
1852-73, when Charles H. Sawyer was admitted, and the concern incor- 
porated as the Sawyer Woolen Mills. 

In 1858 the property now known as the lower mill was purchased, with 
the two sets of machinery which it contained. 

The Great Falls Manufacturing Company sold this property in 1845 to 
C. C. P. Moses, and on the site of the old foundry, which had been operated 
by William and Daniel Osborne, he built a brick mill, in which he manu- 
factured paper until 1855, when it was changed into a flannel mill. After it 
was purchased by F. A. & J. Sawyer, the old machinery was replaced by 
new, and the mill gradually enlarged to its present capacity. The old mill, 
before mentioned as started in 1832, was continued in operation until 1872, 
when it was replacetl by the present structure. 

ISA.\C v.. WILI.I.\MS & sons' BELT F.XCTORV 

The foundations of the present business of Isaac B. ^^'illiams & Sons 
belt factory was laid by the senior partner in 1842 in the manufacture of 
belting for the Cocheco Manufacturing Company. 

In 187 1 the firm name became I. B. Williams & Son, h^rank B. Williams 
having been taken into the partnership. In 1875 the business had outgrow'n 
its quarters in the Cocheco Manufacturing Company's buildings, so that 
larger and better facilities were needed to supply the increased demand for 
their goods, and a large and valuable property on Orchard street was pur- 
chased, and so added to and remodeled as to afford the desired facilities. 

In 1878 George H. Williams was admitted to the partnership and the 
firm name changed to I. B. Williams & Sons. Since then the senior member 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Ul 

of the firm has died and the junior member has withdrawn, but the firm name 
remains tiie same under ownership of the elder son, Frank B. WilHams. 

In i88_' the firm, by reason of still increased and increasing trade, were 
compelled to tear down and entirely rebuild their factory, having in the mean- 
time purchased an adjoining property. A large and handsome brick building, 
four stories high, one hundred and forty feet long by forty-five feet wide, 
with a tower, containing elevators and stairways, five stories high, now cover 
their land. 

The factory now contains all the modern machinery required to produce 
in all respects a perfectly reliable belt, all of which are manufactured from 
the finest of oak-tanned leather, finished and perfected in their own building 
under the firm's own immediate supervision and inspection. 

Their goods are sold throughout the United States and South America, 
and the factory has grown to be one of the largest in the country. 



CHAPTER XIII 
HISTORY OL' DO\I-:k ( IX) 

GARRISON HILL 

Tlie Sawyer Memorial Observatory on Garrison Hill was dedicated 
August 2, 1913. at which JNIr. John Scales delivered the following historical 
address, which seems appropriate for publication in the volume of "Strafford 
County History:" 

The first mention of this hill in Dover records, or anywhere else, is in a 
grant of land to Elder William Wentworth dated 5 Deceiuber, 1652, two 
hundred and sixty years ago, which savs : 

"To the northward of half-way swampe * * * on the north side of 
John Hearrl's 40 acre lot ^ * * and so along the carte waye that Raeneth 
to the marsh forty roedd in Breadth and one hundred sixtie Roedd in lenkth." 

Same date : 5 acres of upland 

"near the Great Hill at Cochechoe, on ye east side of ye Great Hill one 
hundred Roedd in length and the north of the Cartwaye fower scoer Roedd 
in Breadth." 

Elder Wentworth had several other grants of land east and north of the 
Great Hill. It is impossible to define the boundaries, except one mill grant 
on Fresh creek, with any exactness. But the land is east and northeast of 
this hill, on the eastern side of the road down there which leads to Somers- 
worth. and west of north of Fresh creek tide-water. The Boston & Maine 
Railroad runs through the west side of the land, and the turnpike cuts through 
it on the cast side. It is further identified by the fact that the part, perhaps 
the central part, is still in the family name, having come down uninterruptedly 
from Elder William \\'entworth, the present owner being \\'illiam H. 
^Ventworth. 

It was there that he lived; and the Elder's burial place is on a knoll in the 
field east of and near to the railroad. 

The "half way swamp" which has been mentioned in the land grants was 
the low ground west of the Cartway and southeast from Great Hill. It was 
so called because it was half way from Cochecho Falls to the Great Cochecho 
Marsh. 

148 



AND REPRKSENT.\TI\"K CITIZENS 141) 

On the same date, 5th, 10 1110: (December) 1O52, Juhn Heard was given 
a grant of fifty acres, "under the Great Hill of Cochecho, on the south side 
below the Cartway. A freshet ( Ijrook ) is mentioned the same day as "coming 
out of the marsh beside the Great Hill at Cochecho.' " 

The name fiarrison Hill was originally gi\en tu the hill over which the 
ancient Cartwaw now Central avenue, passed, and took its name from Heard's 
garrison which stood near where the Bangs house stands. That was the 
garrison nearest the summit of Great Hill, but there were se\eral other gar- 
risons around it. After Ebenezcr Yarney came into control of the land by 
his wife, a granddaughter of Richard Otis, and he and his wife built the Haiu 
house at the foot of the hill, about 1694, it began to be called Varney's Hill 
and so continued to be named initil about eighty years ago, when the land 
passed out of the name Varney, haxing been purchased by John Ham, father 
of our esteemed fellow citizen, John T. W. Ham; after that purchase, in 
1829, instead of calling it "Ham Hill" the people began to call it Garrison 
Hill, transferring" the name from Central avenue to the whole elevation. 
There have been various owners of different parts of it from time to time, 
but in 1888 the summit here was owned by Joseph Ham and Harrison Haley, 
and that year they sold eight acres of it to the city, which now constitutes 
the Garrison Hill Park. The city purchased it in order to place the reservoir 
here: but the city fathers "Patres Conscript!," builded better than they knew, 
for henceforth with this massive observatory here it will be the city's most 
popular park, and the pride of its citizens, who will delight to take their 
guests here and show them one of the most picturesque, grand and far-reach- 
ing views to be seen in New Hampshire, or New England, outside of the 
White Mountain summits. The ground on \\hich this observatory stands is 
298 feet above the head of tide water at Cochecho Falls, just below Central 
avenue bridge. At the close of my address I will tell you what can be seen 
on a clear day from the upper balcony of this observatory. 

Rev. John Pike, in his journal, says, in 1704: "May 28, Sacrament day. 
An Ambush of 4 Indians lay betwixt Tristram Heard's and Ephraim Went- 
worth's upon the north side of (Great! Hill, but were happily discovered and 
escaped." 

This Tristram Heard lived in the garrison which his father, John Heard, 
built and which stood near where the Bangs house now stands. He was 
born there 4 March, 1667; he escaped the Indians in 1704, but about tw^enty 
years later at Cochecho he was killed by them in 1723. 

I have spoken of the land grants made to Elder William Wentworth and 
to John Heard (Hurd) in 1652, by the town of Dover. There was another 
grant of land to Richard Otis in 1655, about two years and a half later. 
Mr. Otis had several grants, the first was "2r)th 9 mo. (Nov.) 1635. Ten 
acres located as follows: 'Forty Rod on the Cartway, on the west side of the 



150 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

land from his house, and forty Rod north cast from liis liouse, and forty 
Rod a piece on the other two sides.' " 

His house stood where the present llutchins house stands, in from the 
street and nortli of the parsonage of St. John's ^^letiiodist Episcopal Church. 
The next year, 1656, a few montlis after this grant, "Richard Otis had fifty 
acres of land given unto him." This was north of and adjoining his first 
grant on the west side of the Cartway, now Central avenue. It was laid out 
and bounded by William Wentworth, Ralph Hall and John Hall. Later in 
the same year the town granted him one hundred acres of land on the west 
side of the "Great Hill," and the selectmen established the bounds. That 
made 160 acres of land owned by Richard Otis on the southwest side of the 
"Great Hill" in 1660, and he retained the ownership until he was killed by 
the Indians, and his garrison house was burned thirty-three years later, June 
28, i68g. The exact boundaries of that 160 acres, of course, cannot now be 
determined, but it certainly included the southwest side of this hill, where the 
Ham house is and down to the Hutchins house. The Cartway was where 
Central avenue is, and the land adjoined it on the east side. 

In this connection you may be interested to know liow the age of the 
Ham hou.se is determined. 

When the Indians began to be troublesome, about 1675. Mr. Otis built 
his garrison on the west side of what is now Mount Vernon street, a short 
distance from Milk street. He lived there until he was killed by the Indians 
and his son Stephen lived in the old house, where the Hutchins house now 
stands. Stephen was killed by the Indians at the same time his father was, 
and some of his children were carried to Canada and never returned to 
Dover. But he had a daughter, Mary, who was born about 1675, ^'"1 married 
Ebenezer Varney about 1693, and they built the house soon after they were 
married. It required some time to settle the estate of Stephen Otis after the 
massacre of 1689, and thus enable Mary Otis, his only heir remaining in 
Dover, to get possession of it and Ijuild a house on it. But she finally forti- 
fied her title (in her husband's name) by deeds from the Canada heirs and 
quitclaims from the others. Of course Mr. Varney would not have built the 
house you see down at the foot of the hill until he got possession of the land; 
and he could not get possession of the land until he married Mary Otis; but 
she could not get full title to it, to transfer it to her husband, by marriage, 
until the estate was settled, w hich required three or four years, at least. Thus 
the building of the Ham house is reasonably fixed at 1693 or '94. And so, 
in the course of years, when the Varney family came into possession of ih.e 
whole hill it took the name "Varney Hill," and the smaller hill, between the 
present Bangs house and Ste\-ens house, retained the name Garrison Hill, and 
the village there was the Garrison Hill village. But for the last three-quarters 
of a century the "Great Hill" has been called Garrison Hill. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 151 

At the massacre in June, 1689, the Heard (Hurd) garrison was saved 
through tlie instrumentaHty of Elder William W'entworth. Why he hap- 
pened to be there that night instead of at his home over the other side of the 
hill here has ne\er been explained, so far as I have been able to find out. but 
he was there, and when he heard tlie Indians coming up the hill he ran and 
closed the gate to the palisade enclosing the yard around the house, and lay on 
his back with his feet against it and held it until the people in the house were 
roused by his cries for help and came to his assistance. Elder W'entworth 
was aroused from his sleei) by the barking of the house watch-dog who 
scented the approach of the Indians from afar. 

Ebenezer Varney was a Quaker; so being a non-combatant and friendly 
in his treatment of the Indians, they never troubled him or the Varney fam- 
ilies who inherited the house and the Great Hill after him. It remained in 
possession of that Varney family until 1829, when John Ham bought it and 
in a few years, 1837, he gave it to his son, Joseph Ham, father of the present 
owner of the house, Miss Theresa Ham. This 1)rings my story down to a 
speaking distance of the present generation. I have heard Mr. Ham say that 
he had plowed and planted crops all over the top of the hill here. 

At some period after the Civil war the late Harrison Haley became part 
owner of the summit here and in the autumn of 1880 they completed the con- 
struction of the first observatory, erected on the same spot on which this 
grand structure stands. This enterprise was the outcome of the construction 
of the Horse railroad. The observatory, as finally completed, was sixty-five 
feet high, on the upper deck. It was built by Mr. B. D. Stewart, at a cost of 
about one thousand dollars. In a description of it, given at that time in a 
circular by Mr. Haley, he said : "Its construction is similar to one at Coney 
Island, N. Y., and that on Davis" Hill, Philadelphia, with open balconies, so 
as to afford unobstructed views. The highest balcon}' affords a view of rare 
beauty, characteristic of New Hampshire ; the great distant ring of the horizon 
is rugged and broken with a continuous chain of hills, somewhere in the south- 
east the distant ocean .shows its line of blue. The late Hon. John P. Hale, 
on his return from Europe, said, in a public address : 'That of the hills he 
had visited in any country, none for beauty and variety of scenery surpassed 
Garrison Hill.' " 

Gazing upon scenery thus charming, one is reminded of Whittier's beau- 
tiful lines: 

Touched by a light that never dies, 

A glory never sung, 
Aloft, on sky and mountain wall. 

."Xre God's great pictures hung. 

Just here I want to say a word in honor of the memory of Harrison 
Haley. If it had not been for Mr. Haley, Dover would not have had a horse 



152 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

railroad; if liiat road liad not been eon^tructed Mr. Haley and .Mr. Hani 
would not have Imilt the ob.'^ervatory in iS8o; also if Mr. Haley had not 
pushed through the con.structiun of tlie horse railroad when he did, there 
would have been no electric road started through Dover to Somersworth by 
Henry \\'. Burgett, when he took hold of the job and substituted electric 
power for horse-power in moving the cars; it is doubtful if we should have 
the electric cars today; certainly not until many years later, some time perhaps 
in this twentieth century. 

Mr. Haley was a good. Christian business man. He helped build up 
Dover in many ways, for which he never received his proper credit. He was 
a man of good sense, good judgment and always ready to lend a helping hand 
to every good cause, so far as his means would permit. Of course there 
were men in his time of activity here, who thought they knew a good deal 
more than Mr. Haley did ; perhaps they did, but those wiser ones never did 
half as much for Dover's advancement as he did. It is not necessary at this 
time to further enuinerate his good deeds. 

The observatory was completed in the autumn of 1880; that was thirty- 
three years ago; a third of a century has passed into history when we stand 
here to dedicate this beautiful and substantial structure, which is its suc- 
cessor. Thirty-three years; how old are some of you young folks here 
today? Those who are forty now were only seven-year-old kids then, and 
of course cannot remember much about "the beginning of things" here as a 
pleasure resort. You who are fifty can recall the many pleasure lrii)s you 
made here. You remember the spacious roller skating rink that was erected 
northerly of where the reservoir is ; roller skating was then the most fashion- 
able diversion young people could engage in'; baseball and golf now are poor 
comparisons with it; you ladies and gentlemen of fifty remember how you 
used to do it. John ^^■heatland Caverly was the manager of the rink and was 
one of the most popular men in town, among the young folks. He deserved 
his popularity, courteous, generous and upright in all his dealings. Now, 
and for many years he has resided in Lynn, IMass. Sad to say, he has been 
blind for a number of years and otherwise out of health ; but that same, 
cheerful, hopeful spirit abides in his heart. It is well that we should recall 
his memory here today in connection with Mr. Halev and the old observatory. 

In May, 1888, the city councils completed the purchase of eight acres of 
the summit of the hill, and soon after workmen commenced digging a hole 
for the big basin to hold the water for use in the city; that put an end to its 
previous use as a pleasure resort ; temporarily at least. The electric road took 
the pleasure seekers to Burgette park, and the skating rink was taken down, 
the material removed to the park and set up again, and in which are the 
bowling alleys, billiard tables, etc., for the use of visitors. By the way, in 
passing allow me to express the opinion that the name Burgette park never 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS 153 

ought to ha\'e been changed to Central park. But for Mr. Burgette it is very 
improbable that we should have had a park then, or now. It was his energy, 
shrewd judgment and push that created it ; circumstances and financial con- 
ditions beyond his control forced hini out of the management and then he was 
further robbed of the name. 

The observatory cimtinued to be visited i|uite frequently in the years 
that followed the placing the reservoir there, but on Sunday, June z"], 1897, 
it was set on fire liy the carelessness of some smokers, who dropped a match, 
or lighted a cigar, and ;dl efforts to sa\ e it prcixcil in \ain. Everybody felt 
grieved at the loss. The citv council did not feel rich ennugh to rebuild it. 
Everybody said there ought to lie an observatory here; but n(ibody ever 
expected to see one take tlie [)Iace of Haley and Ham's grand "Outlook." 
And vet, here we are tnday dedicating its successor. And how coiues it? 
What of the donor? Ex-Mayor Nealley has told you something about 
Mrs. Saw}'er, by whose generous will the obser\-atory stands here as a memo- 
rial of her beloved husband. Now let me give you a brief sketch of that 
gentleman, Joseph Bowiie Sawyer. 

Joseph Bowne Sawyer was born November 20, 1832, in the house in 
w liicli he died, down at the foot of the hill, on Central avenue, Tuesday after- 
ni)OU, July 5, iyo5, in his se\'enty-thir<l year. Fie was the snn (if Ee\i and 
Hannah ( Pinldiam ) Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer Iniilt Ihe house in 1825. [n the 
Dover directory of 1837 he is mentioned as "blacksmith and wheelwright." 
Later he was much engaged in real estate business and prosjiered in what- 
ever he undertook', being a man of good judgment, correct habits and indus- 
trious. He died about i<S(>7, being mie of the last ol the old-fashimied 
Quakers, who have a good record in Duxer history. Mr. Sawyer was 
descended from good New En,gland stock. His grandmother was Mary 
Varney, a lineal descendant from Elienezer Varney, who built the Ham house, 
and of Richard Otis, who was killed by the Indians June 28, 1689. Mrs. 
Clarence I. I'inkham, 171 Mount Vernon street, who is clerk of Society of 
Friends in Dover and vicinity, kindly furnished the correct statement of 
Mr. Joseph B. Sawyer's ancestry, as shown by the Friends' records, which 
are the best kept of any of the old records in the city. 

Levi Sawyer was born in Dover 8th, 11 mo: 1791, son of Stephen Sawyer 
and Mary Varney, who were married at Dover 3d, 4 mo: 1778. Said Mary 
Varney was born in Dover T7th, 8 mo: 1756, daughter of Paul Varney and 
Elizabeth Hussey, who were married at Smithfield 7th, 2 mo: 1742. 

Said Paul Varney was born in Dover i8th, i mo: 1715-16, son of Eben- 
ezer and Mary Otis-Varney. 

Plannah Pinkham Sawyer was born in Dover 17th, 5 mo: 1804, daughter 
of Joseph Pinkham and Betty Green, who were married at Hampton 19th, 
I mo: 1788. 



154 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Said Joseph Pinkhani was born in Do\er 14th, 8 mo: 1757, son of Paul 
Pinkham and Rose Austin, who were married. 

Said Paul Pinkham was born 3d, 4 mo: .1730, son of Otis Pinkham and 
Abigail Tebbetts, who were married at Dover 22d, 9 mo: 1721. Said Otis 
Pinkham was born in Dover, son of John Pinkham and Rose Otis (Richard 
Otis). 

Joseph B. Sawyer's mother was a most excellent woman. She was one of 
the speakers who presided at the ser\-ices in the Friends' meeting house at 
Pine Hill, and a leader in good works in many ways. It is said by those 
who knew her best that in cases of sickness she was equal to the best of 
modern trained nurses. So cf sucli good, old Quaker stock was Joseph 
Bowne Sawyer. 

In 1883 i'rof. E. T. (juinil>y of Dartmouth College hail a camp on this hill 
for several years in working up the coast survey ; from his memoranda thus 
obtained he made a map of all the elevations and mountains that could be seen 
from the old observatory. That map is in the city clerk's office, and from it 
I obtained the information which I now gi\e to you. 

1. Directly north there is no object with a name; but the water tower of 
Somersworth is slightly to the east of north, and Carter mountain (Dome) 
slightly to the west of north. Carterdome is 85 miles distant. 

2. Almost directly east is Agamentacus, 9 miles. 

3. Directly west is Northwood Ridge, 19 miles, with Green Hill in Bar- 
rington, slightly north of west, 5 miles away. 

4. Slightly west of south is Stratham Hill 12 miles, and slightly west of 
that. Bunker Hill 14 miles. 

Now, beginning at the north and scanning the horizon from north to west, 
on a clear day from the upper platform of the obser\-atorv you can see the 
following in order; of course you will keep in mind that the more distant are 
behind and not by the side of the nearer. Next to Carter Dome is Alount 
Washington. 85 miles. A little west of that is Chocorua, 54 miles. Next 
Parker Mount, 25 miles. Next Teneriffe, 18 miles. Next Moose, 25 miles. 
Next Major, 25 miles. Next Cropple Crown in Xew Durham. 23 miles. 
Next New Durham hills. 22 miles. Next, near at hand, is Haven's Hill in 
Rochester. Behind that, from 20 to 2^ miles, are Mount Molly, Devil's 
Den and Mount Bet. 

About northwest is Chesley's Hill. 15 miles, behind which are Guilford 
mountains. 35 miles. Then Hussey. 15 miles. Then more of the Guilford 
mountains, 35 miles. Next, and only 15 miles distant, is Blue Job. Next 
is Sander's mountain, 15 miles. Right in line with it is Long Hill in Dover, 
3 miles. Next is Blue Ridge (or Parker's Mount) in Strafford, 17 miles. 

Almost directly west, beyond Green Hill in Barrington, 23 miles away, is 
Catamount. Next south of that is Northwood Ridge, 19 miles ; south of that 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ,_ 155 

Epsom mountains, J3 nnlcs ; ne>vt to that Saddleback, 18 miles; then comes the 
three Patuccawas in Nottingham, 18 miles; 14 miles away, and slightly south 
of these is Nottingham Square. The next elevation south of that is Red 
Oak Hill, in Epping, 15 miles. Nearer at hand and ne.xt south is Lee Hill, 10 
miles. Beyond Lee Hill, 23 miles, is the Danville. This brings us to the 
hills in .\e\\ market and Exeter, 10 and 18 miles distant. Then you are 
around to Bunker and Stratham hills almost directly south. 

Beginning at the north and scanning the horizon from north to east, we 
have first the water tower at Somersworth and nearer at hand 2' j miles away, 
Ricker Hill, more properly Otis Hill, as Richard Otis, I have already spoken 
of, was the first man to have the grant of it from the town of Dover. Salmon 
Falls village is about northeast, and Ouamphegan Hill, in South Berwick, 
is between Salmon Ealls and .\gamenticus, 9 miles distant. South of Aga- 
menticus is Third Hill, 6 miles; close by it Frost's Hill, 6 miles. 

In the southeasterly direction are the Isle of Shoals, 22 miles. The flag 
and chimney in Kittery, 10 miles; White Island Light, 21 miles; Wentworth 
House, 13 miles; North Church in Portsmouth, 11 miles: Dow's Hill in 
Newington, 9 miles; Greenland, \2 miles; Hampton, 20 miles; Great Bay, 
Little Bay, Pascatacpia river and the Atlantic ocean. 

There is another incident in connection with the history of Garrison Hill 
that had fatal results. It is in connection with the old cannon you can see 
on the ground of the south side of the observatory, only a few rods distant. 
In brief, the story is this: 

When James Buchanan was elected President in 1856 the victorious Dem- 
ocrats planned to celebrate their grand victory; they planned to have an 
immense parade, fireworks, and an oration in the city hall, and to fire a salute 
of one hundred guns, if they could get a cannon with which to do it. Money 
was subscribed and the campaign committee went to Portsmouth navy yard 
in search for a gun. They found there two cannon for sale, one of which 
they purchased. It had been captured from the British in the War of 181 2- 15. 
It is marked on one hub "J4 P" (24 pounder) ; on the other hub "82481, 
Capron, 1814," that is, it was made at the Capron Iron Works, England, in 
1814. The committee felt sure they had secured a great bargain. They 
engaged Joseph \'iiung tn l)ring it up the ri\er. dU a gundalow, to Do\er 
Landing. From the Landing it was transported to Garrison Hill by a team of 
three yoke of sturdy oxen; Jeft'erson Cannty handled the goad. Bystanders 
who witnessed the loading of the gun onto the ox-cart made a bet that 
Mr. Canney's team could not haul the gun up Garrisdu Hill, but he won and 
the prize of the wager was a fine yoke of oxen. The gun was placed on the 
westerly side of the hill, and all was made ready to fire the grand salute. 
With proper ceremony the campaign committee christened it "The Constitu- 
tion." Near the gun they had a large collection of pitch-pine knots and tar 



156 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

barrels iDr a grand bonfire \\liicli niigbt be seen from the mountains to the 
sea. The orator for the meeting in the city hall was Col. John H. George of 
Concord. Rothwell's brass band furnished the music and led the grand 
torchlight procession. It was arranged that the gun should begin firing at 
precisely 7 o'clock, and the band should commence its music at the same 
time and lead the procession through the streets. 

'i"he gunners who had charge of the piece had received express orders to 
fire in not less than four minutes after 7 o'clock and the cartridges to be 
two minutes' walk from the gun, which contained eight or ten pounds of 
powder. The committee had pro\ided everything asked for by the gunners, 
and tip to the moment the committee left the gun, they were cautioned to be 
prudent and follow instructions to the verj^ letter, as they had no e.xperience 
in firing cannon. Nevertheless, it appears that immediately after the first 
discharge, without swabbing, the second cartridge was being rammed home 
when the man thumbing the vent w ith his bare thumb, finding it too hot to 
bear, took his thumb ot¥; a premature discharge took place which threw the 
gtuiners, Foss and Clark, down the hill a few rods and killed Foss instantly 
and mutilated Clark so badly that he died at ten o'clock that night. The 
accident was not generally known in the procession until they had reached a 
point on Central avenue opposite the residence of Charles W. W'iggin. In 
consequence the procession broke up on Third street and all further cere- 
monies were declared off, even to the supper prepared for the Buchanan 
Guards in the American House. The names of the tinfortunate gunners are 
George S. Clark of Dover, aged 26, and John Foss of Strafford, aged 2^. 
The other man at the gun was Charles Philbrock, who escaped with a ])ndlv 
burned finger. 

In 1875 the gun was moved to its present position and at the Centennial 
celebration was fired by the late John A. Goodwin, a Grand Armv veteran, 
who had had much experience in gunnery during the Civil war by ser\ice 
in the Union Army. Air. Goodwin fired it successfully, without accident, 
but be never wanted to try the experiment again ; neither has anyone else. 
It will do for children to play with, but men do not care to fool with it. 
The accident occurred November 19, 1856. 



CHAPTER XIV 
HISTORY OF DOVER (X) 

THE BACK RIVER DISTRICT THE DAM DREW GARRISON 

Hilton's Point, now known as Dover Point, was settled in the spring of 
1623; Dover Neck began to be settled in the fall of 1633; Back river district 
in 1642. Hilton's Point is about a mile below the mouth of Back river, at 
Royal's Cove. Dover Neck is on the eastern side of Back river and the west- 
em side of Fore river (Newichawannock is the Indian name). The Back 
river district is one of the best farm land sections of the town or the state, 
and the dwellers therein have always been among the best citizens of the town. 
And their sons and daughters who emigrated from there have made good 
records, near and far. 

The Drew garrison house is at the west end of a twenty-acre lot, which, 
in turn, is at the west end of twenty-acre lot number 14. These lots are forty 
rods wide and eighty rods long. I \Aill now explain the history of the twenty- 
acre lots. 

The oldest record of the town of Dover now in existence, was recorded 
by the town clerk, William Walderne, on a piece of paper, in 1642, and that 
paper was copied into the earliest record book now extant, by William Pom- 
frett, who was chosen clerk in 1647 and served nearly a quarter of a century. 
There were record books liefore this one, which is marked on the cover 
"No. 7," but they have all been lost. Perhaps someone destroyed them to 
prevent their being used in the land lawsuits which the Mason heirs brought 
against the large land-owners in Do\-er. Town Clerk Pomfret was a jiarty 
interested in having the contents of that piece of paper preserved, hence he 
recorded it in the first book he kept. It reads and spells as follows : 

The west sied of ye Back Reuer or ouer ye Back Riuer. 

A Record of ye 20 Ackes loets as theay waer in order given and layed 
out to ye inhabetance hoes names are here under menshened with the nomber 
of the loet to each pertickler man. As it was fowned Recorded by William 
Walden in a Pec of paper in ye yeir (16)42, wich lots ar in Breadth at ye 

water sied 40 poell and in lenketh 80 poll up into ye woods. 
9 

' 157 



158 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Names 

Thomas Roberts, i Richard Roggers, 2 

Henry Tebbets, 3 Mr. Larkham, 4 

Edward Colcord, 5 George Webe, 6 

John Tnttle, 7 William Story, 8 

i]arthey Smeg, 9 John L'grove, 10 

John Dam, 1 1 

William Pomfrctt. i^ This 12th lott is exchanged with Dea. Dam 

for ye 17th lott. 

W'm. Hilton, Sr. 13 Edward Starback, 14 

Samewell Haynes, 15 This 15th lott was Resined to John Hill and 

by him sold unto Wm. ffollett as was acknowledged. 

Robert Huggins, 16 

John Crosse, 17 This 17th Lott is Exchanged by John Dam 

with Lt Pomfret for ye I2tth Lott. 

Thomas Layton, 18 John ILdl, 19 

Hatabell Nutter, 20 Henry Beck, 21 

John Westell, 21 No name, 23 

Richard Pinkham, 24 

Bear in mind these lots on the river bank were forty rods in width and 
eighty rods in depth ; as there were twenty-four lots, the distance from Royal's 
Cove, at the mouth of the Back river, was three miles to lot No. 24, close to the 
head of tide-water where Back river begins and Bellamy river ends or empties 
into it. 

Soon after the grants were awarded the owners began trading and 
exchanging. Deacon John Dam {\\\\o \\as not deacon until thirty years 
later), who drew No. 11, soon received No. 12 from his father-indaw, William 
Pomfret. the town clerk. And in 1656 Deacon Dam bought lot No. 13, so he 
then owned Nos. 11, 12 and 13 and he settled his son, William Dam, on the 
land, when he became of suital^le age ; his other son, John, was located on the 
east shore of Little Bay, which to this day bears the name Dame's Point. 

William Dam was born October 14, 1653; his wife was Martha Nute, 
also Ijorn in 1653. She was daugb.ter of James, who owned the lots next 
south of Deacon John Dam's. They were married about 1679. He prob- 
ably had been living on his father's land there three or four years before 
marriage and had built a garrison house, as the Indians were getting to 
be troublesome. Anyhow, he had a garrison, as the Provincial records 
show. It was built before this Drew garrison and was contemporary with 
it. It was in that garrison that William Dam's six children were born, the 
eldest. Pomfret, ]\Iarch 4, 1681, and the youngest, Lear, March 17, 1695. 
The fourth child was Samuel, born March 21, 1689. When a young man he 
settled in the District of Maine, and his descendants to this day preserve the 
ancient spelling of the name — Dam. The Nute and Dam families have a 
common burying ground on the bank of Back river, where I have seen three 



AND REPRESENTATI\'E CITIZENS 159 

headstones with inscriptions and others without name. These are the graves 
of James Nute, founder of the Xute family in America, Martha Dam and 
her husband, William Dam. 

It was about 1650 that James Nute bought lots Nos. 9 and 10 from the 
grantees, John Ugrove and Barthey Smeg. And much, if not all, of that 
land is now owned by the Nute family, his descendants, having remained 
in the name j6o years ; the present owner is Thomas Herbert Nute. 

In Volume 17 of the Provincial Papers are the following references to 
the Dam garrison. From January 7 to P'ebruary 6, 1695, it says John Cross 
served as one of the guards, "at Will. Dam's garrison"; from May 12 to 
June 8, 1695, John Bickford was watchman; from November 4 to December 
5, 1695, John Tucker and John Miller were guardsmen; from December 5, 
1695, to January 7, 1696, Ephraim Jackson was the special soldier on duty. 
That period w as very perilous, and no man or crew of men dared to go to the 
fields or the \\oods to work without carrying their loaded guns for use in 
defending their lives, in case the Indians should make a sudden attack on 
them from ambush in tlie woods. 

So much for the Dam garrison. I will now take up the consideration 
of the Drew garrison and show to you that, beyond reasonable doubt, it 
was built by John Drew, Sr., in 1698, and stands on the west end of a 
20-acre lot, which is west of 20-acre lot No. 14, which is north of the Dam 
lot No. 13, which I have been talking about. I will first give you the evi- 
dence by quoting the deeds of land purchases made by John Drew, .Sr., 
between 1680 and 1702. 

THE URI-;W GARRISON DEEDS 

1680, June 25. 'AVilliani ffollett and Elizabeth his wife, for and in 
consideration of a valuable sum of money to us well and truly paid l)y the 
hand of our beloved son, John Drew & for other causes us thereunto mo\- 
ing, have given, granted and sold," etc., "a certain tract or Parcell of Land 
containing Twentie Akers Scituate on ye West Side of ye back River, being 
ye fifteenth Lott in ye Numlicr of ye Lotts as it doth appear by Dover 
Records," etc. — Recorded February 2, 1719. 

1696, May II. "I William Brackstone of ye Towne of Dover in ye Prov- 
ince of New Hampshire, Planter sendeth Greeting" . . . "for Twentie 
two Pounds of currant and lawful money," etc. . . . "delivered by 
ye hand of John Drew of ye Town and Province aforesaid. Cooper," etc. 
. "give, grant, sell," etc. . . . "a certain tract or Parcell of 
land containing twentie Acres with ye Appurtenances l:)elonging to it, Scituate 
lying and being on ye West Side of ye Back River in ye Town of Dover, 
and is ye fourteenth Lott in ye Number of ye Twentie Acre Lotts, and is 



160 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

thirty eight rods wide by ye water side and four score and four rods West 
North West into ye woods, bounded on ye south side by Joseph Tibbetts, on 
ye East by ye Ri\-er, on ye North on ye liigh way. on ye West on ye Com- 
mons," etc. 

his 
"William N Brackston 
mark 
her 
"AiiiGAiL X Brackston" 
mark 
Recorded December 28, 1699. 

1697, August 16. "Zachariah Pitman" sold to "John Drew" twenty acres 
granted to liim by the town of Dover in 1694 "lying and being in ye Dry 
Pines between Jno. Knight's and Zachariah ffield's land." This was in the 
neighborhood of Field's garrison. — Recorded December 29, 1699. 

1698, I\Iay 6. Thomas Austin sold to John Drew, both of Dover, "a 
certain Tract or Parcell of Land containing Twentie Acres, lying & being 
on ye West Side of ye Back River, as it was laid out above ye Lott of land 
granted to Elder Starbuck, which Twentie Acre Lott is ye fourteenth in 
Number of Lotts all of wch Twentie Acres of land as it was laid out and 
bounded by ye lot layers of ye Town of Do\er as will appear on Dover 
Records," etc. — Recorded December 31, 1699. 

1699, March 16. Abraham Newt sold to John Drew "for and in con- 
sideration of a house to me in hand delivered by ye hand of Jno Drew of 
ye Town and Province aforesaid Scituate on ye West side on Dover Neck." 
etc., "a certain tract or parcell of Marsh and llatts scituate on ye East side 
of ye Back River, adjacent to Partridge Point and so down by ye Back 
River side three score and two Rods, or poles, to Sandie hill, all which 
Marsh and flatts." etc., he sells to Drew for the house on Dover Neck. — 
Recorded December 29, 1699. 

1698, June 6. "I Robert Huckins, ye Eldest son and Heir of James 
Huckins, ye only son and successor of Robert Huckins, sometime of Dover 
in ye Province of New Hampshire, deceased," etc., sold to John Drew for 
£14, "a certain Tract or parcell of land containing twentie acres, granted 
to my grandfather Robert Huckins by ye Towne of Dover in ye year 1642, 
Scituate on ye West side of Back River, being ye Sixteenth Lott in ve 
Number of Lotts, bounded on ye East by ye River; on ye South by Jno 
Drew his land ; on ye North by Thomas Whitehouse his land : on ve West 
by ye Commons; all wch twentie Acres of land are as it was laid out and 
bounded by ye lot-layers of ye Town of Dover," etc. — Recorded January i, 
1699/17CK). 

1700, July 6. John Drew and wife, "Sara," sold to Joseph Tibbetts of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 161 

Dover, "a Sertain tract or parcell of land Scituate on ye West side of ye 
Back River, being part of twentie Aker Lott bought of Thomas Austin," 
and located "at ye south west of Drew's land and the Commons." 

1700, December 7. John Drew, Sr., bought of Joshua Wingate of Hamp- 
ton, son of John W'ingate of Dover, deceased, "a Sertain tract or Parcell of 
Land Scituate on ye West side of ye Back River Containeinge Twentie 
Akers, wch said Land my father, John Wingett, Deceased, formerly bought 
of Ralfe Haull, and is lyinge and beinge lietwcne a Twentie Aker Lott laide 
cute to my father and ye Hed of ye said twentie Acre Lottes borderinge on 
ye northe west on ye aforesaid Lotts laid out to my father, Jno. Wingett, 
and on ye South weste by ye Commons, and on ye South Este on ye Com- 
mons, and on ye North Este on a Lott of Land now in ye Tenure and occu- 
pation of ye aforesaid Jno. Drew; all which twentie acres of land were 
laide oute and bounded by ye Lott layers of ye Towne of Dover," etc. 

1701-2, l-'ebruary 5. John Drew, Sr., bought of Pomfret W'hitehouse, 
grandson of William Pimifret. lot No. 17. 

1702. June 16. John Drew, Sr.. bought of "Israeli Hogsdon" and Ann, 
his wife, twenty acres of land granted to him in 1658 by the town of Dover 
"scituate and beinge on ye Weste side of ye Back River, bordering on ye 
north by a twentie acre Lott laide oute att ye same time to John Roberts, 
and betwene itt and Ralfe Hall his twentie acre Lott, above ye hed of ye 
old twentie acre Lotts on ye Weste side of ye Back River," etc. 

1705, May 26. John Drew, Sr., bought of Richard Paine and Sarah, his 
wife, of Boston, twenty acres of land with marsh and flats. 

1705-6, March i. John Drew, Sr., "Coojier." Ixuight of Israel Hogsdon, 
"Carpenter," a "piece of salt marsh and thatch ground.' lying on the west 
side of Back river adjacent to Drew's land. 

From the abo\'e it appears : 

1st. William Follett and his wife Elizabeth gave to their "beloved son, 
John Drew." lot No. 15, on Back river, June 25, 1680. That expression 
"belox'ed son" shows that Drew's wife was daughter of William Follett. 
Wives did not own land in those days, nor for a good while after that date. 

2d. May 11, 1696, Mr. Drew bought of William Brackston of Dover, 
lot No. 14. 

3d. May 6, 1698, Mr. Drew bought of Thomas .\ustin of Do\-er. twenty 
acres west of lot No. 14, and that is the land on which the garrison stands. 

4th. June 16. 1698, Mr. Drew bought of Robert Huckins of Oyster river, 
lot No. 16. 

5th. February 5, 1702, Mr. Drew bought of Pomfrett Whitehouse, lot 
No. 17. 

6th. June 16. 1702. Mr. Drew bought of Israel Hogsdon, "Cooper," of 
Dover, lot No. 18. 



162 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Thus you see he had five lots on the river front, west side of Back river, 
covering a space of 200 rods. 

The deed from WilHani Brackston says lot No. 14, as he sold it to Mr. 
Drew, was tliirty-eight rods wide, at the river bank, and ran back eighty- 
four rods into the woods, to make the twenty acres; the reason for tliis is 
that a road two rods wide was on the north side, about where the road now 
is to Mr. Peaslee's house, which stands on lot No. 15. This roadway rail 
in the low ground by the fence between the Rounds and the Peaslee faniis. 
The Peaslee family has lived there since 1760. The late owner was Joseph E. 
Peaslee, who was born in the garrison house, where his parents resided while 
the jjresent Peaslee house was being built in 1842. 

7th. On March 16, 1699, ^^^- Drew sold his house on Dover Neck, 
where he residetl, and which he inherited from his father, William Drew, 
to Abraham Nute, in exchange for marsh land on the west side of Back 
river. The marsh land along the west shore of Back river was always 
reckoned separate from the high land. Mr. Peaslee now owns several 
pieces of marsh where the adjoining high ground is owned by other persons. 

Now we gather from all this that Mr. Drew would not have sold his 
house on Dover Neck until he had another to move into. About a year 
before this sale he bought the twenty acres on which the garrison stands. 
He built the garrison here some time ; hence there can be no reasonable 
doubt he built it between May 6, 1698, and Alarch 16, 1699. Quod crat 
dcinonstranduni. 

The mansion house here was built in 1810 by Joseph Drew, a great-great- 
grandson of John Drew, Sr., who built the garrison. 

It is well to keep in mind that the Indians did not trouble Dover people 
before 1675, more tlian thirty years after the grants of land were made. 
So there were no garrisons before that date. Another point to bear in 
mind is that there was no call for building garrisons after 1725, when the 
Indian wars ceased here, having continued fifty years. The last Dover 
man who lost his scalp was John Evans, the Poet Whittier's great-grand- 
father. The Indians performed that surgical operation in the vicinity of 
the Knox Marsh road beyond the road to Bellamy mill. Mr. Drew had good 
reason for building a garrisoned house when he did. The Oyster River 
massacre had occurred only four years before, when his father and one 
brother were killed, and other members of the family were carried captives 
to Canada. 

ANOTHER THEORY AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE DREW GARRISON 

Mr. Scales, in the preceding statements as to the probable origin of the 
Drew garrison, liased his argument on the supposed fact that, as it is 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 163 

called the Drew garrison, it was built by a Drew; and if built by a Drew 
it must have been by John Drew, Sr. ; and if by him, it must have been 
built on the twenty-acre lot in the rear of lot No. 14, which is the most 
southerly lot owned by him. Of course Mr. Scales' argument fails if it 
can be shown that the house does not stand in the rear of lot No. 14. 

Smce Mr. Scales had prepared the preceding statement he has been in- 
formed that Mr. N. ^\^ Davis of Winchester, Mass., a lineal descendant of 
John Drew, Sr., and a gentleman of much experience in genealogical work, 
being a member of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 
had become so far interested in the question of location of the lots at Back- 
river that he had a surveyor measure the distances along the river bank, and 
determine, as far as possible, the exact boundary lines and location of each 
lot. He found that the garrison is on the lot in the rear of lot No. 13, and 
John Drew's lot No. 14 is one notch farther up the river. As has already 
been stated, Deacon John Dam owned lot No. 13. and gave it to his son, 
William Dam, who came to that side of the river to live between the years 
1675 and 1680. Now, if Mr. Davis' surveyor be correct in his measure- 
ments, then Mr. Scales' theory comes to naught, since he based it entirely 
on the supposition the garrison is located in the rear of lot No. 14. And 
he has to admit that it looks quite sure that Mr. Davis' survey is approxi- 
mately correct. 

There are other corroborating proofs that the garrison was built by 
William Dam or by his father, Deacon John Dam ; probably they both had 
a hand in the job. It is known, beyond dispute, that William Dam had 
a garrison at Back river, and soldiers were quarterer there during the 
Indian wars, as shown by the Provincial records, already (luoted. Further- 
more, deeds and wills and various land transactions, which liave recently 
been found, show that at the death of William Dam, Sr., in 1718. the house 
passed to the possession of his son, William Dam. Jr. iM-om William Dam, 
Jr., the ownership passed to his sister Leali and her husband, Samuel Hayes,' 
and the Hayes family resided in it up to 1770, when he died there. Samuel 
and Leah (Dam) Hayes had a daughter, Mary, who married James Nute, 
and their daughter, Leah Nute, married Joseph Drew (a great-grandson 
of John Drew, Sr.), in 177 1, and they commenced housekeeping in the old 
garrison, which her grandi)arents had recently vacated, by death. 

Up to 1 77 1 it was known as the Dam (or Dame) garrison. Joseph 
Drew was the first of that name to reside in it. From him it passed by 
inheritance to his son, William Plaisted Drew. From him it passed by 
inheritance to his son, Edwin Plaisted Drew, who resided there until 18S4, 
when it passed by purchase to the present owner, Mrs. Ellen S. Rounds, 
wife of Holmes B. Rounds, whose mother was a Drew, a lineal descendant 
of John Drew, Sr. 



164 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

If this really be the William Dam garrison, as seems quite certain it is, 
it was probably built about 1679 or 1680, when William Dam married 
Martha Nute and went to that side of Back river to live. The Indian wars 
had begun then, and of course he would not be likely to build any other 
kind of a dwelling house in war times. This makes it quite certain that the 
garrison is more than tzvo hundred and thirty years old, and is the oldest 
house in Dover. Next oldest house in Dover is the Guppy house, built in 
1690, 22^ years ago, and third is the Ham house about 220 years old. It 
does not appear there was any other Drew garrison. It bore the name of 
its builder, William Dam, 100 years. 

In the records of about 1700 a highway is mentioned between Dam's 
land and that of James Nute, just south, which led to a landing place at the 
head of James Nute's creek, about a mile from the Drew garrison. This 
creek is above Hope-Hood's Point. The name of this point is derived from 
a noted Indian chief, said to have belonged to the Abenaki tribe. Doctor 
Quint says he was the Sagamore, W'ahowah, or Wohawa, chief of all the 
lands from Exeter to Salmon Falls. The historian, Hubbard, in his narra- 
tive, calls him "Hope Hood," and says he was son of Robin Hood. The 
two are mentioned together in signing a deed of land at "'Squanianagonak" 
to Peter Coffin, January 3, 1688. It was Hope Hood who led the attack 
on Newichawannick settlement in 1690, as well as that on Fox Point shore 
soon after. So noted did he become for his ferocity to the English settlers 
that Mather, in his "Magnolia," calls him "that memorable tygre,". and 
"that hellish fellow," etc. The tradition is that he was killed in 1690 and 
buried on this point of land which bears, and will ever bear, his name. No 
headstone marks the exact spot where he was buried, but it is affirmed that 
the groans of the old Indian warrior are still to be heard there from time to 
time among the moaning branches of the trees, when great storms prevail. 
It is supposed he died of his wounds received in the fight at Fox Point, 
and bis friends brought him across the river to this point and buried him. 

Hope Hood was one of the occasional neighbors of William Dam and 
James Xute. No wonder they had a garrison and soldiers to defend them, 
although the doughty old Indian chief seems never to have troubled them. 
Probably he was in his peaceful moods when he lived on Hope Hood Point, 
and they treated him kindly. 

Cotton Mather in his "Magnolia" gives an account of Hope Hood's 
treatment of James Key, son of John Key of Ouochecho, a child of about 
five years of age, who was captured by the Indians at Salmon Falls; and 
that "hellish fellow, Hope Hood, once the servant of a Christian master in 
Boston, was made ma.ster of him. and treated him in a very cruel manner." 

In another passage Mather says, in regard to the Indian attack on Wells, 
that Hope Hood and his party, "having first had a skirmish with Captain 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 165 

Sherborn, tlicy appeared tlie next Lord's Day at Newicliawannick, or Ber- 
wick, where they burned some houses and slew a man. Three days after 
they came upon a small hamlet on the south side of the Pascataqua river, 
called Fox Point, and besides the burning of several houses, they took half 
a dozen prisoners, and killed more than a dozen of the too securely un- 
garnsoned people; which was as easy to do as to have spoiled an ordinary 
henroost. But Captain Floyd and Captain Greenleaf coming (from Salis- 
bury) upon these Indians made some slaughter among them, recovered some 
capti\-es. with much plunder, and bestowed a good wound upon Hope Hood, 
who lost his gun (which was next to his life) in this action." The unfor- 
tunate thing about these Indian wars is that the Indians left no record of 
their side of the history. 

^^ ^It may be noticed, from the list of lot owners, that John Tuttle had 
"No. 7." Mr. Tuttle was the first of the name to settle in Dover and his 
residence was on Dover Neck, on the east side of High street and about a 
quarter of a mile below the meeting house, where now is River View hall 
He did not come over to Back river to reside, but one son did. and that lot 
No. 7 remained in possession of the Tuttle family and the Tuttle name until 
a few years ago. 

What a beautiful locality Back river is, and always has been. Directly 
across the river from the Drew garrison is Huckleberry Hill the ancient 
training ground of Capt. John Tuttle's valiant soldiers. ' Further down the 
ndge. at the extreme right is the site of his old meeting house. All along 
the river bank, at suitable spots, are the burial lots of the Back river families- 
there lies the dust of brave men and devout women. There are no ancient 
burying grountls back so far from the river as this old garrison. Those 
men and women had eyes that appreciated the beautiful' in life and the 
"sleeping place" in death. 

Another noticeable thing about this Back river locality is the location 
of the dwellings a half mile back from the river; each land owner built his 
house and his barn as near to the river bank as the nature of the ground 
would permit to secure good drainage and good spring water. The houses 
were nearer to the river than the bams and outbuildings. This arrangement 
was because of the fact that the chief travel was done by boats on the river 
There were roads to the river where each family had its boats The -reat 
business center, then, was on the Neck, just across the river When the 
farmers wanted to trade they went there in their boats, or to Portsmouth 
This custom of traveling by boats was in use as late as sixty years ago 
The old houses all fronted .square to the south, as the garrison does The 
reason of this is apparent when we consider the fact that clocks were scarce 
and. when they had them, were not very accurate timekeepers. The sun 
always keeps correct time; when it cast a shadow square with the east and 



166 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

west ends of the liouse the housewife knew tliat was high noon, and would 
toot her dinner horn accordingly to call the workmen from afar in the 
fields. A noon mark on the window sill was kept to show the time also. 
You can find the noon mark now, if you search carefully in the front win- 
dows of very old houses. Now no housewife thinks of blowing the dinner 
horn, or the conch shell, which antedated the horns, because every day 
laborer carries a \\'aterbury or a W'altham watch in his vest pocket, and has 
it regulated by an electric stroke from the observatory in Washington or 
Cambridge at noon every day. Why, the day laborers now have for every- 
day fare what would ha\'e been luxuries for the aristocrats of Dover Neck 
and Back river 200 years ago. 

Persons driving along the garrison road no doubt wonder at the fashion 
that pre\'ails of having the bams nearer the road than the houses, which 
seem to be behind theni ; t1iat is, the barns appear to be in front of the house. 
The reason of that is that the l)arns were built long before the roads, and 
were behind the houses, because the great thoroughfare was the river, and 
moreover they did not want the beautiful view of tlie river, and Dover Neck 
beyond, obstructed by old barns and out buildings. They had an eye for 
the beautiful, as well as the useful. 

Speaking of garrisons, it may be well to mention one more in this 
section, which stood on the height of land, a short distance west of the 
Back ri\er schoolhouse. It was l>uilt by Zachias Field, who was taxed at 
Oyster river in 1664 and owned land at Back river as early as 1670. It 
was probably built soon after the Indians squared their accounts with 
Major Walderne at Cocheco, June 28, 1689. In connection with that gar- 
rison Rev. John Pike, for many years pastor of the First Church, relates 
that July 8. 1707, John Bunker antl Ichabod Rawlins were going with a 
cart from Lieut. Zach I'Teld's garrison to James Bunker's, at Oyster river, 
for a loom, w hen they were slain by the Indians. This incident shows what 
li\ely times they had about here in those days. 

Some cranks are accustomed to bemoan the Yankees ; that the race is 
dying out ; that foreigners are overrunning the land ; and so on, page after 
page of twaddle. Why, look at that very locality, Back river; Tuttle, Nute, 
Drew, Peaslee, Emerson, Tibbetts, Leighton, Rounds, and others ; their 
ancestors were among the first settlers here and in New- England. Mr. 
Rounds' mother was a Drew, a lineal descendant of John Drew, Sr., who 
built the garrison here. The Tuttles and the Nutes are still here. The Peas- 
lees, who came here more than a century and a half ago, have their de- 
scendants here with us today, also the Emcrsons. The Dover Yankees are 
not dying out; they could not all stay here in Dover; they went where 
work called them, and opportunities for manifestation of their abilities for 
usefulness were found. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 169 

The Indians had buried their dead there long before the white man 
came here. No doubt Hope Hood's Point is an Indian burial ground, and 
that is a reason why the old Indian Chief Wahowah was buried there by his 
friends, when he passed on to the Indian hunting grounds of the unseeable 
world. 

I will close my story of today by giving you an account of a Quaker 
wedding of a century and a half ago. Right after the wedding the bride 
and groom came here to Back river to reside; their house stood in sight of 
the garrison ; right across the brook there, where Mr. Joseph E. Peaslee 
and his sister Mattie reside, and they are with us today. The Peaslees 
came here from Massachusetts, where the immigrant ancestor was one of 
the first settlers of Haverhill. The family has been here at Back river since 
1760, one hundred and fifty-three years. The representatives here today 
are great-grandchildren of Amos and Elizabeth Peaslee. 
•*- 

AMOS PEASLEe's MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE 

Ninth Day of the Seventh Month, 
1760. 

Whereas Amos Peaslee of Newbury in the County of Essex and Province 
of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, son of Robert Peaslee, last of 
Haverhill, deceased, and Alice his wife, and Elizabetli Austin, Daughter of 
Joseph Tibbetts and Rose his wife of Dover in the Province of New Hamp- 
shire in New England 

Having declared their intentions of taking each other in marriage before 
several \mh\k meetings of the People called Quakers in Dover, aforesaid, 
according to the good order used among them and proceeding there in after 
deliberate consideration thereof with regard unto the Righteous Law of God, 
in that case they also appearing clear of all others, and having consent of 
parents and relations concerned Ware approved by said meeting. 

Now these are to certify to all whom it may concern that for the full 
accomplishing of their intentions this Nineth day of the Seventh month, called 
July in the year according U_> the Christian account, one thousand seven 
hundred and si.xty 

1 hey, the said Amos Peaslee and Elizabeth Austin appearing in a Public 
Assembly of the aforesaid people and others met together at the Public 
Meeting House at Cochecho, in Dover aforesaid and in a solemn manner, 
he, the said Amos Peaslee taking the said Elizabeth Austin by the hand did 
openly declare as followeth : 

Eriends I desire that you be my witnesses that I take this my friend 
Elizabeth Austin to be my wife, promising by the Lord's assistance to be 
unto her a true and loving Husband until it shall please God by death to 
separate us: And then and there in the said assembly, the said Elizabeth 
Austin did in like manner declare as followeth : Friends, I desire you to be 
my witnesses that I take this my friend AmOs Peaslee to be my Husband, 
promising by ye Lord's assistance to be unto him a true and loving wife 



170 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

until it shall please God by death to separate us, or words to that purport, 
and as a further confirmation thereof the said Amos Peaslee and Elizabeth 
Austin did then and there to these t*resents set their hands, she according to 

the custom of marriage assuining the name of her husband 

And we whose names are hereunto subscribed being present among others 
at the solemnizing of their said marriage and subscription in manner afore- 
said as witnesses hereunto have also to these Presents subscribed our names, 
the day and year above written. 

Amos Peaslee. 
Elizabeth Peaslee. 

Witnesses: Elizabeth Shiplee, Hanah Foster, Miriam Hussey, Ruth Mor- 
rill, Hannah F*inkham. Jos. Estes, John Gage, Nathaniel Baker, Peter Gush- 
ing, Stephen Jones, Eph. Hanson, Nathaniel Varney, John Titcomb, Ichabod 
Canney, Samuel Tuttle, Stephen Varney, Arthur Davidson, Joseph Austin, 
Otis Pinkham. Bena Austin. Elijah Austin, Joseph Tibbetts, Jr., Jacob Saw- 
yer, Hannah Hanson. 

The original paper, which I have just read, is now the property of Miss 
Mattie Peaslee and Mr. Joseph E. Peaslee of Back river, whom I have 
already introduced to you. They were near neighbors to the Drew family 
in the garrison. In addition to this paper they have numerous other old 
papers, heirlooms of the Peaslee family, which ought to be carefully pre- 
served after the present owners have "passed on." 

Your attention is called to the expression "at the meeting house, at 
Cochecho in Dover." This was in 1760. Up to that time, and for several 
years after, when Dover is mentioned it means the locality on the hill, 
Dover Neck, right across Back river from here; all other villages were 
simply localities in Dover. Tlie wedding was not held in the present Quaker 
meeting house, on Central avenue at Pine Hill, as that was erected seven 
or eight years later in 1768, and is the oldest house of worship in this city, 
being 145 years old. The first Quaker meeting house was built at Dover 
Neck. The second was built at Cocheco about 1720 and stood on the south- 
west comer of Silver and Locust street, where the Jacob K. Purinton house 
stands, now owned by Elisha R. Brown. It was in that meeting house the 
Peaslee wedding was held. That building was taken down soon alter the 
present house was built at Pine Hill. 

Some of those witnesses were noted persons in their day and cut no small 
figure in Dover history. John Gage was colonel of a New Hampshire regi- 
ment, many times a Representative in the Provincial Assembly, and the 
first judge of probate of Strafford county. John Titcomb was conspicuous 
in town affairs and colonel of a regiment in the Revolutionary army. Peter 
Gushing was grandson of Rev. Jonathan Gushing, pastor of the First 
Church fifty years. Peter was one of the great business men of the town. 



AND REPRESEXTATR-E CITIZENS 171 

In fact, all the big families of the town were represented at the wedding — 
Tuttle, Baker, Hanson, Canney, Varney, Pinkhani, and others. It was a 
great wedding, notwithstanding there was no "single ring or donble ring" 
ceremony. 

So, ladies and gentlemen, ends my story. 



CHAPTER XV 

HISTORY OF DOVER (XI) 

INDIAN ATTACKS ON DOVER, N. H. 

Sack of Dover, June 2-j, 1689. 

Being one of the oldest settlements in Xew Hampshire, by the year 1689 
it had grown to be one of the most flourishing. The first settlement grew 
up at what is now Dover Point. The second settlement grew up at the first 
fall^ of the Cochechc), w liere Maj. Richard Waldriin had liuilt his saw and 
grist mill. 

\\'aldron was the great man of tlie \'illagc. He had held most of the 
important offices, both civil and mihtary, and at this date was major of the 
militia. He was about seventy-three at this time, hale and hearty and 
vigorous, and as iiard to mo\'e as his own milldam. Fi\'e block houses 
guarded the settlement; for Dover touched the very edge of the wilder- 
ness. These were Waldron's, near the courthouse, Otis's, near Alilk street, 
whose site has just recently been discovered, Peter Coffin's and his sons on 
this side of the river, somewhere near Williams' belt factory. All were sur- 
rounded by strong walls of timber, with gates that could l)c securely bolted 
and barred at night, at which time, the people living outside, came to sleep, 
going to their own homes in the morning. 

This was Dover. This was border life, yet danger had its charms. 
It was the making of robust men and women, whose nursery tales were the 
tragedies of Indian warfare or captivity, and who, as they grew up. became 
skilled in the use of arms, keen in tracking the bear and moose, and of 
withstanding hunger and hardship, as well as the wild Indians themselves. 

Though they did not know it, the people of Dover were w'alking between 
life and death. They had forgotten, but the Indian never forgets, nor 
forgives any injury or wrong. For years the memory of the treachery of 
Waldron's had rankled deep in their hearts. This is not a pleasant tale, 
but it is true. 

During the struggles of King Phillip's war, some thirteen years before, 
Waldron had made peace with the Pennacook, Ossipee and Pigwacket 
tribes, by which the calamities of war were wholly kept from him and his 
neighbors. This was a shrewd move to keep the Indians quiet. In this 

172 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 173 

treaty the Indians promised not to harbor any of King Phillip's men. They 
shook hands with Waldron upon it, and were allowed to come and go as 
they pleased. 

This promise was, not, however, kept. The I'ennacooks sheltered many 
ot .:'hillip's followers. Indian hospitality could not refuse this asylum to 
their own, hunted as they were by the whites. With this exception, the 
tribe lived up to these obligations. 

The tribes on the Androscoggin and Kennebec were easily led to take 
up the hatchet again, killing and plundering the defenseless inhabitants. 
Two companies were sent out from Boston to stop this, and to protect the 
people. When they arrived at Dover, they found some hundreds of Indians 
gathered here, as it seemed, to trade. They were armed but there was no 
fear of an attack. It was then and there that Waldron dealt them their 
most terrible blow, a blow struck from l)ehind the back, which he was 
later to pay dearly for with his life. The two captains. Sill and Haw- 
thorn, liaving orders to seize all Indians who bad lieen out in King I'lullip's 
war w herever found, upon l)eing told that there were many even now among 
these \ery Indians, would ha\'e fallen upon them without fiu'ther words, 
Init Waldron was tno wary. 

A plan had arranged itself in his mind by which the whole l)i>ily of 
Indians could be taken without striking a blow. He proposed to the Indians 
to celebrate the meeting l)y having a sham fight — after the English fashion — 
to W'hich they readily consented. In the meantime, he called U[) Captain 
Frost's company from Kittery and got liis own men under arms. These, 
with the two marching companies, gave him all the men he needed. 

The next day the two Ijodies. English and Indians, were drawn up in 
sham battle, into \vhich the unsuspecting redskins entered with much sijirit. 
Meantime, while going through certain simple movements, the English were 
ciuietly surrounding the Indians. Still mistrusting nothing, the Indians 
fired their first vollev. When their guns were discharged, the English 
rushed in, seizeil and disarmed ihem without the loss of a man. .\l)out four 
hundred were so taken. They were then se])arated. Those known to be 
friendly were allowed to go in peace, but all those suspected of having 
helped King rhilli[>. some two hundred in number, were sent under guard 
to Boston, where seven or eight were hanged, and the rest sold out of the 
country as slaves. It is known that those hanged were in some of the blood- 
iest massacres of the war. Those sold helped to pay for their capture, and 
all the people said Amen. 

So now, long years after, some of the Indians who had been entrapped 
by Waldron, laid their plans to be revenged. When it was found that the 
people of Dover had fallen into careless habits, kept no watches, and would 
even let Indians sleep in their houses, these plans were ripe for execution. 



174 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

Some hints of tlie intended mischief had been thrown out, but the careless 
settlers had hardly listened to them. When W'aldron himself was spoken 
to about it, he jocosely told the uneasy ones "to go and plant pumpkins and 
that he would tell them when the Indians would break out." 

When the time for the assault drew near, the two chiefs, Kau-ka-ma-gus 
and Mesaudowit. brought their followers to within striking distance of the 
village. Indian cunning was then set to work. On Thursday evening two 
squaws went to each of the live garrisons and asked leave to sleep there 
that night. It being wet weather they were readily admitted to all except 
young Coffin's. When some objected at \\'aldron's, the kind old man 
quieted they by saying, "Let the poor old creatures lodge by the fire." They 
were even shown how to unbar the doors. 

Mesaudowit went boldl}^ to \\'aldron's, where he was kindly received, 
all the more readily because he announced that a good many Indians were 
coming ne.xt day to trade. While the two were sitting at supper, the chief 
jestingly asked. "Brother Waldron, what would you do if the strange Indians 
should come?" "A hundred men stand ready to come when I lift my finger 
thus," was Waklron"s replv. 

All retired to rest ; not a single sentinel stood guard over the doomed 
village. When all was still, the faithless squaws noiselessly arose, quietly 
unbarred the doors of the four garrisons, and gave the signal agreed upon — 
a low whistle. Instantly the warriors who had been lying in wait outside 
rushe<l in. Roused from sleep by the noise, Waldron had barely time to 
jump out of bed, pull on his breeches, and snatch up his sword, before the 
infuriated wretches, who were in search of him, came crowding into the 
room, tomahawk in hand. But the fine old man was not to be taken without 
a struggle. Partly dressed, with his gray head bare, Waldron yet laid 
about him so lustily with his sword, as not only to clear his own room, but 
also to drive them into the next. There was a chance yet for his life, and he 
hastened to improve it. His musket and his pistol had been left in his own 
room ; Waldron therefore started to get them. Seizing the moment when 
his back was turned, a savage sprang forward and brained the brave old 
fellow w ith a blow of the hatchet from behind. 

GrieN'ously wounded, but still breathing, \\'aldron was now dragged into 
the great room, a chair put up on the long table, where he had often sat as 
judge, and his half-lifeless body lifted upon it, while his captors made ready 
to gratify their long-nursed vengeance with savage ingenuity and more than 
savage barbarity. "Who shall judge Indians now?" they asked the dying 
man with grim irony. Not to cut short ^\'aldron's sufferings, his tormentors 
commanded other captives to get them some victuals. When they had 
swallowed this hideous meal, with the worthy major still sitting there, 
stunned and bleeding to death in his chair, these miscreants first stripped 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 175 

him of his shirt, and then took turns in slashing him with their i<nives across 
the heart, eacli one crying out as he did so, "See,' I cross out my account." 
They then cut off his fingers, one Ijy one, and asked in mockery if his hand 
still weighed a pound. By this time his strength was so far gone from 
loss of Wood, seeing that he was about to fall, one of the Indians held out 
the point of the major's sword, so that as the dying man pitched forward 
upon it, the weapon passed quite through his body. 

After killing or taking captive all that were in the house, they first 
plundered it, and then set it on fire. 

In the meantime. Chief Kau-ka-ma-gus was similarly engaged at the 
other garrisons. One garrison was sa\ed by the barking of a dog just as 
the Indians were stealthily gliding in at the gate. One of the inmates, 
with rare forethought and courage and presence of mind, ran to the spot, 
thrust the intruders out, shut and held the gate by throwing himself flat on 
his back, and bracing his feet against it until the rest of the people came to 
his aid. 

1 he elder Coffin's house was ransacked, but the lives were spared, blind- 
ing a bag of money, they made Cofifin throw it about the room, while they 
scrambled for it, like so many mischievous boys. This was their way of 
making an impartial division of the money. 

The younger Coffin stoutly refused to open his gate, until the Indians 
brought out his old father, and threatened to kill him before his son's eyes. 
He then gave up. Both families were put in a deserted house, but not being 
closely watched, all made their escape while the Indians were plundering the 
captured houses. 

This was a sad day for Dover. Twenty-three persons lost their lives, 
and twenty-nine were carried off captives, five or six houses witli the mills 
were burned to the ground, all lieing done S(> quickly that the Indians were able 
to get away unmolested with all their booty. 

It is but just to add that the conduct of the savages during the sack 
of Dover was not without some redeeming features; while certain persons 
were marked for unrelenting vengeance, other were spared, and still others 
not even molested. 

The prisoners were talcen to Canada and sold to the French. The 
savages treated the prisoners as slaves, and disposed of them as such. Sad 
to relate, the terrible affair might have been averted by the timely delivery 
of a letter. The design had been disclosed to Major Henchman at Chelms- 
ford. A letter was at once started for Dover, but some delay at Newburg 
made the warning some hours late. In this letter Waldron was notified 
that he was the special object of vengeance. The feelings with which this 
letter was received and opened by his son may be imagined. This letter is 

10 



176 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

in Belknap, X. H., and is said to have cunie from W analancet, Sagamore of 
the Pennacooks. 

Among tiie capti\es taken was Major \\'aIdron"s little granddaughter, 
Sarah Gerrish, seven years old, who slept in her grandfather's house. Awak- 
ened out of a sound sleep l)y the strange noises in the house, Sarah sprang 
from bed and ran into another room, where one of her little playmates was 
sleeping. Childlike, she crept into her companion's bed and covered herself 
over by pulling the l)edclothes over her head. Her hiding place was soon 
discovered, and she was told to get up and dress, and they hurried her out 
out the house before she could put on' her stockings. With one bare foot 
she was marched off into the wilderness, after seeing her grandfather's 
house plundered and burned before her eyes. She went with the tribe of 
Indians down into Maine where she remained luitil winter. Sarah's first 
master was Sebundowit, harsh but not cruel. He sold her to another Indian, 
both cruel and harsh, who carried her away to Canada to be sold. No 
tongue can tell the terrible suffering and hardships this little girl of seven 
had to undergo during that long and terriljle march to Canada. At one 
time her wretch of a master told her to go and stand beside a tree while he 
began loading his gun, with tantalizing indifference. When she shrieked out 
in terror at what \vas to be her fate, the old fellow seems to have relented and 
seemed satisfied. Once while running along the high bank of the river some 
of her impish companions pushed her over the bank into the water, leaving 
her to sink or swim. Fortunately, she could catch hold of the bushes as she 
came up to the surface and draw herself out. Though only a little child of 
seven, when asked how she became wet, she did not dare complain of her 
companions. Once she overslept after a very hard day's march, and when 
she awoke she was partly covered with snow, and found that she was left 
alone, llie party had gone on and left her. and being terribly afraid at 
the thought of bears and wolves, she ran crying after them, following their 
tracks in the snow, and after a long and weary chase they allowed her to 
come up with them. Then again, when one night they had built a big 
fire, thev told her that she was going to be burned to death. She was struck 
dumb, and then burst into tears, and throwing her arms around her master's 
neck, begged him to spare her life, which lie agreed to do if she would be 
a good girl. After going through fire and water, she at last reached Canada, 
when she was taken to the Lord Intendent's, where much notice was taken 
of her by persons of equality. In the course of a week, the wife of the 
Intendent purchased her, and she was placed in a convent, and was once more 
safe in the hands of Christians. When the fleet of Sir William Phipps 
appeared before Quebec the next year, Sarah was exchanged after sixteen 
months, and returned to her friends again. In August, 1689, the authorities 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZEN'S 177 

at Boston collected an army of 600 men at Berwick, where the Indians had 
been burning and scalping. 

July 18, 1694 

DURHAM DESTROYED 

The French, fearing that they could not hold the Indians who lived 
between Canada and the English settlements of Maine, New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts, determined to incite the Indians to attack the whites. If they 
did not, the English would probably make friends with the Indians and the 
French would lose the country. So V'illieu, a French officer, went among 
the Kennebec and Penobscot tribes urging them to take up the liatchet. 
They were made large presents, flattered, feasted, and old wrongs artfully 
dwelt u]]on, until the slunii)ering smoke of hate and rage flamed up again 
with ten-fold fury. A large supply of brandy did the rest. Casting the 
treaty to the winds, INIodockawando and ^loxus of Penobscot declared for 
war, so the Penobscots, Norridgewalks and Paguoits and a sprinkling of 
tribes further east, were again on the war path. Villieu thus had 300 war- 
riors and singled out Oyster river for fire and slaughter. 

Scattered along the high grounds were some twelve garrisons, enough 
to have sheltered all the inhabitants if they could have been warned in time. 
Most of them, however, not dreaming of danger, slept in their own homes, 
and there being no suspicion no watch was kept. 

The village stretched out on Ijoth sides of the river, liut the most of 
the houses were. near John Dean's sawmill at the falls, with the meeting 
house on the hill just beyond. 

X'illieu reached the \icinitv undiscovered on Thursdav exening, July 17, 
1694. He halted near the falls until after dark, then divided his followers 
into two bands, one taking the south, the other the north side of the river, 
so as to make a clean sweep of the whole settlement. Eomazien went with 
the Indians to the soutli side, while Captain Nathaniel put himself at the 
head of those on the north. Tlien the two parties broke up into parties 
of eight or ten so they would fall on the houses at the same time when it 
should become light. Had this succeeded a greater loss of life would have 
resulted. 

It happened that John Dean had planned to go on a journey that morn- 
ing. He had risen early and was just leaving the house wdien he was seen, 
fired at, and killed on the spot. The alarm was thus given before some of 
the assailants had reached their stations, giving some of the families chance 
to defend themselves. 

At the signals the Indians fell upon the settlement, and the butchery 
began. The plan was the same ; to surround the house, beat down the doors. 



178 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

and cai)ture or kill the settlers. Most of the men were tomahawked on the 
spot, and the women taken away into captivity. 

After John Dean had been killed, the Indians rushed into the house and 
took Mrs. Dean and her little daughter two miles up the river and left her 
in the care of an old Indian, who complained that he had a headache, and 
asked Mrs. Dean what he should do for it. She, seeing that he had a bottle, 
told him to drink it and it would help him. Since this pleased him, he did 
so, and was soon fast asleep. Mrs. Dean and her daughter fled to the woods 
and hid until night, when they returned home to find a heap of blackened 
ruins. They found a canoe in which they paddled to Lieutenant Burnliam's 
garrison, where they found themselves among friends. 

The garrisons were the special points of attack. Jones's was one of the 
first. He was awakened by the dog barking, and got up to see if the wolves 
were about, when he saw the flash of a gun, and instantly jumping to one 
side, heard the bullet hit where he had stood. Seeing that they were on 
their guard, the Indians withdrew. 

Adams' garrison made no resistance. Fourteen people were killed here. 
Drew surrendered on condition that his life would be spared, but he was 
instantly killed. His nine-year-old boy was made to run the gauntlet, and 
was at length tomahawked. Thomas Edgerly and son both escaped by boat, 
going down river. Beard's and Meader's garrisons were abandoned. Thus 
five garrisons were taken without firing a shot ; the other five held out. 

Burnham's had carelessly left the gate open, but just managed to close 
it in time. Bickford's was saved 'ny rare courage. He sent his family down 
river in a boat, and determined to defend his home. He shut his gate, and 
fired at the Indians whenever he could see one, appearing at different win- 
dows with a diiTerent cap and coat, shouting as though giving orders to his 
men. After a while, the Indians withdrew. Twenty houses, or about one- 
half of the town, were set on fire, over the bodies of dieir owners. 

Then they went to Woodman's garrison, but he was prepared for them, 
and they went away with their booty and prisoner, and they reported that 
only one man had been wounded. 

.About one hundred persons hail been shot down or tomahawked in 
cold blood. A party went across the Piscataqua and killed Mrs. Cutt and 
three others. Moxus went as far as Grotan, Mass., and made a determined 
assault, but was repulsed. On the way they killed thirteen, and carried away 
twentj'-nine captives. A month later, the people were waylaid while coming 
home from church, three killed, three wounded, and three carried away 
as captives. 

A war party under Hope Hood fell upon l-'ox's Point in 1690. Slew 
fourteen persons ; carried oi¥ six. They w ere pursued Ijv Colonels Floyd and 
Greenleaf, and compelled to lea\e some of their prisoners and booty. 



AND REPRESEXTATIX'E CITIZENS 179 

111 July, 1690, eight persons were killed while mowing in a field. The 
Indians were pursued to Wheelwright's Pond, where a bloody fight took 
place. Captain Wiswell and his lieutenant and sergeant and twelve men were 
killed, and the English were driven back. The Indians killed more than 
forty people in that week. On March i-j, i()90, Salmon Falls was attacked 
by Hertel. After reconnoitering, Hertel's scouts found that no watch was 
kept. Hertel decided to attack at daybreak. Dividing into three parties 
they attacked the three garrisons. Though taken by surprise, the garrisons 
fought well, but in the end had to gi\e up. Thirty of the inhabitants were 
killed and fifty-four made prisoners, all the buildings burned; no place 
could have been made more desolate. Alarmed at the approach of the Eng- 
lish, Hertel retreated through Berwick, and crossing the river by the bridge, 
stood at bay until night, when the English withdrew. 

August j8, i6q8, Jeremiah Swain marched to Berwick with 600 men 
and remained awhile. After Swain left, the Indians swooped down on Dur- 
ham again, carrying away several, killing eighteen men and three children. 
Later a roving party killed seven at Berwick. 

JANUARY 28, 1703 BERWICK ASSAULTED 

\Adiile the ground was covered with snow a small war party fell upon 
Xeal's garrison, with great fury. Fortunately, the sentinel discoveretl their 
approach in season to give the alarm. A young man and a girl that were at 
some distance ran for their lives. The girl was quickly overtaken and toma- 
hawked. The lad almost reached the garrison when they shot him. Think- 
ing him dead, they left him and charged upon the garrison. A well-aimed 
volley killed the leader, and while the Indians were trying to drag his body 
away, the boy ui) and ran into the garrison. Then the Indians withdrew, and 
fell upon Smith garrison. They were soon beaten off, however. Captain 
Brown, aroused by the firing, rushed to their assistance with a dozen good men. 
He came upon the Indians as they were binding up their plunder, and put 
them to flight, firing at them and wounding some of thein, as the blood on 
the snow showed. The Indians left all their plunder, hatchets and blankets. 
This time they burned two houses and killed seventy cattle. 

In October, 1703, they again attacked Berwick and destroyed the village. 
In 1704, a hundred friendly Indians, Piquods, Mohigans and Mautics, were 
posted here to keep off the Indians from the east and Canada. They were 
under the command of Maj. Samuel Monson. They were fed and clothed 
by Massachusetts and given twelve pence a day by Connecticut. In July, 
the Piscataqua settlements were terrorized, at Dover. Three were killed, 
three wounded, and three captured. July 18 they killed one man at Niwich- 
awarnock and captured Wheelwright's "Sambo." David Gorland was killed 



180 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

at Dover, April 26, John Church was killed and John Hane and Humphrey 
Foss taken prisoners, but were released by the determined efforts of Lieu- 
tenant Heard. 

May 14, at Spruce creek, they killed one lad, and carried others away. 
They then went to Oyster river, where they shot Jeremiah Cromett and 
burned a sawmill at Dover. Ensign Tuttle was killed and a son of Lieu- 
tenant Heard wounded while standing guard. John Bickwell was shot at 
Spruce creek as he was locking his door, liis wife wounded, and his child 
knocked in the head and scalped. The two children of John Waldron were 
seized outside of Heard's garrison (this was the old garrison of Waldron's) 
and their heads cut off, as the Indians did not have time to scalp them. This 
time there were no men in the fort and Esther Jones deceived the Indians 
by calling out, "Come on, come on; here they are!" which had the effect 
desired, and the Indians withdrew. On October 25, 1704, the Indians 
appeared at Oyster river again. 

BERWICK 

October 25, 1704, two men were shot going home from church. The 
Indians, being vigorously attacked, dropped their packs, and in them were 
found three scalps. In the spring of 1705 they were on the east side of the 
Piscataqua river, killing five settlers at Spruce creek and capturing many more. 
Mrs. Hall was killed; Enoch Hutchins lost his wife and children. Three 
weeks later John Rodgers was wounded and James Toby shot. In May, 
1705, they wounded Mark Gile; W. Pearl and Nathan Til)bets were shot. 
These attacks were by bands of roving Indians. Pearl lived in a cave up 
Oyster river and he had been urged to come into the settlement, but he 
would not. 

On May 22, 1707, they captured two at Oyster river. In July they came 
upon John Bunker and Ichonard Rawlins, aged twenty and thirty, of Dover, 
and killed them both as they were driving a cart from Dover to Oyster 
river. They also killed many cattle. 

In 1 7 10 the settlers were warned of a new outbreak, and 400 
soldiers were posted in the New Hampshire towns. In 171 1 they appeared 
at Dover and found Thomas Downs and three men at work in a field. These 
they killed, and lay in ambush for the settlers as they came from church. 
They succeeded in killing one and came near another, but the alarm was given 
and the Indians withdrew. In 17 12 they killed Ensign Tuttle at Dover and 
Jeremiah Cromwell at Oyster river; later they killed Joseph Ham at Dover, 
carrying off his three children. Ne.xt Tristram Heard was killed. In the 
spring of 1705 the Indians made a descent on Oyster river ?nd Nathanial 
Meader was shot while in his field. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 181 

Some Quakers who did not share in the ideas of war and who hved out 
on Knox marsh, were singled out for attack, as they would not go to the 
garrisons. Ebenezer Downs was taken and used very roughly because he 
would not dance before the Indians. John Hanson was urged repeatedly to 
come to the garrisons but he would not, so the French Mohawks singled him 
out. One day when Hanson and his eldest daughter were away at church, 
the two eldest boys out in the field and the wife at home with four children, 
the time they had been waiting for, the Indians went to the house and killed 
the younger children, took the wife and a fuurteen-day old infant with the 
nurse and two other daughters and a young son and carried them into cap- 
tivity, after sacking the house. This was so quietly done that the first to dis- 
cover it was the eldest daughter when she returned home and beheld tlie 
horrible sight. The alarm was given. Mrs. Hanson was at the time at the 
edge of the woods but could not cry out. She was taken to Canada and sold. • 
She has left a very forceful history of that journey. 

Mrs. Hanson was a woman of slight build and tender constitution. But 
she had a firm and vigorous mind, and passed through the Indian captivity 
with much resolution and courage. When her milk gave out she nourished 
her babe by warming water in her mouth, and letting it fall on her breasts 
fed the child, until the scpiaws taught her how to beat the kernels of walnuts 
and boil them with husked corn, which proved a nourishing food for the 
baby. They were all sold to the French in Canada. Hanson went the next 
spring and redeemed his wife and three young children and the nurse, but 
could not the eldest daughter, although he saw her and talked with licr. She 
married a I'rencliman and ne\er returned. He redeemed Elizal)elh Downs. 
Hanson made another trip, but died at Crown Point on his way to Canada. 

Hanson after the first attack went to live with another Quaker who had 
several lusty sons "who kept the guns loaded for big game." After Hanson 
had returned to his old home the Indians determined to make another attack, 
watching for a favorable opportunity. They secreted themselves in a barn 
when three men went Ijy. The Indians fired and killed William Evans ; Benja- 
min and John Evans being slightly wounded, but bleeding freely. The Indians, 
thinking John dead, scalped him, turned him over and pounded him with their 
guns and left him. He was taken to the fort where he recovered and lived fifty 
years longer. The Indians made their escape, taking Benjamin Evans as a 
captive. He was at this time thirteen years old and was later redeemed in 
the usual way, September 25, 1725. 

This was the last foray into Dover, New Hampshire, as three months later 
a treaty was signed at Boston and in the spring was ratified at Falmouth. 1726. 
After peace was declared, the Indians often visited the very homes they had 
despoiled. The treaty was ratified by Governor Drummer and Wenamouit, 
sachem and sagamore of the Penobscots. 



CHAPTER XVI 
HISTORY OF DOVER (XII) 

DOVER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 

Tlie syinpatliies of Dover in the Revolutionary struggle were almost with- 
out exception upon the patriotic side. It had few office holders to sympa- 
thize with their employers. The teachings of Rev. Jeremy Belknap from the 
pulpit were bold and inspiring. 

The first utterance which is found from Doctor Belknap bearing upon 
the subject which was beginning to enlist the thoughts of our fathers occurs 
in a sermon which he preached November lo, 1772, before His Majesty's 
Governor, John Wentworth, Esq., at a review of the Second Regiment of 
Foot in Dover. New Hampshire had been inured to military service through 
its long period of war w ith the Indians. An old law required every male 
inhabitant from sixteen to sixty years of age to ow n a musket, bayonet, knap- 
sack, cartridge-box, one pound of powder, twenty bullets, and tweh-e flints. 
This militia was organized into companies and regiments, and subject to fre- 
quent drills. The muster-day and the review was a great occasion. Dover 
was a center of this military stir. At this gathering here in November, 
1772, the royal Governor, John Wentworth, came up from Portsmouth. 
Captain Walderne, a member of this church, and a staunch friend of hi 
pastor, had invited Doctor Belknap to preach to the troops. The subject 
chosen by the preacher was. "Military Duty."" In the course of the sermon 
he spoke as follows on the necessity of self-defense; 

"Has the all-wise and merciful Parent of the uni\erse furnished the Jjrute 
and reptile creation with the necessary instruments of defense, and does the 
instinct which he has implanted in them prompt them to make use of these 
weapons for their own subsistence and security ? and has He not implanted in 
mankind a natural courage or martial spirit and given them skill and power 
to provide themselves with all the necessary instruments of defense, and can 
it be supposed that we must make no use of these gifts of nature, even when 
Providence points out the necessity? Do w=e guard our fields from devouring 
beasts, our houses and bodies from the rigors of the weather, and shrill we 
not have the privilege of defending our lives, our liberties, our property, our 

182 



s 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 183 

families, our civil government from hostile invaders? Must we tamely yield 
to every lawless usurper and suffer tyrants to sport with the lives and estates 
of mankind? Must all these laws, which the wisdom and experience of ages 
ha\e founded, must the sacred bonds of society, the peace, the welfare, the 
happiness of mankind be sacrificed to the impetuous rage of a foreign con- 
queror? Forbid it, reason and conscience; forbid it, ye heroic worthies of 
old, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained 
promises, stopped the mouths of lions. (picni,hed the \iolence of fire, escaped 
the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in 
fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." 

The officers of the Second Regiment of Foot were so pleased with this 
address that they asked a copy for the press. 

The General Assembly of New Hampshire was in session in May this 
year, 1774. Conformably to the proceedings of the Assemblies of other 
colonies, the representatives in this pro\-ince appointed a Committee of Cor- 
respondence. Go\'ern(.)r W'entworth interfered. He adjourned the Assem- 
bly. The members met again. The Governor with a sheriff' came among 
them. He declared their meeting illegal. The sheriff made proclamatic>n for 
all persons to disperse and keep the king's peace. The members met again, 
and determined to send letters to all the towns and parishes in the Province, 
requesting them to send deputies to a convention at Exeter, who should choose 
delegates to a General Congress to meet at Philadelphia. This was the first 
movement for rallying the whole of the people of New Hampshire in the 
great contest. Attached to this most important letter to the several towns 
was this brief proclamation : "Considering the Distressing situation of our 
public affairs. Thursday, the 14th inst., is recommended to be kept as a day 
of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer through this Province." 

The day was observed here in Dover with special religious solemnity. 
On that occasion, July 14, 1774, Doctor Belknap preached a semion which 
bears this title. "On Account of the Difificulties of the King." The text was 
from I Sam. viii. 18: "And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king 
which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day." 
A most pertinent text. In this sermon he saj-s : 

"It is, my brethren, a very dark day to these American colonies. Burdens 
and taxes are laid upon us by the Parliament of Great Britain, and the most 
forcible attempts are made to bring us to a submission, and what further is 
intended we know not, but we have reason to fear much, considering how 
highly they are incensed against us, and what power they have to carry their 
determination into execution. * * * When a ruler departs from these 
principles, and sets up any other rule of go\ernment than the laws and Consti- 
tution which he is sworn to maintain, then the government degenerates into 
tyranny." 



184 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Perhaps the most remarkable passage in this noble sermon is the following ; 

"Would it not be astonishing to hear that a people who are contending so 
earnestly for liberty are not willing to allow liberty to others ? Is it not aston- 
ishing to think that there are at this day, in the several colonies upon this 
continent, some thousands of men, women, and children detained in bond- 
age and slavery for no other crime than that their skin is of a darker color 
than our own ? Such is the inconsistency of our conduct ! As we have made 
them slaves without their consent and without any crime, so it is just in God 
to permit Litlier men to make slaves of us." 

The tidings of the battle of Lexington reached Belknap at Dover Point, 
as he was on his way home from Portsmouth. He sent from the Point the 
following note to his wife: 

"Before you receive this you will hear the awful news by the express I 
met just now at the ferry of the devastation the troops have made at Concord 
and the commencement of a civil war, which makes it absolutely necessary 
that I should proceed immediately to Boston, if it is not in ashes before I get 
there. I shall try and get a chaise at Greenland. As necessity has no law, 
the people must excuse my absence next Sabbath if I should not return 
before it." 

He arrived at Cambridge in due time, and found himself "among ten 
thousand armed men who had gathered from every quarter" to take part in 
the next battle. From there he writes to his wife in Dover, "Don't let my 
gun and munition get out of the house if you can help it." The brave parson 
knew his gun well. Among his papers is a very precise description of it. 
He doubtless thought it most pmliable that he should be called to fight, in 
which case no "carnal weapon" could have served him better. 

While at Caml:>ridge, he preached in the morning in the street and in the 
afternoon in the meeting house to the provincial army there assembled. He 
soon returned home with his parents. 

Dover for the next few months was astir with military preparations. 
There was a company at once enlisted here by Capt. Benjamin Titcomb. On 
the 14th of June, three days before fire opened on Bunker Hill, Doctor Bel- 
knap preached to these soldiers on the "Nature of true courage." He said, 
"It is a very fashionable doctrine, especially among the British troops, that 
the soldier has nothing to do with the conscience of war, or to inquire whether 
it be just or not. He has only to obey orders. If soldiers had no conscience, 
if they were horses instead of men. this doctrine might be propagated with 
the utmost safety. But, my brethren, you are reasonable creatures. You 
are accountable to a higher tribunal than any earthly power, and you have a 
right to examine, and it is your duty to examine, whether the cause in which 
you are engaged is just, and if you find that it is so, you can fight with a good 
conscience, and with a hope in the Divine Providence for liberty and success. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 185 

Let, then, every man behave himself in his proper station according to the 
duty required of him, and serve his country to the utmost of his power." 

Four days after, news having been received that a i)attle had commenced 
at Charlestown. this company, under Captain Titcomb, marched to the scene 
of battle. 

It is matter of known tradition that Doctor Belknap, when news arrived 
of the Declaration of Independence, went to the one town school at Pine Hill, 
then kept by Master Wigglesworth, announced that America was now a 
nation, and himself and the master at the head, stopping to take up a drum- 
mer by the way, the whole school marched through town as far as the 
Col. John Walderne mansion, and returned. At the schoolhouse Doctor Bel- 
knap offered prayer, and a holiday was then given. 

The people of Dover took an early part as a municipality in remonstrating 
against those aggressions of the British government which led to the Revolu- 
tion, and when remonstrances failed, and the cause of liberty was submitted 
to the stern arbitrament of arms, none exerted themselves more cheerfully or 
contributed more in proportion to their means to render that cause success- 
ful. As a record of interest, we publish from the town records all the pro- 
ceedings, votes, etc., which we find in reference to the Revolutionary war. 
The first recurd which is made is the following: 

"At a legal meeting of the cpialified voters of the town of Dover, this 
tenth day of January, 1774, convened at the Friends' Meeting-House in said 
town on purpose to consider of the innovations attempted to be made on 
American Privileges — 

"Col. Otis Baker was chosen Moderator — 

"Although we deprecate every thing which in its infant motions tends to 
alienate the affections which ought to subsist among the subjects of the same 
King, yet, we cannot longer behold the Arts used to curtail the Priviledges 
purchased with blood and treasure of British America, and of New England 
in particular, for their Posterity, without bearing our Testimony against them. 
"As these Colonies have recognized the Protestant Kings of Great Britain 
as their Lawful Sovereign, and WE in this Province the Man whom the 
King has pleased to send us as his Representative — We acknowledge this 
Representative from our first formation into a Government has had a nega- 
tive voice on all Bills proposed by Laws in the manner his Majesty has at 
home. 

"And as it doth not appear that any Parliaments have been parties to any 
Contracts made with the European Settlers in this once howling Wilderness, 
now become a pleasant field — We look on our Rights too dearly bought, to 
admit them now as Tax masters — Since (by laws as firm as tlie honor of 
crowned heads can make them, and which we have no Apprehension so good 
and gracious a King as we obey, will suffer to be abridged) we have Parlia- 



186 ITISTORV OF STRAFFORD COL'X'IA' 

ments of our own — who always witli the greatest Clieerluhiess furnished his 
Majesty such Aids as he has been pleased to require from time to time 
according to the Abilities of the People, and e\en beyond them, of which, 
none but themselves could be adequate Judges. 

"Why the King's Subjects in Great Britain should frame Laws for his 
Subjects in America, rather than the reverse, we cannot well conceive, as we 
do not admit it to be tlrawn from any Pact made by our ancestors, or from 
the Nature of the British Constitution, which makes Representation essential 
to Taxation — and this supix)sed Power of Parliament for taxing America is 
quite novel, some few Instances for the better Regulation of Trade excepted, 
which no more i)rove their supposed Right, than the Tortious Entry of a 
Neighbor into the Infant's field does that of the Intruder — but if Superior 
Strength be the best plea, how would they relish the Alternative? which if 
political Arithmetic deceives not advances with Hasty Strides; tho' nothing 
but downright oppression will e\'er effect it. 

"Therefore, Resolved, ily. That any attempt to take the Property of any 
of the King's Subjects for any purpose whatever where they are not repre- 
sented, is an Infraction of the English Constitution; and manifestly tends as 
well to destroy it. as the subject's pri\-ate property, of wliich recent proid's are 

plenty- 
Resolved 2ly, That We, and our American Brethren, are the liege People 
of King George the Third, and therefore ha\e as full, and ample a Claim, to 
all the Privileges and Immunities of Englishmen, as any of his Subjects three 
thousand miles distant — the Truth of which, our i)..'mcanor clearly evinces. 

"Resolved 3ly, That the Parliament in Britain by suffering the East India 
Company to send us their Teas subject to a Duty on landing, have in a meas- 
ure testified a Disregard to the Interests of Americans, w hose lilieral Ser\-ices 
ill deser\-es such ungenerous Treatment. 

"Resolved 4ly, That we are of opinion that any seeming Supineness of this 
Province in these very — very interesting matters, hath i)roceeded from a Con- 
sideration of their Smallness among their Brethren, rather than from any 
insensibility of impending Evils. 

"Resolved sly, That this Tow n apjiroves the general Exertions, and noble 
struggles, made by the oi)ulent Colonies through the Continent, for preventing 
so fatal a Catastrophe as is implied in Taxation without Representation, viz 
Sl.-wery — than which, to a generous Mind, Death is more Eligible. 

"Resolved 61y, That ^^'e are. and always will lie ready in every constitu- 
tional Way, to give all the \\'eight in our Power to avert so dire a Calamity. 

"Resolved /ly. That a Dread of being enslaved Ourselves, and of trans- 
mitting the Chains to our Posterity (by which we should justly merit their 
curses) is the principal Inducement of these Measures. 

".\nd Whereas, our house of Commons have a Committee for correspond- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 187 

ing with those of the several Colonies on these matters, and the Committees 
of the several Towns in this Government to correspond with each other at 
the necessary Times, may be subservient to the common Cause — Therefore 
resolved that a Committee to consist of five persons be chosen for that 
purpose. 

"Voted that Col. Otis Baker, Capt. Caleb Hodgdon, Capt. Stephen Evans, 
Capt. Joshua W'ingate, and John Wentworth, jr, or either three of them, be 
the Committee of Correspondence for this Town. 

"Voteil that the proceedings of this meeting be entered in the Records 
of this Town, and that an attested Copy thereof be sent to the Committee of 
Correspondence at Portsmouth, to assure them, and all concerned, that our 
hearts are knit with those, who wish the weal (as it is constitutionally fixed) 
of our most gracious Sovereign, and all his numerous subjects." 

July 1 8, 1774. — A committee of five was chosen to represent the town at 
a meeting to be held at Exeter for "appointing Delegates to join in a General 
Congress of the P'rovinces for considering of and advising to the most con- 
ciliating methods of establishing their rights and harmony among all the 
subjects of our gracious Sovereign, which meeting is proposed to be held on 
the 1st Sept. at Philadelphia." And £6 los. were voted as the proportion of 
Dover towards paying the exi>enses of the delegates, which the selectmen 
were authorized to advance. 

November 7, 1774. — A town meeting was called to see if the inhabitants 
would raise anything, either "in Money, P^at Cattle or Sheep," for the relief 
of the Poor in Boston, then suffering from the operations of the Port Bill. 
And it was voted that the town would "give something." 

December 26. 1774. — At a town meeting the following preamble and reso- 
lutions were adopted : 

"The Designs of the Continental Congress holden at Philadelphia being so 
humane and benevolent, the result of their proceedings so salutary and effect- 
ive as justly to attract the n(Aice of the millions of freemen in America, this 
town on mature consultation are fully convinced that nothing (under Heaven) 
will so evidently tend to preserve the rights of Americans or frustrate the 
attempts already made for their destruction as carrying the same into full 
execution. For w Inch purpose, 

"Voted, That Messrs. Otis Baker, Shadrach Hodgdon, Stephen Evans, 
Joshua Wingate, John Waldron 3d, Caleb Hodgdon, John Wentworth, Jr., 
John Kielle, and John Gage be a committee. 

"Voted, they have the following instructions, viz. ; 

"ist. We expect that to the utmost of your power you carefully intend 
the preservation of peace and good order in the town so far as the same may 
be endangered by a discussion of sentiment relati\'e to political matters. 

".2d. We enjoin ymi that liy e\ery lawful means you see the recommen- 



188 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

dations and proceedings of the Continental Congress strictly complied with 
by the inhabitants of this town so far as we are therein concerned. 

"3dly. As examples you are to encourage every kind of Temperance, 
Frugality, Industry, and Economy and to discountenance every species of 
Vice, Immorality, and Profaneness. Neither to use any sort of Gameing or 
unlawful diversions yourselves nor suffer it to be done within your knowledge 
without intimating your own dislike and the displeasure of the town thereat. 

"4ly. Whereas. Hawkers, Pedlars, and Petty Chapmen are continually 
strolling througli the country with Goods, Wares, and Merchandise (nuich 
of which was undoubtedly forwarded by the enemies of America) in order to 
vend the same to the great hurt and decay of trade and in defiance of a good 
and wholesome law of this Government — You are therefore not knowingly 
to harbor, conceal or entertain any one of them, nor purchase any of their 
wares, nor permit any within your knowledge to do it, and in case any Tav- 
erner, Innholder, or Retailer within this town, after being duly informed 
thereof, shall be knowingly guilty of either the acts in this instruction men- 
tioned — You are to take every legal measure to prevent their ever here- 
after being licensed by the Court of Sessions either as Taverners or Retailers. 

"5ly- Notwithstanding any persons may be so daring and hardy as to 
counteract the sense of the town expressed in these instructions, you are by 
no means to suffer any insult or abuse to be oft'ered to either their persons 
or estates, but use your utmost endeavor to prevent the same. 

"61y. Of all breaches of these Instructions you are as soon as may 1)e to 
inform your neighbors and the Selectmen of the town that whenever it may 
be necessary the town may be convened in order to consult and ad\-ise 
thereon." 

July 13, 1776. — "Voted that forty-two shillings be given liy the town to 
each of the soldiers enlisted and that shall enlist since the nth inst., and 
proceed in the present expedition to Canada, not exceeding fifteen or sixteen 
men, and that the Selectmen hire the money (and pay the same) in the best 
manner they can immediately on the town's account." 

May 5, 1777.— "\'oted that Col. Otis Baker, Capt. Thomas Young, and 
Capt. John Hayes be empowered to enlist what men is wanting to make this 
town's quota of men for completing the Battalions to be raised in this State, 
on the best terms they can. 

"Voted, that the Selectmen furnish the Committee with money to hire 
said men and raise the same in the next tax bill." 

May 15, 1777. — '"Voted that the Alarm and Train Band Lists have three 
shillings a day and one shilling and sixpence a half day allowed them by the 
town for each day they train in a year more than the law requires." 

September 10, 1777.— It was "voted that thirty dollars be given to each 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 189 

soldier who enlists for the Continental Service until the last of November 
next, and that the Selectmen pay each soldier the said sum when mustered." 

March 30, 1778. — It was "voted that a committee of two persons be chosen 
to inquire into the state of our quota of Continental troops, and if we are 
found lacking to take the most effectual measure for filling up the same." 

June 15, 1778. — It was "voted that Mr. John Bm. Hanson, Col. Joshua 
Wingate and Maj. Caleb Hodgdon be a committee to hire six men as soldiers 
to go to Rhode Island to reinforce General Sullivan's Division." 

May 10, 1779. — -It was "voted that the Selectmen advance the Conti- 
nental and State bounty agreeable to a request of the Committee of Safety 
if they have it in stock, and if not the Selectmen are empowered to hire money 
for said purpose." 

July 5, 1779. — It was "voted that the Selectmen advance the Continental 
bounty being £60 and Slate bounty of £30 and travel for five men, and if 
they have it not in hand that they hire the same and have power to raise it in 
the next year's tax." 

"Voted that a committee be chosen to hire eight men for the Continental 
Army one year and five men for the service at Rhode Island six months." 

August 30, 1779. — It was "voted that a hundred dollars a month be given 
nine men tn ser\e as sdldiers at rurtsmouth, &C., including what tiie State 
is to pay them." 

June 26, 1780. — It was "voted that the Selectmen be a committee for the 
purpose of getting eight men for the Continental Service on the best terms 
they can." 

July 4, 17S0. — It was "voted that the Selectmen with the two Captains 
of the Companies in Do\er be a committee to get our quota of militia men 
for the Continental service." 

January 22, 1781. — It was "voted that Mr. Andrew Torr, Capt. John 
Gage, and Maj. Benja Titcomb be a committee to get the proportion of men 
wanting from this town to fill up and complete the Continental Army in the 
cheapest and most expeditious manner possilile." 

March 5, 1781. — It was "voted that each Recruit from this Town as their 
quota of men for completing the Continental Army have and receive as wages 
fourteen busliels of Indian Corn per month during their stay in service, and 
that the Selectmen give their security for the payment of the same accord- 
ingly." 

July 16, 1781. — On the petition of Capt. Thomas Young and Capt. James 
Calef. stating that they had been "ordered by Col. Stephen Evans without 
loss of time to enlist or draft fourteen able bodied effective men to serve three 
months if not sooner discharged, where\-er the commander in chief shall 
order as soldiers," it was "voted that Capt. Young and Capt. Calef be a 
committee to raise the 14 men required, and that they give thirty shillings 



11)0 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

silver money to eacli man tliat enlists, which they sliall have whether called 
on to go into senice or not, and when they march each man shall receive 
thirty shillings more like money." 

September 19, 1781. — At a town meeting held for raising soldiers, it was 
"voted that nine men now to be raised for three months be given ten silver 
dollars each as bounty and paid fourteen bushels of merchantable Indian 
corn per month by the town in January, 1782."" 

After this date we find no record of any further proceedings in relation 
to the war. 

The capture of Fort William and Mary, December 14, 1774, largely by men 
from Durham, intensified the struggle. Of the men concerned in it promi- 
nently were Sullivan, Adams. Scammel, and others. 

The then Governor, John Wentworth, the best of all the royal Governors 
of that day, descended from that William Wentworth who was elder of the 
Dover First Church, and of the same blood with that Earl of Strafford who 
was beheaded in the time of the first Charles, and with the British premier, 
the Marquis of Rockingham, soon sailed away never again to set foot upon 
his native soil. John Langdon, after gallant service in the war and priceless 
service in its civil support, became Governor and the first president of the 
Senate of the United States. John Sullivan, then a lawyer in Durham, was 
son of that John Sullivan who was once schoolmaster of the town of Dover, 
and who was the father of Governors, and was born on Dover side of the 
Salmon Falls. To him the refugee Livius wrote from Montreal in 1777 
urging his return to the royal cause, promising him particular reward, and 
saying, "You were the first man in active rebellion," and Livius had fled from 
Portsmouth. Sullivan became major-general and Governor of his State. 
Winborn Adams, also of Dover blood, was lieutenant-colonel when he met 
his death at Stillwater. Alexander Scammel, of that Durham party, was 
adjutant-general of the army when he fell at Yorktown. Demeritt, Griffin, 
Bennett, Chesley, Noble, and Durgin of that expedition all did service in the 
army of the Revolution. 

When news came of the slaughter at Concord. Mass., New Hampshire was 
aroused. Men collected from every quarter. "It is surprising," wrote Col. 
John Wentworth, April 25th, "to see the number who collected. Some came 
to Dover, twenty miles or more." Shadrach Hodgdon and Stephen Evans 
represented Dover in the convention of the "Friends of Liberty," which met 
at Exeter on the 13th of May. That convention voted to raise two thousand 
men, and to accept those who had already hurried to the field. Three regi- 
ments were raised. Stark"s and Reid's had the glory of fighting at Bunker 
Hill. The other, the Second, Colonel Poor's, was largely on duty on the 
coast, from Odiorne's Point to the Merrimac. Most of the Dover soldiers were 
in that Second, but there were scattering recruits in the Third certainly. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 191 

In the Second was the company of Capt. W'inborn Adams, — John Griffin, 
first lieutenant ; Zebulon Drew, second lieutenant, — from Durham, which was 
at Bunker Hill. In the same regiment was Capt. Jonathan Wentworth, "old 
Colonel Jonathan," of Rollinsford; James Carr, first lieutenant; Jethro Heard, 
second lieutenant. He made a forced march of sixty-two miles pre\'ious to the 
battle of Bunker Hill, and arrived in Chelsea on that morning, but could not 
cross the river on account of the enemy, and went round Ijy way of Medfurd. 
Jonathan Wentworth was adjutant of Colonel Evans' regiment at the capture 
of Burgo_ync. and in 1778 was on the staff of Sullivan with the rank of lieu- 
tenant-colonel. His posterity are here. He had two brothers in ser\ice, one 
of whom died in the army. In the Third Regiment was Ezra Green, its sur- 
geon, well known to nian\- !i\iug, w hu had passed his hundred years when 
he died in Dover. He served on land until 1778, and then sailed with John Paul 
Jones, and was surgeon of the Ranger in its great battle. Immediately 
after the battle of Bunker Hill reinforcements went forward. I find in Bel- 
knap's diary, on the second day after the battle, "Benj. Titcomb's co. marched 
from here." This was that Benjamin Titcomb, brother of old Colonel John, 
who afterwards became lieutenant-colonel, and one of the most gallant men 
in the army. Though se\erely wounded in three different battles he served 
through the war, and ended his days here at his house by Dunn's bridge. His 
descendants are still in Dover. With him in 1775 was his first lieutenant, 
Frederick Mordantt Bell, who, a captain in 1777, was mortally wounded at 
Stillwater. His granddaughter is still here. Ephraim Evans was second 
lieutenant in the same company. 1 he present Dover also raised at once 
another company, — John Waldron, captain ; Timothy Roberts, first lieuten- 
ant ; Paul Welland, second lieutenant ; John Heard, ensign, — and sent it to 
Cambridge, mustered in July 3, 1775. 

In 1775 the six towns which composed ancient Dover had, between the 
ages of sixteen and fifty, 1,070 men, including the sick, the feeble, 
the exempt, and the sailors off at sea. Of this numlier, in the early 
autumn of that year, 150, or nearly one-seventh of the whole, had shoul- _ 
dered the musket and were actually in the field. It was evidence of the same 
alacrity which caused New Hampshire to furnish more than half the men 
who fought the battle of Bunker Hill, at the very gates of Boston. 

Washington made an urgent appeal to New Hampshire for men. and Sul- 
livan added his influence. Thirty-one companies \-oIunteered and marched to 
Cambridge. In this force were the companies of Elijah Dinsmore, of Lee; 
Alpheus Chesley, of Durham; Moses Yeaton, of Somersworth; and John 
Waldron, of Dover. In December, 1775, New Hampshire had in the field 
over five thousand men ! John Waldron w as in ser\ice when the exigency 
arose. He came home to Dover to raise recruits. Of his own company, 

Ebenezer Ricker was first lieutenant, and John Goodwin was second lieuten- 
11 



192 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ant. Tradition has tulJ us that in four days he and his selected officers 
enHsted in this vicinity 700 men, which he commanded as colonel. 
The roster does not appear on our adjutant-general's books, and we had there- 
fore doubted the truth of his colonelcy; but documents recently produced 
show him at Cambridge the next spring, in command of his regiment, and 
with the missing roster. The energetic Col. John Walderne lived where the 
late Taylor Page lived, above Garrison Hill. The son of Harrison Haley, of 
this city, is the grandson of the colonel's grandson. An entry in Belknap's 
diarj' says: "Dec. 9, 1775, dined at Capt. John W'aldron's, and prayed in the 
companies." The companies of the upper vicinity were, therefore, camped 
at Walderne's. The fathers pitched their tents there, on that high ground 
looking down into Dover. They saw then but one spire, if the parish church 
had one. They looked down on a few score of houses. "Route step, march !" 
As they obeyed, with flint-lock guns at a shoulder and powder-horns by their 
side, they passed beautiful Garrison Hill and its few houses, and the spot 
where Heard's garrison had stood out against the sagaves eighty-six years 
before, almost as lonely as then. From that spot they found no houses till 
the site of Otis' garrison, the scene of barbarous slaughter in 1689. And 
next was the then elegant mansion of the soldier of Louisburg, Thomas West- 
brook Walderne. They crossed the then new upper bridge (no historian tells 
us whether its piers were of faced stone or of crib-work), and they saw only 
a grist mill and a sawmill on the dam which then fretted the waters of the 
Cochecho. They passed over a hill in front of the place where Varney's 
block now stands, and saw one house high up on the side of the road, where 
Coffin's garrison had once fallen. Crossing the gully, they must have stopped 
in front of the first house reached, that of John Wentworth, Jr., that old 
house still standing next south of the Belknap church, and saluted the youth- 
ful patriot lawyer, whose heart was alive in the cause. Then the houses 
became more plentiful, and they passed in front of the Dover hotel, then 
in its early prosperity, and so went on the Durham road and on to the siege 
of Boston. 

It is not the purpose to follow the history of the seven years' struggle. 
With the statement that the towns which made ancient Do\-er did their full 
share, we can barely mention the names of a few others who did serxice. 
We see the name of Hercules Mooney, of Lee. He had been a captain under 
Colonel Meserve. in 1757. In \"-j he was lieutenant-colonel in Colonel 
Long's regiment, at Ticonderoga, and in 1779 was colonel, and commanded 
a regiment. In Colonel Long's regiment was also Lieut. Samuel Stackpole, 
also at Ticonderoga, and later under Washington farther south. Dr. Paul 
A. Stackpole, of this city, is his grandson. In September. 1776, Col. Thomas 
Tash, the old French war soldier, led a regiment to reinforce the Con- 
tinental armv, which with others joined Washington in Pennsylvania, and 



A\D R[iPRESENT.\TI\E CITIZENS 193 

was at Trentun and Princeton. Joseph Smith was his adjutant, and Jon- 
athan Chesley his quarterniaster. Timothy White, who had been at the cap- 
ture of Louisburg, was quartermaster of Col. Joshua Wingate's regiment, 
raised for Canatla, but which joined the Northern army in New York. 
Hon. John H. White, late of tliis city, was Timothy White's grandson. 
Dr. Samuel Wiggleswath was surgeon of that regiment. Lieut. Enoch Chase, 
of Dover, was with Winljorn Adams and Benjamin Titcomb and Frederick 
M. BeU. and was in the Burgoyne campaign. He was captain in 1780 and 
1 78 1. Mrs. J. 1]. H. Odiorne is his granddaughter. In Moses Yeaton's com- 
pany, in 1775, was Lieut. Samuel Wahingford. He was captain in Colonel 
Oilman's regiment in 1776 (James Nute his first lieutenant), and was lieu- 
tenant of marines on Jones' "Ranger" in 177S, when he fell in its action with 
the "Drake." Col. Stephen Evans, a soldier at the capture of Louisburg, com- 
manded a regiment at the capture of Burgoyne. He was a colonel on the staff 
of General Whipple in 1778. He lived to a ripe old age, and his descendants 
are in Dover. Alpheus Chesley was lieutenant-colonel in Col. Walderne's 
regiment in 1776, and Jonathan Chesley was quartermaster under Colonel 
Wingate in 1778. William Twombly was ensign in Colonel Reid's regiment 
in 1777 and later. Numerous descendants are still here. Of the Dover com- 
pany in Colonel Evans' regiment in the Burgoyne campaign, James Libby was 
captain; Joshua Roberts, first lieutenant; Nathan Horn, second lieutenant; 
and Francis Warren, ensign. 

The records of others, and of the rank and file from Dover in the war, 
have not been preserved, nor the record of the sailors who went from Dover. 
Of these it can only be said that the large number of volunteers from Dover 
proved worthy of their descent from the hardy emigrants who came from 
the maritime counties of England. 



CHAPTER X\TI 
HISTORY OF DOVER (XHI) 

THE CIVIL WAR 

In the evening of the President's tirst caH the citizens of Dover met in the 
city hah. The mayor, Alphonso Bickford, presided. The first two speakers 
were Jolni P. Hale and Joseph H. Smith, both recognized as leaders in the 
opposing pohtical parties. The resohitions, introduced by Hon. Charles W. 
Woodman, and unanimously adopted, were these : 

"Whereas the authority of the Federal Government of the United States 
has been denied, the Flag of the country fired upon, and the forts, arsenals, 
and other public property seized, and a series of outrages and wrongs perpe- 
trated for months upon the Government, whose forbearance had been received 
as proof of pusillanimity, till open and flagrant war has been wantonly and 
causelessly waged upon the goxernment and people of the United States, and 
the President has been forced to appeal to the People to maintain by force 
the honor, dignity, and continued existence of the Government they have 
established ; therefore 

"Resolved, In answer to said appeal of the President, that we, the citizens 
of Dover, feeling that our country is above party, hereby pledge ourselves 
to sustain the administration of the General Government in the manly and 
patriotic position assumed by the President in his recent proclamation, and 
that we cheerfully and readily tender to the Governor of this State, and 
through him to the President of the United States, our full proportion of 
such volunteer force as may be required of this State. 

"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed at this meeting to 
obtain the names of at least one hundred men. who will hold themselves ready 
at the shortest notice to march wherever the demands of the country and tlie 
order of the government shall require." 

On Wednesday, the 17th, by authority of the Governor of this State, 
George W. Colbath opened a recruiting office in our city hall. On Thursday 
he informed the Governor that the first company was full. He was directed 
to proceed with enlistments. On the next Monday one hundred and fifty 
men were on the muster roll. 

On the i8th of April the city councils voted to raise the flag upon the city 

194 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 195 

hall, to give the hall for a drill-room, and unaniniDusly determined to assist 
the families of the soldiers in the following terms, — the beginning of aid 
cheerfully given for years : 

"Whereas civil war has been inaugurated, our glorious Union assailed, 
and our institutions endangered ; and 

"Whereas our fellow-citizens promptly and cheerfully answered to the 
call of the government for aid in this its hour of peril; therefore 

"Resolved, By the City Council of the city of Dover that the sum of 
$10,000, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is appropriated 
for the benefits and wants of the families of those who have responded or 
shall respond to the call of the country for the support of the Constitution 
and Laws." 

On the 23d the members of the Strafford Medical Association resident in 
Dover issued an offer to give their professional services gratuitously to those 
families; the first signature on the list appropriately l>eing that of a distin- 
guished fellow citizen, Xoah Martin, a former Governor of this State. 

In the 26th one counted the flags that were floating in the air. There 
were forty of them from the houses in our streets: 

"Forty flags with their silver stars. 
Forty flags with their crimson bars." 

On Monday, the 29th, the first two companies were to leave home, to 
become Companies A and B of the First New Hampshire. On the day before 
they had listened to a stirring sermon in the old First Church from a suc- 
cessor of that minister who had i)reached to the soldiers here on the same 
spot as they were to take up their march for Cambridge in 177s. .-^t 10 
o'clock, Monday morning, they were in line in Central sc]uare, 145 men in 
the ranks. Four thousand people witnessed the scene. — in the streets, from 
windows, from balconies, from the house-tops. The women had been work- 
ing day by day to supply needed clothing, some of them whose tears dropped 
as they sewed. Prayer was offered by one who soon after himself went to 
serve in the war vessels, — Rev. T. G. Salter. 

A third company was meanwhile formed from the excess of enlistments. 
Orders now came, however, to receive only those who would enlist for three 
years. On the nth of May the choice was given to each, — three years or to 
be discharged. 

Seventy-one on that day chose the three years, and five days afterwards 
the number was one hundred and four. On the 25th, that company left the 
city to become Company D in that gallant Second New Hampshire. 

Of how many men this city furnished during the four years that followed 
the record is not perfect. Even in the imperfect rolls there were Dover men 
in each of the first fifteen regiments and in the Eighteenth, in the cavalry, the 



196 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



navy, and the marine corps. From the call of July _', 1862, 582 names are 
on record. Prior to that were all the first men of the first eight regiments, 
and of the sailors entering the navy before that date which should be added. 
Some examination of the rolls shows that more than eight hundred enlist- 
ments were made by this city of 8,500 inhabitants. This tells nothing of the 
sacrifices made. But of the number in gave their lives to their country. 

The slain alone fell at Fair Oaks, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and 
Gettysburg, at Cold Harbor, and Burnside's Mine, and Deep Bottom, and 
Bernuida Hundreds, in the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, and Weldon Rail- 
road, and Petersburg, at Pocotaligo, and James Island and Wagner, and Port 
Hudson. 

Dover men served in the Shenandoah and in the first disastrous march to 
Bull Run ; they were in the Peninsula battles and marches ; in the second 
battles before Washington ; in the bloody charge at Antietam bridge. They 
were in the charge up the heights of St. Mary's. They were in the burning 
woods of Chancellorsville. They were where Lee hurled his legions against 
Cemetery Hill ; in the long and bloody march from the Wilderness to Peters- 
burg. They were in North Carolina, where the "swamp-angel" hurled death 
into Charleston, and on Florida rivers. They were with Burnside in Ten- 
nessee, and with Sherman back of Vicksburg. And they sailed the coast, and 
watched the harbors, and manned the war boats on the Mississippi. 

The following is a list of soldiers from Dover who were killed or died in 
service during the War of the Rebellion : 



Abbott, Orrin S. 
Abbott, Philbrick R. 
Babb, Henry. 
Ball, Joseph H. 
Bateman, William. 
Bennett, George P. 
Berry, Charles A. 
Blaisdell, David L. 
Brook.s, William H. 
Brown, Charles H. 
Brown, James M. 
Brown, Nathaniel. 
Bryant, Perley B. 
Biince, Eli. 
Buzzcll, A. J. H. 
Carney, Martin. 
Carpenter, Samuel. 
Carrill, Edward. 
Carter, Charles A. 
Chadwick, Charles E. 
Chase, Algernon F. 
Cole, Jeremiah. 
Conway, Thomas. 
Cook, Benjamin F. 



Cotter, James. 
Cousins, Charles E. 
Davis, William H. 
DeCater, William. 
Dennis, Joseph V. 
Drew, Andrew T. 
Drew, John S. 
Drew, Joseph. 
Emerson, Henry H. 
Emery, George W. 
Faxon, George K. 
Fisher, John C. 
Fitzgerald, John J. 
Flanders. Charles H. 
Foss, David H. 
Franklin, James W. 
Frye, .Augustus. 
Frye, Charles A. 
Gase, George F. 
Glidden, Benjamin F. 
Gray, Joshua B. 
Greene, Willis. 
Hackett, William H. 
Hanscom, Oliver P. 



Hanson, Benjamin. 
Hanson, William E. 
Harding, John F. 
Hartford, Joseph L. 
Hawkins, John D. 
Hawkins, William H. 
Hayes, David C. 
Heath, George W. 
Henderson, Thomas A. 
Hobbs, Nathaniel P. 
Holt, Benjamin F. 
Home, Gustavus P. 
Kellcy, Moses R. 
Kimball, Charles B. 
Knott, James. 
Knox, Charles A. 
McDate, Patrick. 
McDate, Joseph. 
McDule, Hugh. 
McKenna, James. 
McKone, James. 
McKone. Michael. 
Merrill, John Jr. 
Otis, William. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



197 



Patterson, John H. 
Paul, George \V. 
Perkins, Daniel L. 
Perkins, James. 
Pinkliam. John .S. 
Pinkham, William W. 
Place, James G, K. 
Place, John H. 
Printy, Edwaid. 
Quimby, Joseph C. 
Rand, Jolin T. 
Roberts, Charles P. 
Roberts, Geor"c W. 



Roberts, John. 
Rogers, Charles F. 
Robinson. William A. 
Rothwell, Eleazer. 
Rovve, Steplien. 
Sawyer, Charles W. 
Seavey, Charles H. 
Shaw, William. 
Smith, Daniel. 
Smith, Charles Herbert. 
Smith, John H. 
Snell, Albert F, 
Sncll, William 1 1. 



Steele, George H. 
Swain, Truman C. 
Thompson, Samuel. 
Tompkins, Charles R. 
Webster, Samuel. 
Wallace, Sylvester B. 
Welch, John. 
Wentworth, George G 
Whitehouse, Alfred. 
Whyte, Andrew. 
Willey. George W. 
York, George. 
York, Josiah. 



The above is the list as corrected for the soldiers, monument of those who 
were killed or died in the service during the Rebellion. 

A soldiers' monument was erected in the Pine Hill burying-ground by 
Charles W. Sawyer Post, G. A. R., and dedicated September 17, 1877. Ben- 
jamin F. Prescott, Governor of the State, made the opening address, and 
the oration given by Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D. D., former chaplain of the 
Second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. S. H. Foye, mayor, was presi- 
dent of the day. 

MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65 

The following list embraces, so far as we know, the names of all the 
citizens of Dover who now are or have been since the commencement of the 
war in the military or naval service of the United States. The record has 
been corrected from the list prepared by the city clerk, and is as correct as 
time and circumstances permitted. 



FIRST KEGIMENT NEW HAMFSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three months. Mustered into service May I, 1861. Left Concord May 25, 1861.) 

Colonel, Mason W. Tappan, Bradford. 

Company A. 



George W. Colbath, Jst lieut. 

Oliver M. Clark, 2d lieut. 

Ayer, Erastus M. 

Ashton, James H., reenlisted in the navy. 



Cocliran, Adam, reenlisted in N. E. Cavalry. 
Daniels, Charles. Dame, John S. 

Foot, George E., reenlisted in nth Regt., 
Co. K. 



Bickford, Joseph C, reenlisted in "th Regt., Gordon, Eben. Gleason, James. 

Co. F. Goodwin, Samuel H., reenlisted in N. E. 
Brown, Enoch G., reenlisted in 17th Regt., Cavalry. 

regular army. Guppy, George N., reenlisted in navy. 

Chase, George H., reenlisted in sharpshnot- Giles, Charles P. 

ers. Hartford, George, reenlisted in 7th Regt., 
Corson, Martin V. B., reenlisted in 4th Regt.. Co. F. 

Co. A. Haines, David. Hanscom, S. O. 



198 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



Hogan. \Viiliam H. Rollins, Diaries L, 

Kenniston. Samuel F.. reenlistcd in jth Reirt , Roberts. John H., reenlisted in 4th Regt. 

Co. F. Co. A. 

Knox, Charles H., drowned at New York on Richards, P. B. 

his return home with his regiment. Smith. Charles F., reenlisted in cavalry. 

Kimball, Edw-ard L.. reenlistcd in cavalry. Steele, Thomas M., reenlisted in navy. 



Kimball, Orrin. 

Lane. Joseph, reenlisted in 4th Regt., Co. A. 

Mudgctt. Jacob H., reenlisted in Mass. Sharp- 
shooters. 

Meadcr, Thomas F. 

iMeserve, George H. 

O'Brien, Owen. 

I'erkins, Martin V. B., reenlisted in 7th Regt., 
Co. F. 

Philbrick, Ivorv F.., reenlisted in N. E. Cav- 
airy. 

Place, John \V.. reenlisted in 7th Regt., Co. F. 

Perkins. Samuel, reenlisted in 7th Regt. Co. I. 



Shapley, Martin L., reenlisted in 4th Regt. 

Co. G. 
Tompkins. Charles R., reenlisted in nth Regt. 

Co. K. 
Varney, Shubael. 
Whitehouse, George VV., reenlisted in 4th 

Regt. Co. G. 
Welsh, John, reenlisted in 5th Regt. Co. D. 
Woodes. James M. 
\N'iggin. Harvey F., reenlisted in 4th Regt. 

Co. A. 
York, James G., reenlisted in 7th Regt. Co. F. 



Company B. 

Charles W. Sawyer, 1st lient. Hall, Stephen T., reenlisted in 4th Regt, 

Jasper G. Wallace, 2d lieut. Co. A. 

Brvant, Perlev I!., reenksted in 7th Regt. Lord, Horace W., reenlisted in 8th Regt, 

Co. T. ' Co. G. 

Dame, Benjamin F. Legg, Lucien B., Jr., reenlisted in 4th Regt. 

Dixon, James W. Co. G. 

Dame, James C. Lewis, John C. 

Emery, George W., reenlistcd in 9th Regt. Law, Thomas, reenlisted in 7th Regt. Co. F. 

Qq j5 Merrick. Stephen W. 

Foff Tohn M Keay, William H., reenlisted in 6th Regt, 

Foss, David Ik, reenlisted in 7th Regt. Co. F", '"'' 



Grant, Lncien II., reenlisted in 7th Regt. 

Co. F. 
Hanson. William F.,, reenli-.lcd in 6tli Regt. 

Co. H. 
Hanson, Harrisfm, reenlisted in 7lh Regt. 

Co. F. 
He.itli. .\liin?o, reenlisted in Q'.h Regt. Co. 1). 



Rogers. Charles F., reenlisted in 5th Regt. 

Co. D. 
Rowe, Stephen, reenlisted in 7th Regt. Co F. 
Randall, Jeremiah D. 
Waldron, Jnhn B., reenlisted in 6th Regt. 

Co. H. 
Wentwiirth, Clark-, reenlisted in regular 

army, 17th Regt. 



Hawkins, William H., reenlisted in 7th Regt. Webster, Samuel, reenksted in 7th Regt. 
Co. L Co. F. 

SECOND REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(I'"ur three years. Mustered into service June 8, 1861, left Portsmouth June 20, 18111.) 
Colonel, Oilman Marston, Exeter. 

CuMrANv D. 

Hiram Collins, capt., wounded at Bull Run Roberts, George W., 1st lieut. Co. C. 

July 21, 186 1. Abbott, Alexander L., discharged and reen- 

Samuel P. Sayles, ist lieut.; wounded at listed. 

Glendale June 30, 1862, capt. Ashton, Benjamin F., Co. K; captured at 

Parmenter, Warren H., 2d lieut.; res. July Williamsburg; exchanged. 

8, 1862. Chadbourne, Moses C. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



199 



Chadwick, Luther VV., discliarged July, lS6i, 
for disability. 

Colby, Moses J., discharged for disability. 

Davis, James, wounded at Williamsburg. 

Downs, Calvin C. 

Drew, Daniel L. 

Durgin, John H. 

Drew, Martin V. B., discharged July, iS6i ; 
reenlisted in 6th Regt. Co. H. 

Emerson Henry H., captured at Dull Run July 
21, i86i ; e.xchanged ; reenlisted in loth 
Regt.. Co. I. 

Goodwin, Ezra C, wounded at Bull Run Aug. 
2g, 1862. 

Gerrish. Benjamin 1". 

Hall, Isaac G. 

Jenness, Henry O., wounded at Williams- 
burg May S, 1862. 



Kane, Peter, discharged Jan., 1862, for dis- 
ability. 

Lord, John F. 

Logan, Johnson C, captured at Bull Run 
Aug. 29, 1862, and exchanged. 

Labounty, William A., Co. F ; wounded at 
Bull Run Aug. 29, 1862, and died. 

McCabe, John. 

Otis, John H. 

Roberts, Charles P., wounded at Bull Run 
Aug. 29. iSt'12; died. 

Soesman, Flavins A., Co. B; wounded at 
F'air OaUs June 25, 18(12. 

Shepherd, J. 

Thompson, James A. 

Tash, Edwin S., discharged July 16, 1861, for 
disability. 

Watson. Charles E. 



THIRD REGIMENT NEW H.X.MPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Concord Sept. 3, 1861.) 
Colonel, Enoch Q. Fellows, Sandwich. Surgeon, .Andrew J. II. 



Buzze 



Israel B. Littlefield, capt., res. 

April I, 1862. 
Welbee J. Butterfield, ist lieut., 

res. March 6, 1863. 
Allen, Charles H. 
Brown, Charles H. 
Bolo, George N. 
Burns, Charles M. 
Ball, Joseph H. 
Cassidy, James. 
Campbell, Nathaniel J. 



C0MP.\NY K. 

Davis, Henry S. 
Dustin, Adrian C. 
Estes, Leonard. 
Edgerly, Jonathan H. 
Farrill. Thomas. 
Fitzgerald, John J. 
I'rye, Augustus. 
Houston, Harrison. 
Hanlan, Joseph. 
Hall, Edwin F. 
Judkins, Henry. 



Lock, John C. 
McLain, Hugh. 
C)'Connell. Timothy, Co. C. 
Parkinson, John W. 
Place, John. 
Rahill, James H. 
Sherry, Patrick. 
Stokes, Benjamin. 
Warren, p'rederick A. 
W arren, Paul C. 



Charles W. Sawyer, capt. 
Jasper G. Wallace, 1st lieut. 
Harvey F. Wiggin, 1st lieut 

Co. I. 
Bolo, Andrew J. 
Bateman, Richard W. 
Bean, Levi. 

Brooks, William H., Co. G. 
Clay, Charles H. 
Carter, Charles A. 
Carroll. Edward. 
Cole, Jeremiah. 
Corson, Martin V. B. 
Durgin, George W. 
Fall, John J. 



FOURTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOI.trNTEERS 

(For three years. Left M.anchester Sept. 7, 1S61.) 
Colonel, Thomas J. Whipple, Laconia. 

COJIPANV .'\. 

h'rost. David D. 
Gage, George F. 
Hayes, David C. 
Hail, Stephen T. 
Hughes, John. 
Hughes, Barnard. 
Jackson, John. 
Lord, John A. 
Lane, Joseph. 
Legg. Lucien B., Jr. 
McGuinness, John, Jr. 
Mullen, John. 
McGaw, Michael. 
McDade, Joseph. 
Osgood, James Y. 



Ouimby, John W. 
Roberts, John H. 
Rose, Joseph b". 
Ricker, Oliver P. 
Shapleigh. Martin L. 
Shakley, George. 
Tibbetts, George W. 
Wallace. Nelson J. 
Whitehouse, George W. 
Welsh, James. 
Watson, John L. 
Wendell, David A. 
Wentworth, John A. 
Watson. Barnard F. 



200 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



FIFTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Concord Oct. 29, 1861.) 
Colonel, Edward E. Cross, Lancaster. 



Avery, Edgar. 

Bliss, Charles. 

Boulter, Joseph B. 

Church, Charles, discharged 
Aug. 6, 1862, for disability. 

Edgerly, Charles R., dis- 
charged May 14, 1862, for 
disability. 

Foss, Joel S., discharged 
Oct., 1862, for disability. 

Gilpatrick, Reuben E. 

Gale. William. 

Hawkins, John D., died Jan. 
7, 1862. 



C0MP.\NY D. 

Ivirs, William. 
Leighton, Samuel R. 
McCone, John. 
McCone, James. 
Mitchell, Andrew J., 

charged. 
Murrill, John, 

April, 1862. 
Mulligan, Martin. 
Murphy, Peter. 
Newell, Charles H. 
Otis, William L. 
Peavey, John. 
Pinkham, Andrew J 



Reynolds, Andrew T. 
Rogers, Geo. F. 
Rhines, John. 
Rothwell, Jerry, 
dis- Ryan, John. 

Wentworth, George G., died 
Jr., died July 14. 1862. 

Welch, John, wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg and died. 
Wliitehouse, Joseph H. 



SIXTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Keene Dec. 25. 1861.) 
Colonel, Simon G. Grififin. 



Abbott. Philbrick R. 
Adams, Jno. T., Co. D. 
Bolo, John W. 
Bodwell, Charles A. 
Drew, Martin V., 

charged for disability. 
Drew, .Andrew J. 
Garrity, John. 



dis- 



Company H. 
Fountain, Joseph. 
Hanson, William E. 
Hersoni, Oliver, Jr. 
Hanson, George W. 
Hussey. George W. 
Hussey, John W. 
Knott, Thomas. 
Keay, William H. 



McKenna, James. 
McCone, James. 
McSoley, Patrick. 
Pinkham, John H. 
Varney, James R. 
Varney, George W. 
Waldron, John B. 
Whittier, Osgood T. 



SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Manchester Jan. 14, 1862.) 
Colonel, H. S. Putnam, Cornish. Adjutant, Thomas A. Henderson. 

Major, Daniel Smith, died August, 1S62. Quartermaster, George S. Hanson. 



Augustus W. Rollings, cap- 
tain. 

Oliver M. Clark, ist lieut. 

Leander Fogg, ist lieut., Co. 
K. 

Perley B. Brvant, 2d lieut., 
Co. I. 

.A.ustin, Jacob K. 

Bickford, Joseph C. 

Baker. John C. 

Butler, Edwin C. 

Brown. John B. 

Buzzell, George E. 

Brown, Patrick. 



Company F. 
Bradford. Francis L 
Bedell, Ivory. 
Blake, Aaron H. 
Bunce, George. 
Card, Sylvester. 
Cilley, Benjamin F. 
Cousins. Charles E. 
Clark, William, Jr. 
Claridge, Ira. 
Chadwick, Charles E. 
Caverno, Michael. 
Curtis, Francis. 
Gate, Nathaniel S. 
Cook, George W. 



Carpenter, Samuel C. 

Cook, Benjamin F. 

Cotton, James. 

Dearborn, Wyman, discharged 

for disaliility. 
Decatur, William. 
Dudley, George W. 
Dunn, Frank. 
Evans, Josiah. 
Foss, David H. 
Felker, Jonathan K. 
Keenan, Peter. 
Kimball, James. 
Kimball, James A. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



201 



Knox, Erastus. 
Law, Thomas. 
Lord, Charles F. 
Libbey, James H. 
Littlelield, Rufus C. 
Meader, John F. 
]\IcDual, Hugh. 
McCody, Patrick. 
McKanna, Micliael. 
McKone, Michael. 
i\Ieader, Thomas F. 
Otis, John C. 
Perkins, James. 
Petty, Richard R. 
Pinkham, Henry A. 
Patterson. John H. 
Perkins, Samuel. 
Perkins, Martin V. B. 
Pickering, Levi. 
Place, John W. 
Roberts, George. 
Rand, John T. 
Riley, James. 
Roberts, John. 
Ripley, George H. 
Foss, Moses W. 
Finnegan, James. 
Farrall, Thomas E. 



Foss, Drew. 
Fisher, John. 
Gibbs, John F. 
Gray, William H. 
Green, Willis C. 
Goodwin, Nathaniel. 
Grant. Henry. 
Gray, Solomon S. 
Grant, Charles. 
Guppy. Langdon. 
Grant, Lucien. 
Hall, Henry. 
Hewes, Andrew J. 
Harltford, George. 
Hill, Moses C. 
Hemenway, Albert. 
Hughes, Patrick R. 
Hanson, Harrison. 
Haughey, Patrick. 
Haughey, John, Jr. 
Holt, Joseph N. 
Hanson, George W. 
Hobbs, Nathaniel P. 
Jcnness, George W. 
Kimball, Charles B. 
Kelley, Moses R. 
Kenniston, Franklin. 
Kenniston. Samuel D. 
Kimball, Orin. 



Rowc. Stephen. 
Rahill, Michael. 
Robinson, Elbridge G. 
Ring, Ihomas. 
Stackpole, George K. 
Stackpole, Charles. 
Stackpole. Josiah. 
Smith, John H. 
Smith, Charles W. 
Smith, David D. 
Snell, Albert F. 
Shaw, William. 
Snell, Seth. 
Thompson, Samuel. 
Thayer, William F. 
Worcester, Albert. 
Whitehead, John. 
Warren, Edwin F. 
Wentvvorth. Charles H. 
Wentvvorth, Ephraim. 
Willey, James. 
Willey, George W. 
Wentworth, Ezekiel. 
Webster, Samuel. 
Wiggin, J. Munroe. 
York, George H. 
York, James G. 
York, Josiah. 



EIGHTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Manchester Jan. 25, 1862.) 
Colonel, Hawkes Fearing, Jr., Manchester. 

Company G. 
Fernald, William H. H. Roberts, Charles A. Walker, Henry. 

Lord, Horace W. Sawyer, Horatio G. 



NINTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Concord Aug. 25, 1862.) 
Colonel, E. Q. Fellows, Sandwich. Chaplain, Edward M. Gushee, Dover. 



Andrew J. Hough, ist lieu- 
tenant, subsequently cap- 
tain and major. 

Abbott, Orin S. 

Burley, Charles H. 

Bunce, Eli. 

Brewster. William A. 

Daney, Hiel P. 

Donovan, John. 

Emery, George W. 

Frye, Charles A. 



Company D. 
Foster, Charles E. 
Hall, Charles F. 
Hall, Stacy W. 
Heath, Alonzo. 
Ham, John. 
Jenness, George. 
Judge, John. 
Knott. Edward. 
Lyons, John. Jr. 
.McDonald, Patrick. 
McCooley. Patrick. 



McCoole, Dennis. 
McDade, Patrick. 
Otis, Sylvester. 
Quimby, Joseph C. 
Quimby, James M. 
Roberts, William. 
Simpkins, Luke. 
Staples. John W. 
Towle, Patrick. 
Vallely, John. 
Whyte, Andrew. 



202 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



TENTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Manchester Sept. 22. 1862.) 
Colonel, Michael T. Donohoe. 



Richard Cody, ist lieut., 

signed. 
James Knott, 2d lieut. 
Agnew, Heniy. 
Agnew, Michael. 
Bodge, Stephen. 
Berry, Alonzo F. W, 
Caton, James. 
Cox, Henry. 
Card, Joseph. 
Coin, Patrick. 
Dobbins, James. 
Davis, Samuel C. 
Kmerson. Henry F[. 
b'isher. Erastiis E. 



C0MP.\NY \. 

Follett. James W. 
Foy, William. 
Gleason, Andrew. 
Grimes, Robert. 
Hughes, John. 
Hughes, Michael. 
Kemball, Charles VV'. 
Littlefield, George W. 
Lord. Charles A., Co. A. 
McNally. Dennis. 
Moor. George. 
Morgan. John. 
Morrison, Matthew. 
Marky, Thomas. 
McD' nald, James. 



McCoy. Henry. 
Murphy, Frank. 
Pinkham, John S. 
Printy, Edward. 
Pinkham, William. 
Pinkham, John F. 
Reiishaw, James B. 
Rogers, Owen. 
Sullivan, Thomas. 
Starlin, John. 
Sullivan, John. 
.Scully, Dennis. 
Sheeham, Michael. 
Tolmy, Nicholas. 



ELEVENTH RECIME.VT NEW H.^MPSHIPE VOLUNTEERS 

(For three years. Left Concord Sept. 11, 1S62.) 
Col. Walter Harriman, Warner 



Nathaniel Low, Jr., capt. 

B. Frank Rackley, ist lieut., 

ri.s. Dec. 2\. 18G2. 
Henry W. Twombly, 2d 

lieut., pro. Dec. 24, 1862. 
Charles E. Everett, 2d 

lieut., pro. Dec. 24, 1862. 
.\mazeen, .Abraham, 
niaisdcll, David L. 
Boardman, Thomas. 
Boardman, Thomas W. 
Brown, Nathaniel. 
Berry, George G. 
Babb, John A. 
Boston, James. 
Chamberlain, Joseph. 
Cook, Charles FT. 
Caswell, George .\. 
Dame, Joseph. 
Demeritt. James H. 
Davis, Willi.im H. 
Delaney, John W. 
Dame. Albert W. 
Everett, Clarendon. 
Everett, L. Theodore. 
I'oss, Joshua P.. 



COMIWNY K. 

Foot. George E. 
French, Joseph H. 
Foxon, George K. 
Franklin, James W. 
Flanders. Charles H. 
Ford, William H. 
Fernald, John S. P. 
Ford, Noah P. 
Goodrich, Charles A. 
Gray, Joshua B. 
Gove, Hira'.n. 
Gould, .'^irthur T. 
Glidden, Benjamin F., 
at Falmouth, Dec. 9, 
Glidden, Henry S. 
Hill, Charles W. 
Hartford, Joseph L. 
Hanson, Enoch T. 
Howard, William T. 
Hill, Albert A. 
Jones, Charles ^L 
Jenness, Franklin H. 
Kingsbury, Calvin ?. 
Lord, Charles E. 
Moore, Moses H. 
McGuinness, Patrick. 



Meader, Jasper Y. 
Norton, William H. 

Nason, Reuben, wounded at 
Fredericksburg, Dec. 1,3, 
1862, discharged. 

Pray, John C, paroled pris- 
oner at .Ann3polis. 

Palmer, John G. 

Robinson, Edward H. 

Seavey, Henry. 

Scates, Charles E. 

Smith, Charles H. 
died Sawyer, Levi N. 
1862 Snell, William H. 

Spurlin, Charles F. 

Swain, Truman. 

Trickey. Nathaniel. 

Tompkins, Charles R. 

Tolmy. James. 

Waterhouse, Charles H. 

Whidden, Alfred S. 

Whyte, Andrew, Jr. 

Whitehouse, Joseph. 

Webster, Benjamin K 

Warren, Charles W. 

Young, Louis A. 

Young, Jacob N. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



203 



TWELFTH REGIMENT NEW HAMrSHIRE VOLUNTEERS. 

Rust, Charles A.. Co. K. 

FOURTEENTH REGIMENT NEW H.VMrSHIRE VOLUNTEERS. 

Hiissey, Albert F., q.m.-sergt. 

FIFTEENTH REGIMENT NEW H.\M1'SHIKE VOLUNTEERS. 

(For nine months. Left Concord Ueccmber, 1862.) 

Colonel, John W. Kingman, Quartermaster, Ira A . Quartermaster's clerk, W. Del- 
Moody, more Place. 
Durham. r\ 4. ^ 

Quartermaster - sergeant, 

Chaplain. Edwin M. VVeelock. George \V. Hobbs. 



CoMP.\NY K. 



John O. Wallingford, ist Buncc, Charles. 
lieut. Gowen, John. 



Brown, Enoch. 
Bennett, Charles W. 
Clark. William B. 
Davis, Augustus A. 
Drew, Joseph. 
Drew, John S. 
Giles, Charles P. 



Conner, Isaiah C. 
Fuller, Henry F. 
Gowing, John. 



SEVENTEENTH REGI.MENT. 

Gale, Albert. 
.McCabe, Francis. 
McCabe. John. 
Paul, George W. 
Pinkham, Nathaniel. 
Sherry, John H. 

ei(;hteenth rfgiment. 

Goodwin, James I". 
1 lodgdon, Joseph H. 
Stackpole, Albert F. 



Smith. John. 



Sanborn, .Austin, 
Wentworth, Gcorgi 
Walker. John. 
Watson, Isaac. 
Wentworth, Clark. 
York, Gilman J. 



Tebliets, George B. 
Woods, J. H. C. 
Whitehouse, Alonzo H. 



Allen, Charles E. 
Bean, John. 
Bean, Jonathan. 
Bean, Jonath:)n .\r. 
Cochran, Adam. 
Coleman, David. 
Colomy, Daniel, Jr. 
Carnes, Edward. 
Corson, Benjamin F. 



new ENGLAND CAVALRY. 

Dore, Charles A. 
Goodwin, Samuel H. 
Glidden. Charles A. 
Hill, Lebbeus. 
Heath, George W. 
Kimliall, Edward L. 
Littlefield, Cyrus. 
Pinkham, Thomas B. 
Philbrick. Ivory E. 



Stockl)ridge, Ira. 
Smith. Charles F. 
Torrens, James W. 
Tuttle, John L. 
Wentworth. Hiram 
Pray, .'Vndrew. 
Rotluvell. Eleazer. 



fourth COMl'ANY HEAVY ARTILLERY. 



Billings, James H. 
Brownell, William B. 
Cole, John W. 
Colman, Charles. 
Demeritt, Charles A. 
Davis, Grandville. 
Davis, Edgar W. 
Edgerly, Charles R. 
Greenhalgh, Timothy. 



Hughes, James. 
Hanson, James W. 
Kingsbury. J.mics A. 
Libbey, J. T. S., lieut. 
Merrill, Isaac K. 
Meserve, John C. 
Otis, John H. 
Quinn, Peter. 
Rollins, George W. 



Rowe. Jaines. 
Smith, Wesley M. 
Smith, Newton C. 
Smith, William P. 
Tebbetts, Samuel H. 
Thayer, W. F., lieut. 
Towle, Jeremy B. 



204 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



Berden Sharpshooters. — George H. Chase, 
Moses P. Moultoti. 

Andrew Sharpshooters.— j^cob K. Mudgetl. 
Isaac N. Miidgett, Henry Moulton. 

ist Mass. Regiment. — John F. Meader, 
George H. llaiiscom. 

:2th Mass. Regiment. — John S. Grant. 

l.3//t Mass. Regiment. — John H. Place, 
Charles C. Guppy. S. Frank Hartford. 

jylh Mass. Regiment. — John Tucker. 

22d Mass. Regiment. — Edward M. Tucker. 

25//1 Mass. Regiment. — Andrew J. Hughes. 

28//1 Mass. Regiment. — James JMcCarty. 

T,Sth Afass. Regiment. — William H. ?Iackett. 

6//1 Mass. Battery. — Daniel L. Perkins (died 
Oct. 16, 1862). 

1st Maine Regiment. — John B. Franklin. 

31/ Maine Regiment. — Henry Jiidkins. 

7//1 Maine Regiment. — Patrick Hughes, Wil- 
liam A. Robinson. 

\2th Maine Regiment. — Edward Bearer. 

i6th Maine Regiment. — John F. Harding. 

17//J Maine Regiment. — Joseph Hughes. 

p'crtnont Regiment. — Alvin Morse. 

16//1 Ne:v York Regiment. — Sylvester Ab- 
bott. 

S2d New York Regiment. — Patrick Heffer- 
man. 



i)i)tJi Pennsyl-~-ania Regiment. — James iVlc- 
Donald. 

.V. )'. Battery Light .■()/i7/itv.— Benjamin 1'". 
Holt. 

(jIIi Ohio Regiment. — John W. llussey. 

5?/j Rcginient E.rcelsior Brigade. — Isaac K. 
Merrill. 

Regular .Irmy — 4//; F\egimenl. — John Mullen, 
George Corson. 

Invalid Corps. — W. J. Butterfield, Charles 
Church. 

Substitute, 1863, M. McDerniott. SulK<tilute, 
1S64, Patrick Kyan. 

I'eteran Reseri'c Corps. — Thomas B. Pink- 
ham, George Shackley. 

5//1 Regiment. — Charles H. Gerrish (drafted), 
Benjamin Hanson (drafted), Charles 
Lovejoy. 

Regiment. — Oscar A. Mill. 

2d U. S. Artillery. — Brearton David. 

Ii5//i U. S. Colored Infantry. — John R. Ham, 
surgeon. 

Maj. George P. F'olsom, paymaster. 

Maj. Charles W. Woodman, paymaster. 

Capt. Daniel Hall. 

Capt. Andrew H. Young, quartermaster. 

Lieut. John J. Devin, U. S. army. 

Cadet William A. Garland, Military Acad- 
emy, West Point. 



Thomas G. Salter, chaplain. 
George H. Wadleigh, Naval 

School, Newport, R. I. 
Edward Woodman, Naval 

School, Newport, R. I. 
Adams, Charles W. 
Agnew, Henry. 
Agnew, Peter. 
Ashton, James H. 
Barker, Joshua. 
Blaisdell, John. 
Brown, Robert D. 
Burley, Charles. 
Burley, Josiah. 
Cassily, Patrick. 
Caton, Patrick. 
Chamberlain, C. E. 
Chandler, Elisha M. 
Chandler, William. 
Cody, John. 
Cotter, Patrick. 
Davis, Alonzo L. 
Davis, Franklin F 



U. S. NAVY. 

Drew, Charles W. 
Drew, William. 
Dunn. Samuel A. 
Ferguson, .Mbert. 
Finnegan, Peter. 
Finnegan, Joseph. 
Frost, John G. 
Glines, Bradbury. 
Grimes, Francis. 
Guppy, George N. 
Hemenway, Benjamin. 
Hughes, James. 
Hughes, Peter. 
Hurd, Stephen N. 
Jordan, Oscar F. 
Keay, Charles M. 
Kimball, Samuel H. 
Lock, Jeremiah. 
McCabe, Patrick. 
McQuade. James. 
McQu-ide, John. 
Merrill, William. 
Mitchell, Josiah. 



Newhall, Eben. W. 
Oates, Barnard. 
ONeal, Owen. 
Paul, Charles F. 
Peaslee, Joseph E. 
Pierce, Henry M. 
Place, James H. K. 
Place, Alonzo R. 
Rahill, Michael. 
Renshaw, James. 
Kenshaw, William H. 
Rhines, William H. 
Roberts, James A. 
Rogers, William. 
Rollins, Charles L. 
Rothwell, Eleazer. 
Kowe, Jesse. 
Sampson, Charles A. 
Sanborn, .Andrew J. 
Smith, Newton C. 
Snell, George C. 
Staples, John M. 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS ' 



205 



Starlin, James. 
Steele, Thomas M. 
Thompson, Edward. 
Tompkins, Charles R. 



Webster, William G.. Jr. 
Welsh, Rodman. 
Wilson, Edward A. 
York, George. 



York, Simeon D. 
Young, John A. 
Young, Joseph. 
Young, Thomas F. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

lIISrORV OF DOVER (XI\) 

NOTABLE CITIZENS OF DOVER IN FORMER GENERATIONS 

In this closing chapter of this ontline history of Dover is given brief men- 
lion of some of the notalile men of former generations of Dover citizens. 
jMany others might be inchuled in tiiis list, but the following must suffice for 
this work. 

JinU/c Edwartl lliltun. Founder of Dover, at Dover Point, May, 1623. 
.A wealthy Englishman. .Memlier of the very exclusi\'e and aristocratic Fish 
Mongers' (hiild in London. I^ater he was one of the founders of Exeter, 
having his residence at Xewfields, then a part of Exeter. He was one of the 
magistrates, under Massachusetts, for holding courts at Dover and Ports- 
mouth. His burial place is in the cemetery near Rockingham Junction on 
the Boston & Maine Railroad. 

Captaiji Thoiiias iriggin. founder of the settlement at Dover Neck in 
October, 1633. Noted for his great business ability as organizer and leader. 
Chief magistrate at Dover a number of years. Later he settled on the east 
shore of Great Bay, where he had a large estate and lived in great style as the 
gentry in England lived at that time. 

Major Richard U'aldcrnc, one of the great historical characters of New 
England. A man of great business capacity. He built saw mills and grist 
mills. He cut huge pine trees for masts and transported them to England 
for the king's navy. His mill was at the falls east of Central avenue bridge. 
One of his logging swamps was in what is now called Knox's Marsh. His 
house (garrison) stood where Melnick's store, in National block, now is, 
which is famous in history as being destroyed by the Indians June 28, 1689. 
He was a great warrior. He was Representative from Dover in the Massa- 
chusetts General Court many years, and Speaker of the House several times. 
He was one of the chief magistrates in old Norfolk county of Massachusetts, 
and as such enforced the laws against the Quaker women, which Whittier's 
poem describes. He was unquestionably one of the foremost and ablest men 

206 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 207 

in the first century of Dover's history, and the peer of the greatest men in 
Massachusetts. 

Captain John Undcrhill. famous in Massachusetts history, was one of the 
Governors at Dover Neck foHowing the retirement of Captain Wiggin. One 
of Whittier's very interesting poems deals witli Captain Underhill's career 
at Dover Neck. He was a good warrior as well as ruler. His later years 
were passed on Long Island, v\here he founded a town in the neighborhood 
of Oyster Bay, now famous as the home of Colonel Roosevelt. 

Elder ll'illiiun ircntz^'ortli, who came to Dover in 1650, was one of the 
very influential men. An elder in the First Church ; preacher, teacher, mag- 
istrate; diligent and active until he was past four score years old. .A-ud noted 
especially as the founder of the great Wentworth family, three of his de- 
scendants being Governors of the Pro\ ince of New Hampshire in succession. 
His home farm is just across the line in Rollinsford on the Turnpike road 
and has remained in possession of the family to this day, 260 years. 

Hanserd Knolh'S. First minister of the First Church in Dover. Later 
returned to England and was distinguished as a minister in active service 
until past four score years of age. He was minister in Dover two years, 
1638- 1640. 

Rcz: John Rc\urr. sixth minister of the First Church and Parish, who 
served from 1655 to 1669, dying in office. He was a notable preacher; it was 
during his pastorate that the Quaker women came to Dover from Boston and 
caused much disturbance in Mr. Reyner's parish. They were not content to 
hold their meetings outside of the meeting house, but at times when he was 
preaching would arise in the meetings on the Lord's day and contradict his 
opinions expressed. Of course, he was greatly annoyed at their impertinent 
conduct, but held his temper and gave them stern reply. He was so popular 
with his townsmen that he received various grants of land, one of which is the 
land through which flows the nnich talked of Reyner Brook, advocated as a 
source of water supply for Willard Pond. 

Ra: John Pike, minister of the First Church and Parish from 1678 to 
1 7 10, dying in office. He was graduate of Harvard College, and esteemed as 
an extraordinary preacher. Not only that; he was popular among his people, 
serving and assisting them during the most terrible period of the Indian wars 
in Dover. He rendered a serxice of greater value to succeeding generations 
by keeping a "Journal' in which he recorded many important events, no record 
of which can be found elsewhere, hence are of great historical value. 

Job Clements, who came to Dover (Neck) about 1655, built the first tan- 
nery Do\er had ; he was an expert in the business, coming here from Salisbury. 
He was a man of great business capacity otherwise and one of Dover's most 

12 



208 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COLXTY 

worthy citizens. At the time of his deatli in 1684 he was one of the Council 
of the Province of Xew Hampshire. 

Captain John Tuttlc. 1640-1720. Farmer (at Dover Neck), mill owner, 
shipbuilder, lumberman, Indian fighter, town official. Representative in Gen- 
eral Court, Judge and Councillor. A great man in every way, and staunch 
supporter of the First Church. 

Captain Thomas Millet came to Dover from Gloucester, Mass., about the 
time Captain Tuttle died. For forty years he was one of the leading business 
men of the town. He was a famous shipbuilder and quite as noted as a sea 
captain. He held all of the important offices in the gift of his townsmen, as 
also offices of importance in the Frovince of New Hampshire. An apple tree 
that he set out is yet living at Dover Xeck, near where his residence was. His 
shipyard was on the shore of the river nearby. 

Tlioinas U'cstbrook U'alilron, born 17J1: died in 1785. Great grandson 
of Major Richard W'aldron. He was a man of large property, having in- 
herited the major's homestead on the north side of the Cochecho river and 
the mills at the falls. He was frequently moderator in town meetings; one 
of the selectmen a half dozen years: town clerk from 1771 to 17S5, dying in 
office. Representative from 1735 to 1771. His house, which he built in 1784, 
yet stands on Second street, facing the courthouse. Previous to 1820 it stood 
directly across what is now Second street. It was swung around and moved 
back when the street was made. 

Col. John Gage was Representative in the Provincial .\ssembly of Xew 
Hampshire 1745 to 1748, and 1771 to his death in May, 1773. He was col- 
onel of the Second N. H. Regiment of Militia from 1758 till his death. He 
was the first Judge of Proljate for Straffiord county, dying in office. 

Col. Stephen Erans. Merchant, leader in the First Church, prominent 
in town alTairs, Dover's greatest and most active military officer in the Revo- 
lutionarv war. He was in command of a Xew Hampshire regiment at the 
surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777. His house stood on 
Main street, near .School street. 

Rez-ereiiil Jonathan Cusliing. tenth minister of the First Church and Par- 
ish, 1690-1769. (iraduate of PIar\ ard College. Minister in Dover from 
Scp.temljer 18. 1717. till his death. March 2^. 1769. His colleague for the 
last two years was Rev. Jeremy Belknap. He was a great preacher and 
prudent and judicious pastor. His residence was on Pine Hill, near where 
the meeting house stood that was built in 17 12. It was in that house that he 
conducted service until the new house was built and dedicated in 1758. where 
now is the brick meeting house that succeeded it in 1829. 

Charles- Bitckner. In the Alarch town meeting. 1637, Mr. Buckncr was 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 209 

chosen by vote a schoolmaster for the town. Up to that time the ministers 
had been the schoolmasters. Mr. Bnckner remained in Dover until April, 
1668, when he sold his four acres of land to Job Clements, Sr., and removed 
to Boston. He was grand juryman and held other minor offices. Where he 
held his school is not known, but probably in private houses. 

Hon. Peter Cofiin was one of the big men at Cochecho; he lived on the 
south side of the river; his house stood on top of a hill where now is the 
bowling alley, on the north side of Orchard street. He was a man of wealth 
and was influential in town affairs. He was one of the selectmen of the tnwn 
many terms, and one of its Ivepresentati\es in the jMassachusetts General 
Court se\'eral years. 

Dr. Walter Barefoot was the first resident physician in Do\er. He had 
grants of land on Dover Neck, and resided there from about i6(')0 to 1670. 
He then removed to Great Island (New Castle), and resided there until his 
death in 1689. He is noted as the second (iovernor of the Proxince of New 
Hampshire, succeeding Governor Cranfield in 1685, and his rule over the 
province was contemptible in the highest degree. 

Tltoiiia.s- Caiiuex was one of the original settlers on Dover Neck, and 
was one of its staunch citizens who stood by Parson Reyner in 1662, when 
the Quaker women were so troublesome. His house is yet standing on Dover 
Neck, in which the Quaker women were held prisoners for a while. He was 
one of the respected and honored citizens. 

Rcz'. Jeremy Belknaf. Pastor of First Church 1767-1787, twenty years: 
great preacher. Greatest historian of New Hampshire. His house stood 
where the Belknap school house stands. 

Colonel John Waldron, who resided where the Page farm house is on 
Glenwood avenue, above Garrison Hill. A man who held many times all the 
important offices in the gift of his townsiuen. He commanded a regiment 
in the i\e\'olutionary war. 

Major Caleb IPodgedon was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and a 
citizen distinguished in many ways. 

Dr. Ezra Green. Dover's noted ]>hysician and surgeon. He not only had 
great fame as a physician in Dover and the region around here, but was dis- 
tinguished as the surgeon on tlie first warship that John Paul Jones .sailed 
from Portsmouth and won such fame in the Revolutionary war. Dr. Green 
was the first ])OStmaster of Dover, appointed by George Washington, with 
whom he was personally acquainted. His office was in the Job Burleigh 
house, on Silver street, near corner of Atkinson street. He lived in the house 
at the corner of Silver and Belknap streets, where the Misses Richardson 
lived. He died there in 1847, aged loi years. 



210 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Hon. Amirczv Pcirce, merchant, leading business man of Dover for half 
a century. Held important ofificial position in town and state. First mayor 
of Dover. 1856. 

Hon. John P. Hale, lawyer, orator, statesman, United States Senator, 
ambassador to Spain, cliampion anti-sla\ery ad\ocate. Probably the greatest 
statesman Dover ever had. 

Col. Amos Coij.'Ta'iil. who was born in 1752 and died January 28, 1826; 
served eight years in the army of the Revolution; enlisting as a private soldier 
in his brother's company, lie came out a major. ^Vfter the war he resided 
in Dover and for se\eral years was colonel of a battalion of ca\alry. For a 
luimJjer of years he was member of the state Legislature, both as Represen- 
tative and Senator, He was one of the most popular business men of Dover 
for forty years. The house in which he li\ed now stands on the south corner 
of Angle street and Central avenue, and is well preserved. 

John Williams was agent for the first cotton factory built in Dover. The 
corporation organized at a meeting of the proprietors January 19, 1813, at 
Mrs. Lydia Tibbett's dwelling house on Silver street, at 5 o'clock P. M. That 
house is now standing, directly opposite Elisha R. Brown's residence. Mr 
^Villiams remained connected with the mills here more than a quarter of a 
century. He built the brick house on Central avenue, known now as the 
John P. Hale house, and resided there until he removed to Boston about 
1840. The first cotton factory was located at the falls two miles up the river, 
and e\er since known as "Upper Factory." 

Hon. Thomas E. Sawyer was a noted man in many ways. A lawyer by 
profession, a politician by instinct and popular with his fellow citizens. He 
held various town offices. He was first elected Representative in 1832, and 
again at ten annual elections, the last year being in 1850. Mr. Sawyer was 
a Whig all those years. In 1851 the ^^ big party nominated him as its candi- 
date for Governor. In his own town he received 719 votes; Samuel Dins- 
moor, 472 ; John Atwood, 52. There was no choice by the people, the vote 
standing Dinsmoor, Democrat, 24,425; Sawyer, Whig, 18,458; Atwood, Free 
Soil, 12,049. '^'^^- Sawyer was again the Whig nominee for Governor in 1852, 
and his Democratic opponent was also a Dover man. Dr. Noah Martin. The 
vote in Dover this year was. Sawyer jz^i,; Martin 491; John Atwood 126. 
In the state i\Iartin had 30,807; Sawyer, 19,850; x\twood 9,479, and Martin 
was elected. The political contest in Dover that year was red hot. There 
was nothing like it until the Civil war l>egan. Mr. Sawyer was member of 
the school committee more years than any other man who served on the 
board. The Sawyer grammar school was named for him. Mr. Sawyer was 
the second mayor of Dover. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 211 

Dr. Noah Martin, as above mentioned, was cliosen Governor in 185 1 and 
1852. At that time he had been a prominent citizen and successful physician 
for more than a quarter of a century. He died in 1863. During his active J 
career he held various positions of trust. 

lion. William Hair, who was born in Portsmouth in 1764, and died in 
Dover in 1848. At his death, in his eighty-fourth year, he was Dover's oldest, 
wealthiest, and most respected citizen. He was Representative in Congress, 
1809-1811, and four years, 1813-1817, and at different times filled the offices 
of Representative. Senator and Councillor under the state government. His 
Father, Maj. Samuel Hale, commanded a company of Dover soldiers at the 
siege and capture of Louisburg. 



CHAPTER XIX 

HISTORY OF SO.MERSWORTH (I) 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME 

In considering the liistory of tlie interesting and enterprising town and 
city of Somersworth, it seems proper to bear in mind that up to 1754 Somers- 
worth was a locahty in Dover: furthermore, up to 1849, RolHnsford was 
Somersworth and its history will be so considered, its individual history 
beginning only fifty- four years ago. 

For nearly a century, when the name Dover appears in the records, it 
means the settlement on and around ^Meeting House Hill, on Dover Neck, 
as it is now called. All other settlements were simply localities in Dover. 
For a correct understanding of where land grants were made by the town 
to individuals, these localities had to have names. The origin of the names 
of some of these places was somewhat facetious. It was not long after 1637 
that they l)egan to come into use. These are samples: Cochecho in Dover: 
Bloody Point in Dover: Oyster River in Dover: Summersworth in Dover, etc. 

Of course, the inhabitants not being numerous and the Indians not being 
specially friendly, the settlers advanced slowly and prudently, for their own 
sake, into the unbroken wilderness. The first settlements in Somersworth, 
for these reasons, did not begin until about 1700, and those were along the 
rivers Newichawannock and the Salmon Falls. And they gave it the local 
name "Sligo," which it retains to this day. It is said, and no doubt correctly, 
that some of the earliest settlers there were immigrants from Sligo in Ireland 
and they gave the name of their old home to the new home on the Newicha- 
wannock river. 

Miss Mary P. Thompson, in lier book, "Landmarks in Ancient Dover," 
says: "The name now given to the district in l-iollinsford. below Ouamphe- 
gan, appears to have been originally given to the garrison that stood above 
St. Alban's Cove, not far from the Newichawannock shore." It is men- 
tioned, March 29. 1708. when Jethro Furber conveyed to Benjamin W'ea- 
mouth twenty acres of land "at or near a place called Slic/oc'x Garrison, be- 
tween the highway and the lots formerly David Hamilton's and Nicholas 

212 



AND REPRESENTATIXE CITIZENS 213 

Curren's, fronting on the Newichawannock river, being the lot originally 
granted to Henry Magoon, who sold it to William Laton, by whom it was 
sold to Edward Cowell, 'grandfather of the donor.' Richard Hussey, Feb- 
ruary 25, 1710, conveyed to Benj. Weymouth thirty acres of land 'at a gar- 
rison called Sligoc' Benj. Weymouth, February i, 17 17, conveyed to Ben- 
jamin Weymouth. Jr.. thirty acres of land originally granted to Richard 
Hussey, 'lying and being at a garrison called Sligo,' bounded north by Joseph 
Roberts' land, east by said Weymouth, south by 'a lott called Carroll's,' and 
west by the Commons." : 

The exact site of this garrison is not known, but it is mentioned. May 
9, 1709, as on the east side of the highway from St. Alban's Cove to Ouam- 
phegan, between Lieut. Hatevel Nutter's house and that of Sylvanus Nock. 
This land is now owned by the Gar\in family. The name of the Sligo gar- 
rison soon extended to the surrounding district. Eleazer and Sarah Wyer 
conveyed to Eleazer Wyer, Jr.. September 25. 1738, twenty acres of land, 
with two dwelling houses and a barn thereon, "at place formerly called 
Sligo, bounded N. by the land of Sylvanus Nock, E. by the Newichawannock 
river, and S. and W. by Benj. Weymouth's land. The town of Somersworth 
voted April 5. 1756. two years after it became a town, that a 'school be kept 
three months at Sligo.' " 

Sligo was doubtless so called from the to«n of that name in Ireland, 
"Sligo town that lies so snug at the foot of Knocknaria." The name is said 
to be (leri\-ed from the Irish word silgcach, which signifies a shelly river, or 
a place where shells are deposited. The Sligo garrison is said to have been 
built by a member of the Stack] )oIe family, a descendant of James Stackpole, 
the immigrant. The name may have been given out of compliment to the 
Earl of Bellomont, who was appointed Governor of the Province of New 
Hampshire in 1699. He was born in Sligo, Ireland, in 1636. Orders from 
King William were sent to him January 19. 1701, to build such forts at 
Pascataqua, and elsewhere as were necessary for security [N. H. Prov. Papers, 
Vol. 3. page 130I. His political and religious principles naturally recom- 
mended him to the favor of our colonists, and he is said to have been very 
popular during his short administration. He was the grandson of Sir Charles 
Coots, a noted ruler in Ireland under the reign of Charles I, and he himself 
was one of the first to espouse the cause of William of Orange, who rewarded 
him with the title of earl, and appointed him Governor of New York, Massa- 
chusetts and New Hampshire. 

The St. Alban's Cove spoken of in connection with Sligo garrison, is on 
the \vestern shore of the Newichawannock next below Ouamphegan brails, at 
South Berwick. The first mention of it on record appears in a grant of the 
mill privilege on Fresh Creek, February 5, 1652. The name is said to have 



214 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTV 

been given by Judge John Tuttle of Dover, whose father, Julni Tuttle, came 
from Great St. Alban's, Hertfordshire, England. This is the earhest name 
of the Cove, and should l)e preserved. .\ later name is Style's Co\e. 

The first settlement back from the river was at what is now the junction 
of the Boston & Maine railroad ami tlie branch road from the city of Somers- 
worth. It began about 1700. It soon grew to a prosperous hamlet. The 
households were at quite a distance from the meeting house in Dover ; they 
had to travel down the Newichauannock river in their boats to attend service 
on the Lord's Day. To save travel it was arranged for the minister of the 
First Church, or some one of his assistant elders to go there and hold meet- 
ings in a barn, in warm weather, where all could attend, old and young. As 
these meetings were held in the summer time, and the lijcalitv had no name, 
so somebody, perhaps Rev. John I'ike, suggested the name Siiiiiiiic'rszi'orth. 
According to Dr. Samuel Johnson, whose large dictionary was published in 
1755, Siuiniirr is a Saxon word for the warm months of the year, and xvorth, 
in the termination of the names of places, means a "court or farm, or a street 
or road." And "court" is defined as "an open space l>efore a house; a small 
opening enclosed with houses, distinguished from a street." The abo\-e are 
the meanings (jf the words as those settlers understood tlu- King's English. 
That is to say, when the Rev. John Pike, minister of the First Church, on 
Meeting House Hill. Dover, came here to hold meetings in the summer time, in 
somebody's house or barn, or maybe out of doors, he would say he was going 
up to Suiiuucrxworth. that is, to Summer-town. Mr. Pike was a graduate 
of Harvard College ; he knew the English language thoroughly, hence it may 
be fairly presumed he originated the name as a matter of convenience. 

However that may be, as to the authorship of the name this little hamlet 
of A. D. 1700 had grown into a respectable village in 1729 and the inhab- 
itants addressed the General Court of the Province, asking that their section 
of the town might be established into a parish for the purpose of organizing 
a regular all-jear-round church service. The petition is as follows, and shows 
that the name Sitinnicrsu'orth was then the common and accepted name of the 
settlement. The result of this petition appears in the following copy from 
an old book, which has on its cover the words, 

"summers WORTH RECORD.S" 

Anno 

Regni -Regis Georgii secuudi 

Tertio 

An 

Act 

for setting off the northeast end of the Town of Dover and erecting a Parish 
by the name of Summersworth. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 215 

Whereas tlie northeast eml or part of tlie town of Do\'er is competently 
filled with Inhabitants who labor nnder great difficnlties by their remoteness 
from the jilace of public worship, and have thereupon addressed the Court 
that' they may be set off a distinct Parish and lie vested Powers and Priv- 
iliges accordingly. 

Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant Covernor Council and Repre- 
sentatives in General Assembly Convened and by the authority of the same 
that the Northeast part of Do\'er as hereafter is bounded & described be 
and hereby is sett off a District and Separate Parish by the name of 
Summersworth. 

The liound of said Parish to be as follows; (viz.) Beginning at the mouth 
of Fresh Creek and to run as the creek runs to the way that goes over said 
creek, or at the head of the creek where the way goes over and from thence 
as the way now goes to the southerly side of Varney's Hill (Garrison Hill) 
to Ebenezer V'arney's land, and then to an oak tree over the end of said hill, 
which is a white oak tree marked, standing aljout two or three rods from a 
spring, and from thence on a northwest and by north point of the compass 
to the head of Dover bounds, and that the inhabitants of said lands be vested 
with all the privile,ges and Powers of a Parish to chuse officers for the well 
re,gulating of the same, and raise money from time to time for defraying the 
charges of the minister, school & poor Provided the Inhabitants of the said 
Parish do within the space of one year from the date of this .\ct, erect and 
finish a credable house for the Public Worship of God, and procure and settle 
a learned Orthodo.x Minister of Good Conversation and make 'iroxision for 
his Comfortable and honourable Support. 

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that Capt. Paul 
W'entworth, Mr. Thomas Wallingford & Mr. John Ricker be the first Select- 
men of said Parish, for the calling and assembling the said Parish in order 
to chuse the proper Parish officers for the year ensuing. 

Dec. ig, 1729, Read three times in the House of Representatives & past 
to be enacted. 

Theo. Atkinson Speaker pro Temp. Eod. die Read three times at the 
Council Board and past to be Enacted. 

Richd \\'aldron Cler. Con. I assent to the Enacting this Bill. 

J. Wentworth. 

True Copy 

Rich. Waldron Cler. Cons. 

A true entry of the aforegoing 
Copy per 

Thomas IMiller, Parish Clerk. 

This will suffice to show the origin of the name which is unique among 
all the towns in the United States. There is no other Summersworth or 
Somersworth, as it is now spelled. It is also peculiarly appropriate. From 
its magnificent Prospect Hill is presented a beautiful and diversified scenery 
of mountains, valley and shore. 



CHAPTER XX 
HISTORY OF SOMERSWORTH (H) 

MINISTERS AND THE PARISH 

In the preceding chapter was given an explanation of the origin of the 
unique name, Siiiiniwrsicortli, and the act of incorporation of that parish in 
Dover. The record of the first parish meeting under tiiis act is as follows : 

To the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Parish of Summersworth : 

Greeting : 

These are to give notice of a Parish meeting to be held at the Meeting 
House in the Parish of Summersworth on Wednesday next, the 7th of this 
instant January at 10 of the clock before noon to choose Parish officers for 
the year ensuing as the Law directs, and all persons are desired to give their 
attendance at that time and place, dated at Summersworth, January Second. 
January 1729/30. 

Paul Wentworth 
Thomas \VALLiNGF0Rn 

JOHX RiCKER 

Selectmen. 
A true entry of the original 

warrant per Thomas Miller, Par. Cler. 

At a parish meeting held at the meeting house in Summersworth pursuant 
to the above warrant on Wednesday. January 7, 1729-30. 

Paul Wentworth, Esq., Moderator. 

Doct. Thomas Miller, Parish Clerk; Paul Wentworth, Esq., Thomas Wal- 
lingford and John Ricker, parish selectmen, and Mr. James Hobbs was chosen 
collector of the parish assessments. 

A true entry of the parish officers as they were elected, as attests. 

Thomas Miller, Parish Clerk. 

This shows that they had their meeting house nearly completed when the 
act of incorporation was passed, December 19, 1729: probably it had been 

216 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 217 

ill use for some time before, but how long before does not appear. The parish 
officers were elected January 7, and they immediately issued the following 
notice : 

To the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Parish of Summersworth: 

These are to give notice of a I'arish meeting to be held at the Meeting 
House in Summersworth on Monday, the 12th of this instant January at ten 
of the clock before noon to give Mr. James Pike a call to the work of the 
ministry amongst us and to make him proposals for his settlement therein, 
and also to choose a committee to wait on him and offer the same for his 
acceptance, all persons concerned are desired to give their attendance at time 
and place before mentioned. 

Summersworth January loth 1729/30. 



A true entry per Thomas Miller, Par. Cler. 



Paul Wentworth 
Jonx Kicker 

Selectmen. 



At a parish meeting held at the meeting house in Summersworth in con- 
formity to the above warrant on Monday, January 12, 1729-30. 

Paul Wentworth, Esq., was chosen Moderator. Voted that Mr. James 
Pike be invited to be the settled minister of this parish and be called thereto 
and that his annual salary be one hundred and thirty pounds — and also 
twenty acres of land as near the meeting house as it can conveniently be got, 
to be his forever if he continues the parish minister till his death, and one 
hundred pounds for his settlement. 

Also voted that Ensign Jno. Tibbetts, Mr. William Wentworth. Mr. 
Maurice Hobbs, Mr. Jerem. Rawlings, Mr. Elienezer Wier, Mr. James 
Guppy. Mr. Samuel Jones, and Mr. Phillip Yeaton, with the present select- 
men, wait on Mr. James Pike and offer the above proposals to his considera- 
tion and acceptance and that he be desired to gi\'e his answer in writing as 
soon as he can with conveniency. 

It was also \oted at the same meeting that all votes passed, or officers 
chosen by holding up of the hand, shall be as authentic to the full as if the 
same were done by writing. 

A true entry of the parish votes as they were passed in the parish meeting 
in- mi 111 confradicciito. 

As attests: Tho.m.ns Milij-:r. Parish Clerk. 

A list of the persons that voluntarily gave land towards the settlement of 
a minister in the Parish of Summersworth, as they gave the same on Wednes- 
day, January 7, 1729-30, each man one acre: Paul Wentworth, Esq., Mr. 
Jeremiah Rawlings, Mr. Thomas Downs, Mr. Lo\e Roberts, Mr. Thomas 



218 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



Nock, .Mr. Saimicl Ivandlu, .Mr. TIidiikis Wallingford, Mr. Joscpli Kicker, 
Mr. Zachariah Xnck. Mr. Siixanus Xock, Mr. Gersliom Weiitworth, Mr. 
John kicker, Mr. I'.enjainin Tv, uiiilily. 

Following is Mr. Pike's response to the committee that was appointed to 
wait on him and inform him of the action of the parish. The parish clerk's 
record says that at the parish meeting March 9, 1730: 

Mr, James Pike, appearing personally at the meeting, desired that at the 
expiration of two years he may have sixteen or twenty cord of good firewood 
to be hauled to his door to be added to his salary. 

Unanimously voted that Mr. James Pike shall have ten cord of wood 
to be hauled to his door for the first two years, and after his ordination twenty 
cord yearly to be hauled to his door, the whole time of his being the parish 
minister. 

Mr. Pike also desired that there be an alteration of the vote passed Janu- 
ary 12, 1729-30, whereby twenty acres of land was given him to be given 
him forever if he continues the parish minister till his death. 

Voted that the beforementioned \ote run thus — and twenty acres of land 
as near the meeting house as it can conveniently be got to be Mr. James Pike's 
forever, but if he leave the people on his own default, or without a sufficient 
reason, then the said land is to return to the parish. 

With the additional vote of the firewood and the alteration of the vote 
of January 12, last, IMr. James Pike did z'iz'a voce in the parish meeting ac- 
cept of the call from this parish. 

At the same meeting a committee was appointed "to agree with a man 
or men to build the stairs and seats in the upper part of the meeting house 
and also to set a valuation on the places for pews and make report thereof to 
the parish for confirmation," 

The record contains : 

A list of the persons to whom tlie privilege for pews belong as they were 
drawn by lot on March 17, 1729-30. 



Number i Phillip Yeaton 

2 Samuel Randle 

3 Jeremiah Rawlings 

4 Gershom W'entwurth 

5 Thomas Wallingford 

6 Love Roberts 

7 Ministerial 

8 Joseph Ricker 



Number 9 Benjamin Twombly 

10 Thomas Downs 

11 Richard Wentworth 

12 John Tibbetts 

13 Joshua Roberts 

14 Zachariah Nock 

15 Paul Wentworth, Esq. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 219 

At a town meeting held in tlie meeting house on Pine Hill, Dover, May 
4, 1730, it was voted to grant to the Parish of Summersworth "ten acres of 
land for the settlement of a minister amongst them and twenty acres for 
a parsonage; if it be found in common within their parish." The land was 
found and properly laid out by the Dover lot layers. 

Mr. Pike commenced conducting services at once, but was formally or- 
dained Octolier 29. 1730, at which time the following clergymen officiated: 
Rev. Jeremiah Wise of Berwick, Rev. John Tuffts of Newbury, Rev. Jona- 
than Gushing of Cochecho (in Dover), Rev. Jno. Rogers of Kittery, and 
Rev. Joseph Adams of Newington, with t\^•o messengers from each of said 
churches. 

Mr. Pike was not an unknown preacher in Summersworth before it was 
set off as a parish ; this fact appears by a \ote at a parish meeting Decem- 
ber 6, 173.': 

Voted that Rev. Mr. James Pike have thirty pounds paid him the ensuing 
year more than his stated salary to make up his former arrearages for his 
preaching to the people of said parish before his settlement amongst them. 
It is stated that he began to preach there August ij, 1727, but was not or- 
dained until three years later. He preachetl his first sermon October 23, 1726: 
he preached his last one Octoljer 31, 1790, ha\ing Ijeen in continuous service 
in the ministry sixty-four years. 

Rev. James Pike was born in Newbury, Mass., March i, 1703; he died 
at the parsonage in Somersworth March 19, 1792, aged eighty-nine years; 
he was son of Joseph and Hannah ( Smith ) and grandson of Joseph and 
Susanna (Kingsbury) Pike, who was son of John Pike, the immigrant who 
came to Newbury in 1635. Rev. James Pike graduated from Harvard Col- 
lege in T725, in the same class with Re\'. Dr. Mather Byles of Boston, and 
Rev. Timothy Walker, first minister of Concord, N. H. Soon after he grad- 
uated he came to Berw'ick, now South Berwick, and taught the first grammar 
school ever opened in that town. The next year, 1726, he commenced preach- 
ing, as opportunity came to hand, and he began in Somersworth in August, 
1727. He was a great preacher and a good manager in parish affairs. He 
had no quarrels with his people. 

The Congregationalist Journal, puljlishcd at Concord, N. H., January 
10, 1850, says: "Near the junction of ( Bostona) Maine and Great Falls 
Railroad, stands an ancient but well-preserved house with three venerable 
elms in front. In that house lived and died the first minister of Somers- 
worth, and these elms were borne from the forest on his shoulder and planted 
where they stand by his hand." 

It is of interest to note here that the house was built about 1730, and 



220 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was burned to tlie gromul in 1903, the owner at that time l)eing Judge Robert 
G. Pike, a great-great grandson of the Rev. James. Two of these ehns are 
completely gone, but part "{ one still lives, after ha\ing l>een struck by light- 
ninsT se\eral times, and was somewhat scorched when the house was acci- 
dentally burned with valuable family heirlooms and things of historical 
interest. 

Rev. James Pike married, August 26, 1730, Sarah, daughter of Nicholas 
and Sarah (Clark) Gilman of Exeter. It is a singular coincidence that they 
both died on the same day, jNIarch 19, 1792, ha\'ing lived together in married 
life sixty years. They had a family of se\'en children. The fifth was Nich- 
olas, born October 6, 1743; graduated from Harvard College, 1766; taught 
school at York, Me., and afterwards at Newburyport, Mass. In 1788 he pub- 
lished his arithmetic, which was in use in schools a great many years. The 
writer of this has one of the copies of the edition of 1788, and it is well 
preserved. He endowed a scholarship at Andovcr. Mass. Mr. Pike was a 
justice of the peace for more than fifty years. He was one of the great 
mathematicians of his age. 

Amos W. Pike, Esq., a great grandson of the Reverend James, who in- 
herited and resided at the ancestral homestead, wrote of his ancestor as 
follow s : 

"His parish was very large, extending throughout what is Somersworth 
and Rollinsford, and it was his custom yearly to visit every home in the whole 
town, of whatever denomination or belief, and to tarry all night with the one 
at whose doorstep evening found him. The Quakers, so generally disliked 
at that time, welcomed him with delight, and when the rising sun bade him 
journey on, the Quaker friend would say, 'r>iend Pike, I thank thee for this 
\'isit, and am happier for having seen thee.' 

"The interests of the people were so interwoven with his life and heart 
that at the time of the Revolutionary war, when want and suftering stared 
so many in the face, he cut his meagre salary down to the purse of his people, 
which amounted to the \alue of about eight bushels of corn a year, and during 
the most trying period he would receive nothing from his parishioners, li\ing 
upon the income of his own farm, and ministering more, if possible, to the 
w ants of his people. He was the common scrivener for the whole parish ; 
when they wanted any legal papers drawn they called on him to write them. 
Hardly a legal document during that period was made out in any other hand- 
writing than his own. 

"When W'hitefield came to this country in 1744 he was the guest of Mr. 
Pike for several days and preached in the meeting house one Sunday. 

"A ludicrous instance of his settling a dispute is handed down. He and 



A\D REPRESENTATI\-E CITIZEXS 221 

a brother minister were out walking and came upon two men wlio were fight- 
ing. The two divines conferred as to the best way to part them and preserve 
the peace. It was finaUy agreed that each should take one of the coinbatants 
and bear him away. The Reverend James unclenched his man and carried 
him off on his shouklers, struggling and kicking, and his brother minister did 
the same with the other disturber uf the peace. Thus tliey ended the fight. 
The Rev. James Pike was a very strong, athletic person, and in his full man- 
hood venerable and imposing. Imbued with a deep piety and a truly Chris- 
tian spirit, his unselfish nature spent itself in w(.)rking for the welfare of 
others. Nor did he cease his work until age had laid its blighting force upon 
his brow, at four score and seven, and the stately form was laid in its final 
resting place at the age of eighty-nine years. His funeral sermon was 
preached by the Rev. Moses Hemmingway, D. D,, from the text, Rev. xi, lo: 
'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' " 

Mr. Pike's successor was Rev. Pearson Thurston, who served as minister 
from February i, 179J, till December 2, 1812. He was a graduate of Dart- 
mouth College. His successor was Re\-. Luke Spofford, who remained but a 
short time, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Blodgett. In 1824 Mr. Reu- 
ben Porter became pastor and served two years, and also preached at the 
village of Great Falls ; and when the "First Congregational Society of Great 
Flails" was organized in January, 1827. he was called to be their minister. He 
accepted the call and served them one year. Mr. Porter was the last regular 
minister of this first parish church. In 1827 its membership had decreased 
to five, and in 1829 to two. Preaching in the old meeting house ceased. 
Business and church centered at Great Falls, in Somersworth. 

As already stated, the First Congregational Church at Great Falls, con- 
sisting of eight members, was organized on January 16, 1827. Their first 
meetings were held in a schoolhouse. Their first minister was Reuben Porter. 
The next was Rev. Josiah T. Hawes, who served from January, 1828, to 
January, 1830. The meeting house was built in 1828, and Rev. Dr. I.yman 
Beecher delivered the dedicatory sermon in August, tliat year. Mr. William 
Twining succeeded Mr. Hawes as preacher, serving two years, and increased 
the membership very much. Rev. James A. Smith became the next minister 
in 1832 and remained four years. Mr. Smith's successor, Avho remained not 
quite a year, was Rev. Alfred Goldsmith. The Rev. John R. Adams began 
his labors with the church, as acting pastor, in September, 1838, and remained 
two years and four months. His successor, Rev. Samuel Beane. was or- 
dained July 7, 1 84 1 : di.smissed Alay, 1844, The seventh pastor. Rev. lames 
T. McCallom, was installed October, 1844; dismissed December, 1853. Rev. 
James B. Thurston was acting pastor during 1844. Rev. George Anthony 



222 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was ordained October 3, 1855, and served until i860. His successor was 
Rev. Horatio O. Butterfield. who was installed May 2t„ 1861, and served 
four years. The Rev. Ephraini N. Hidden, the eleventh pastor, was installed 
January 5, 1865: dismissed December 30, 1869. Twelfth pastor. Rev. Clark 
Carter, was installed April 27, 1870; dismissed June, 1872. Thirteenth was 
Re\-. Stephen V,'. Webb, who ser\ed eight years. During his pastorate the 
meeting house was remodeled and enlarged. In making these changes a 
pleasant and commodious vestry was furnished. Since that date the church 
has been supplied with very able pastors and lias flourished to the present time. 

THE HIGH STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY 

The High Street Methodist Episcopal Society was organized September 
22, 1827, with the following members: Alfred French, Charles Lewis, 
Moses Bates, David Minor, Simon Hall, Bartlett Hall, Christopher C. Wal- 
cott, John G. Chase. Thomas T. Edgerly, John Home and George W. 
Edgerly. 

The first Methodist sermon preached in what was known as Great Falls, 
was at the house of Gershom Home in 181 7, by the Rev. John Lord, then 
laboring on the Rochester circuit, which embraced Dover, Somersworth, 
Berwick and several other towns. Mr. Home and family at this time were 
the chief proprietors of the territory that is now occupied by the compact 
part of the city. In 1825 the Rev. J. N. Mofiitt, pastor at Dover, held occa- 
sional services here at an unfinished house on Bridge street. The first class 
was organized in 1826 and consisted of eight persons. The first settled min- 
ister was the Rev. Giles Campbell, who served the lawful Methodist terms of 
years and was succeeded by the Rew .\aron D. Sargent, in the beginning of 
whose ministrv services were first held in an unfinished room in one of the 
mills, but he was an enthusiastic leader and soon measures were taken for 
the erection of a meeting house, which was completed and dedicated in Sep- 
tember, 1828. The dedication sermon was delivered by the Rev. Stephen 
Martindale of Boston. The society was then in a flourishing condition, and 
has since then maintained a first class standing among the churches of the 
Methodist Episcopal Conference of which it is a member. 

I'^illuwing is a list of ministers who have presided over this church during 
the first half century of its legal organization: The Reverends Giles Camp- 
bell. Aaron D. Sargent, Benjamin R. Hoyt, George Storrs, John F. Adams, 
Daniel S. Robinson, Samuel Morris, Joseph Dearborn, Eleazer Smith, Elihu 
Scott. James W. Mowry, Daniel S. Robinson, Silas Green, Henry W. Adams, 
Samuel Kelley, Elisha Adams, Moses Howe, James Pike, Charles N. Smith, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 223 

H. H. Hartwell, R. S. Rust, S. Holman, Richard Humphrey, C. S. Harring- 
ton, A. J. Church, John H. Lord, Charles Young, Daniel C. Babcock, O. H. 
Jasper, C. U. Dunning, J. W. Adams, H. Woodward, W. E. Bennett and 
R. L. Green. In this list are the names of some of the most distinguished 
ministers of New Hampshire during tliat period. 



13 



CHAPTER XXI 
HISTORY OF SOMERSWORTH (III) 

THE TOWN AND THE CITY 

The first recorded movement toward changing from a parish in Dover to 
separate town was in December, 1743, when the parish "voted that Thomas 
WalHngford, Esq., and Mr. Benjamin Mason be agents to prosecute a peti- 
tion in behalf of the Parish of Summersworth in order that said parish may 
obtain the benefits and privileges of a town." 

Nothing came of it, however, and there is no record of any other until 
that of 1753, which proved to be successful. The last parish meeting was 
held in 1754, and the end of the record of it has the following: "An end of 
ye parish Parish Records, 1734." The next page of the same book contains 
the following words: "The Beginning of Ve Town Records, 1754-" The 
first entry is the charter of the town ; the people petitioned to have their town 
named Summersworth, but Theodore Atkinson, the Province Secretary, or 
some one in authority, in drawing up the bill spelled the name wrong — Som- 
erszi'orth — the name of the parish was never spelled that way, but always 
Su)H)ucrszi.'orlIi. The charter is as follows: 

Anno Regni Georgii Secundi Magnae Britanae Franciae et Hiberniae Vicis- 

simo Septimo. 

[L — 8] An act for erecting the Parish of Somersworth in this Province 
into a Township. 

Whereas ye Inhabitants of said Parish by their agents have petitioned by 
the said Parish which was made by an act of Assembly by metes and bound 
might be made a Tow n by ye same limit & Boundaries of ye Parish represent- 
ing by it would be of considerable advantage to them and no Detriment to ye 
Town of Dover of which they are now a Part upon which ye said Town have 
been heard by their agents & offering no material objection — 

Be it therefore Enacted by ye Governor and Council and Assembly and by 
ye authority of the same it is hereby Enacted & ordained Jjy all ye Poles and 
Estates within ye bounds of said Parish shall be and hereby are severed & 
separated from ye said Town of Dover and shall not from time forward l^e 
adjudged & taken for a Part of sd. Town but shall be wholly Exonerated & 
Exempted of & from all taxes. Charges & Duties within ye same & as a part 

224 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 225 

of said Tuwn and the said I'oles & Estates are hereby Enacted & Incorporated 
into a town by ye Name of Somerswortli and ye Inhabitants thereof shall be 
& hereby are Enabled to take. Purchase tS: hold any estate to them or tiieir 
successors forever by that name, as also thereby to give, grant, sell and con- 
vey ye same, to sue & be sued, to Prosecute & Defend & have Perpetual Suc- 
cession and continuance forever and ye said Corporation is hereby invested 
with all Immunities, Franchises, rights & Privileges liv law granted to any 
Town in this Pro\ince. 

Provided nevertheless yt. nothing in the Act shall be construed and 
Deemed to Discharge ye said Poles & Estates as part of ye Town of Dover 
and from their Proportion of any Damage which may hereafter happen to 
said Town by reason of any former grant of land. Contract or other act what- 
soever done by said Town or anyway relate to or affect the right. Property 
or manner of Improving, Dividing, or Disposing of any Common and un- 
divided land in said Town. 

Pro\'ided also that ye said Town of .Somerswortli is hereby directed & 
enjoined always to keep & maintain a good bridge fit for carts to pass & re- 
pass over Newichwannock ri\'er at SaluKin Falls or Ouamphegon so called 
within this Province from ye Charge of which ye said Town of Dover shall 
be entirely exempted so long as said town shall keep and maintain a good 
bridge as aforesaid over Cochecho river & no longer — and Thomas Walling- 
ford, Esq., Capt. John Wentworth & Mr. Moses Stevens are hereby appointed 
and authorized to call ye first meeting of qualified voters in ye said Town of 
Somerswortli according to law to be held there sometime in ye month of 
May next as ye Persons above named shall appoint to choose all Town officers 
as ye Law directs — and all after meetings of said voters to be according to 
ye Directions of said Province in such cases Provided, the annual meeting 
for ye choice of Town officers forever hereafter in ye said Town to be on 
ye second Tuesday in March. 

Province of New Hampshire 

In the House of Representatives April i8, 1754, the foregoing bill having 
been three times read, voted yt. it Pass to be Enacted. 

Meshech W'e.xre, Speaker. 

In Council April 226. 1754. 

The foregoing Bill read a third time Passed to be Enacted. 

Theodore Atkinson, Secry. 

In Council Eadem Die Consented to 

B. Wentworth. 

Copy ex md Theodore Atkinson, Secry. 

Thus on April 22, 1754, the Parish of Summersworth became the Town 
of Somerswortli. by reason of a careless spelling, by Theodore Atkinson, sec- 
retary of the province. The agents who presented the petition never asked for 



226 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

any change in spelling: they had i>etitioned for and thought they had ob- 
tained a charter for the Town of Summersworth, as appears from their no- 
tice calling the first town-meeting. That notice was as follows : 

Whereas the Parish of Summersworth have sometime since Petitioned 
the General Assembly of this Province by their agents in order to be made a 
Town separate from ye Town of Dover & vested with all Town Privileges, 
and whereas said General Assembly has granted ye Prayer of said Petition 
appointing us ye subscribers to call a Town Aleeting — 

These are therefore to give Notice to ye Freeholders & other Inhabitants 
of ye Town of Summersworth by law cpialified to vote in Public Town-meet- 
ing that there will be a meeting held at ye meeting-house in Summersworth 
aforesaid on Tuesday the fourteenth day of this Instant May at one of ye 
clock in ye afternoon To Choose all Town officers for ye ensuing year as ye 
Law Directs. All persons concerned are desired to give their attendance 
promptly at ye Time above mentioned. 
Dated at Summersworth ist May 1754. 
Per order ye General Assembly. 

Thomas Wallingford. 
John Wentworth, 
Moses Stevens. 
By order of ye Selectmen, Moses Carr, Parish Cler. 

The record of the first town-meeting is here given and shows who were 
the men prominent in town affairs. 

"At a Town-meeting held at ye meeting-house in Somersworth on Tues- 
day, ye 14th day of May, 1751. Pursuant to warrant by virtue of an act of 
General Assembly. 

"Capt. John Wentworth was chosen Moderator of 2d Meeting, Doctr. 
Moses Carr, Town Clerk; Col. Thomas Wallingford first selectman, Capt. 
James Hobbs, second selectman, Capt. John Wentworth, 3d Selectman. Mr. 
Charles Baker & Capt. William Wentworth assessors. Mr. Richard Philpot. 
Mr. Francis Roberts I\Ir. Samuel .Austin Commissioners. Mr. Amos How- 
ard Constable. Mr. Daniel Goodwin & Ensign Benj. Tvvombly, Tythingmen. 
Capt. Archd. Smith, Mr. Eliphlet Cromwell, Mr. Moses Stevens, Mr. Samuel 
Jones & Ensign Icabod Rawlings, surveyor of highways. Mr. Eliphlet Crom- 
well, Mr. Ebenezer Wentworth & Mr. Thomas Whitehouse, Field Drivers. 
Thomas Whitehouse, .Abraham Mimmee, Richd. Downs & Sanniel Horn. 
Hogreeves, Moses Stevens, Pound-keeper. Lt. Benja. Wentworth & Mr. 
Benja. Weymouth, fence viewers. Dea. Gershom Wentworth & Air. Philip 
Stack-pole, overseer of Ye Poor. Mr. Elisha Andrews. Surveyor of lumber. 
Mr. Moses Tibbetts, Leather Sealer. 

"At ye above meeting Col. Thos. Wallingford declared yt. he freely gave 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 227 

to ye Town of Soniersworth ye charge of mentling \-e nieeting-hduse Bell, 
upon which ye Town \oted thanks. 

"A true entry By Moses Carr, Town Cler." 

The complete record of the last meeting of the Parish of Sumniersworth 
is as follows : 

To the Freeholders & other Inhabitants belonging to ye Parish of Sum- 
mersworth. These are to give notice of a meeting to be held at ye Meeting- 
house in Summersworth on Monday ye fourth Day of March Next ensuing 
ye Date hereof at one of ye clock, aftermion. Then and there to choose 
all Parish officers for ye ensuing year as ye Law Directs and also to consider 
and do what may be thought proper Respecting ye Rev. Mr. Pike's Salary. AH 
persons concerned are desired to give their attendance at time and place. 

Dated at Summersworth ye 20th of Feby. 1754. 

By order of ye Selectemen, Moses Carr, Parish Cler. 

At a Parish meeting held at ye meeting-house Pursuent to ye preceding 
warrant on Monday ye Fourth Day of March 1754, Capt. John Wentworth 
was chosen moderator of sd meeting, Drctr Moses Carr Parish Clerk. The 
following gentlemen were chosen Selectmen for ye Present Year, viz, Capt. 
John Wenworth, Capt. James Hobbs & Dea. Gershom Wentworth. Voted 
Mr. Samuel Austin, Mr. Reichard Philpot & Mr. Francis Roberts Commis- 
sioners. Mr. Philip Stackpole choose to take an Inventory thro ye Parish & 
voted twenty shillings for the service. 

Voted Mr. Samuel Austin Twelve Pounds ten Shillings for keeping Rich- 
ard Hammock ye Present year. 

Voted Dr. Thomas Nock Twelve Pounds ten shillmgs for keeping Hugh 
Connor ye Present year. 

Voted Mr. Moses Stevens fifty shillings for Ringing ye Bell, sweeping & 
taking care of the Meeting-house the present year. 

Voted ye Revd. Mr. James Pike's salary one hundred & sixty pounds this 
year. 

A true entry Moses C.\rr, Parish Cler. 

Following is a list of the parish clerks. Dr. Thomas Miller was elected 
January 7, 1730, and served till December 6, 1732. Nathaniel Perkins, De- 
cember 6, 173.2, to December 15, 1735. Thomas Miller, from December 15, 
1735, to December 16, 1736. Benjamin Twombly, from December 6, 1736, 
to March i. 1747. Dr. Moses Carr. from March i. 1747. to March 14. 1754, 
the date of the first town-meeting. 

As soon as the new town got into full swing the spirit of improvements 
enthused the people and it manifested itself in various ways. The town 
needed new roads and began at once preparations for their construction. 
Following are samples of the most important of the highways : May 28, 
1754. the selectmen laid out a road from the bridge at Salmon Falls to the 
road to the "upper mill." May 23. 1755, they laid out the first road con- 
structed at Great Falls. It extended from wliere now is the Great Falls Bank 



228 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

over rros])ect Hill, down Horn's Hill by the John Roberts' place, to Forest 
Glade Cemetery, where it connected with the "Road yt. leads through the 
Pitch pine Plains to Cochecho." For more than sixty years that was the 
only highway to Great Falls. In 1764 they laid out the Rocky Hill road 
to Rochester line. In 1770 an attempt was made to have the town build a 
bridge between Great Falls and Berwick, but it was voted down in town 
meeting. 

In 177J the public institutions of Somersworth consisted of a meeting 
house, a schoolhouse. a grave yard, a training field and a pnund, all of which 
were located at the center of the town, where now is Rollinsford Junction. 
That year the inhabitants decided to build a new meeting house. It was 
built and in 1773 it was "voted that the committee pull down the old meeting 
house the new so far finished as to be comfortable & decent to attend worship 
in, and that they apply such of the old house to furnishing the new one as may 
answer well, and sell the rest at Public Vendue for the benefit of the Town." 
This house stood near where the old cemetery is at Rollinsford Junction. 

April 2?, 1782, the town "voted to join with Berwick in building a Bridge 
over the Mill Pond at Quamphego," and it was built that year. 

In 1783 a bridge was built between Berwick and Great Falls, Berwick to 
keep one-half in repair and Somersworth the other half. According to tra- 
dition, this first bridge at Great Falls was located nearly in the same place 
where the present bridge is; and the city of Somersworth and the town of 
Berwick "go halves" on keeping it in repair. 

At some period before 1807 a bridge was built across the river where 
now is the village of Salmon Falls, and March 10, of that year, the town 
voted to accept it and keep it in repair. This was the third bridge across 
the river in that town. 

In 1823 a new road was built to connect Great Falls village with Dover. 
It extended from the foot of Prospect street (the old road) to the old road 
south of the Carr place, so known. That road is the present High street of 
the city. The electric railway between Dover and Somersworth was located 
on this route in 1S89, and Budgett Park was laid out which now is known 
as Central Park. Another new road to Dover was laid out in 1837 by way 
of Green street. 

The first annual town meeting in Great Falls was held in the vestry under 
the Congregational meeting house, March 8, 1842: the annual meeting for 
March, 1843. "^^'^s held in the old meeting house, but the contest was on be- 
tween the old center of business and the village of Great Falls, which had 
become the more powerful. Special meetings were held, sometimes at the 
Falls, at other times at the old meeting house. At a special meeting January 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 229 

15, 1845, it was voted to build a town house at Great Falls at a cost not 
exceeding $4,000. An attempt was made at the following annual meeting 
in Alarch to reconsider this vote, but this was defeated by vote of 271 in 
favor and 344 opposed. The town house was built, and the annual meeting 
was held in it March 12, 1846. 

The dwellers in the neighborhood of the old parish meeting house were 
greatly dissatisfied and began to devise ways and means to divide the town. 
Salmon Falls, though a manufacturing village, was smaller than (Ircat b'alls, 
while the farmers in the Salmon Falls section were wealthy and occupied 
some of the best farms in the state. They and their ancestors had ruled 
the town and the parish for more than a century. It was humiliating for 
them to forsake the old meeting house at the center and come up to the out- 
skirts to town meeting. They would not stand that sort of treatment. So 
at the annual town meeting in March, 1849, one article in the warrant was 
as follows : 

"To see if the town will \ote for a division of Somersworth by a line 
commencing on Salmon Falls river at or near Fray's brook, so called, and 
rumiing westerly to the line of the town of Dover, near the house of Benja- 
min Hussy." This was defeated by a vote of 263 in favor and 364 against 
division. 

Although the minority were beaten in town meeting, their "mad" was up 
and their courage powerful. They took the question to the General Court 
in the follow ing June and their petition for division was granted. They gave 
it the name of Rollinsford for the reason that the Rollins family was quite 
numerous and were influential and powerful in support of the petition. 

A committee appointed by the General Court, consisting of George W. 
Nesmith, Thomas E. Sawyer and Josiah H. Flobbs, divided the property 
owned by both towns in common as follows : The town house, the woodlot, 
the town pound, the fire engine and salamander safe should be the property 
of Somersworth, and the "poor farm" and stock and other personal property 
thereon should be the property of Rollinsford. There were seven inmates 
at the farm ; the committee decided that Somersworth should take care of 
four of them, and Rollinsford three. Thus Rollinsford began its separate 
existence, and for sixty-four years has an honorable history of its ow-n. 

Somersworth continued to advance in improvements, and in an increase 
of its population. It established the Forest Glade Cemetery; it put sewers in 
its streets ; it lighted its streets and stores and residences with gas ; it put 
in electric light after 1889; it provided good schools and was a tidy, up-to-date 
town, and the citizens concluded they wanted to make it a city. They pe- 
titioned the Legislature and at the January session, 1893, an act was passed 



230 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

to establish the city of Somersworth, by virtue of which the town of Somers- 
worth became a city. I'ebruary 24, 1893. The first city election was held on 
the second Tuesday of March, 1893; the candidates for mayor were Franklin 
N. Chase, Democrat, and Christopher H. Wells, Republican. The vote in the 
wards was as follows: Ward one. Wells 155; Chase 147. Ward two, Wells 
157; Chase 112. Ward three, Wells 144; Chase 138. Ward four, Wells 58; 
Chase 147. Ward five, Wells 68; Chase 86. And Mr. Chase was elected by 
52 majority. The first city clerk was Fred L. Shapleigh. 

For seventy years the place where the compact part of the city of Som- 
ersworth is, was called and generally known as Great Falls ; nobody ever said 
they were going to Somersworth. No, they were going to Great Falls ; but 
when it came to changing from town to city government there was a revolt 
against calling it "City of Great Falls." The old historic name was restored, 
and we have city of Somersworth. It was astonishing how quickly the name 
Great Falls was dropped; it has never been used since 1893. Before that date, 
probably, half of the inhabitants did not know they lived in Somersworth. 
It was a happy change ; historic names should be presented. 



CHAPTER XXII 
HISTORY OF SOMERSWORTH (IV) 

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS 

Tlie first provision for a school in the new parish was made by the fol- 
lowing vote at a parish meeting, December ii, 1733: 

"Voted that the Selectmen have power to raise one hundred and ninety- 
fcmr pounds money, to pay Mr. Pike his salary, his firewood, the School, the 
Selectmen, Clerk & Collector." 

This money was probably raised, for July 2, 1734, the parish "voted that 
Hercules Mooney be the schoolmaster here for one month (viz.) from July 
4th to August 4th, 1734, next ensuing, at three pounds fifteen shillings i>er 
month. Voted that Capt. Thomas Wallingford and Mr. Philip Stackpole be 
the men that join with the Selectmen at the month's end, above, to agree 
with said Mooney, or any other suitable person to keep school in this Parish 
for the Residue of the summer and autumn." 

This was the first school committee of Somersworth, so far as the records 
show. 

At a parish meeting in 1735 it was "voted that Mr. Jno. Schrugham be 
schoolmaster for one month in this Parish at the Discretion of the Selectmen," 
also "voted that there be thirty pounds raised to defray the charge of a school 
this summer and autumn." 

COLONEL HERCULES MOONEY 

Nothing definite is known concerning John Schrugham, but the first 
schoolmaster, Hercules Mooney, has a record worth mentioning in this his- 
tory. He was a citizen of Durham for many years, but the last fifteen years 
of his life was spent in Holdemess, where he died in April, 1800, and his 
grave is marked by a rough slab of granite. He was colonel of a battalion 
of New Hampshire militia in the Revolutionary war. 

Colonel Mooney was born in Ireland about 17 10. He was of good family 
and well educated. He is said to have been tutor in a nobleman's family 

231 



2;{i) HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

in tliat country. He came to Dover in 1733, and the next year, July 4, 1734, 
he commenced teaching school in the parish of Summersworth in Dover, 
and was engaged there ahout a year. About 1737 he married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Benjamin Evans, and resided near "Barbadoes" " pond, on the 
"Littleworth" road, localities familiar to Dover people. He resided there 
about ten years, during which time his children, Obadiah, Benjamin. Jona- 
than and Elizabeth, were boni. During the time he also did more or less 
school teaching at "Cocheco" in Dover, and spent the rest of his time in vari- 
ous occupations which provided bread and butter. About 1750 he removed 
to Durham and engaged in teaching there. Previous to that date his wife 
died, and soon after he settled in Durham he married Mary Jones, widow of 
Lieut. Josei>h Jones of that town, and resided on the Jones farm, which 
later was the residence of Gorham W. Hoitt, Sheriff of Strafford county for 
several years, and which remained in possession of his family until the death 
ni his daughter. Miss Mary A. Hoitt, in 1912. The part of Durham in which 
this fanii is located was separated from that town in 1766 and made the 
parish of Lee. Colonel Mooney resided on that farm until his removal to 
Llolderness in 1785, of which town he was one of the grantees in 1761. 

Hercules Mooney was not only a good schoolmaster, but also a valiant 
soldier. In 1757 he received a captain's commission in Colonel Meserves' 
regiment, and took part in the expedition to Crown Point, his son, Benjamin, 
serving as ensign in his company. In 1758 this son Benjamin was first lieu- 
tenant in Capt. Thomas Tash's company at Crown Point. This son has a 
fine record, as also other sons of Colonel Mooney. 

The town records of Durham show that Col. Mooney held various town 
offices, besides being schoolmaster. He was assessor in 1762; selectman in 
1765; and that year headed the petition with ninety-nine other inhabitants 
of Durham to have the town divided into two parishes. In response to 
this petition, and favorable action by the town of Durham, the Provincial 
Government set off a part of Durham and incorporated it as the parish of 
Lee, January 6, 1766, with town privileges. Captain Mooney's farm being 
mostly on the Lee side of die division line, he taught school at Lee Hill 
village until the Revolution, and again after the war until his removal to 
Holderness. His sons Obadiah and John were also school teachers. Colonel 
:\Iooney served as one of the selectmen of Lee from 1769 until iie joined 
die Revolutionary army. He represented Lee in the Fifth Provincial Con- 
gress at Exeter December 21, 1775, and his record in that Congress shows 
Uian he was more conservative than most of the delegates. From that time 
until 1783 he was the Representative from Lee in the Provincial Assemblies, 
except one year, 1777. 




:i'l.'-' |>|>AL CHUKt'JI AM) l.'KCTOin-, SALMUN 
FALLS, ^. H. 




^r. \I\|,Y b CATHOLIC CTHUECH, SALMON 
FALLS, N". H. 







TO\Vx\ liALL A\U Uj:\La;Li,ATluNAL i'AK 
SONAGE, SALMON FALLS, N. H. 




FKAiNKLIN HIGH SCHOOL, SALMON FALLS N^H 




SALMON FALLS MANUFACTURING CO. 'S PLANT 




BBIDGE AND EAST SIDE OP MILLS, SALMON 
FALLS, N. H. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 235 

Marcli 14, 1776, Hercules Mooney was appointed major in the regiment 
of Col. David Gilman. and stationed at Newcastle and vicinity. September 
25, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Continental battalion, then 
being raised in New Hampshire, which was placed under Pierce Long and 
stationed at Newcastle, until ordered by General Ward to march to Ticon- 
deroga in February, 1777. Upon the approach of the British army under 
General P>urgoyne, Ticonderoga was evacuated July 6, 1777, and the New 
Hampshire troops were ordered to help cover the retreat, during which a 
few were killed and about one hundred men wounded. From May 23, 177S, 
to August 12. 177S, he was member of the Committee of Safety; and again 
from December 2t„ 1778 to March i(>, 1779. June 23, 1779, he was ap- 
pointed colonel of a regiment ordered for continental service in Rhode Island. 
The regiment was raised in June and remained in service until January, 1780. 

After the war Colonel Mooney resumed teaching at Lee Hill; served 
as iustice of the peace for Strafford county from July, 1776, until his removal 
to Holderness in 1785, and was afterwards justice of the peace in Grafton 
county until his death. He was one of the selectmen of Holderness and was 
its Representative in the State Legislature, 1786- 1787 and 1789- 1790. This 
closes a brief sketch of the career of the first schoolmaster in the parish of 
Summersworth. 

M.\STKR JOHN SULLIVAN 

Judge Wm. D. Knapp. in his excellent but brief history of Somersworth, 
says: "In 1737 the parish voted sixty pounds for a schoolmaster; voted that 
Mr. John Sullivan be the schoolmaster for the ensuing year ; vote that John 
Sullivan sweep and take care of ye meeting-house & to have thirty slulhngs." 

Judge Knapp then adds: "John Sullivan came from Limerick, Ireland, 
in 1723 ; landed at York, Me. ; was a teacher in Berwick ; married Margery 
Brown in 1735. and soon after purchased 70 acres of land in Berwick, 
where he resided more than sixty years. He died in May, 179^'), in his TOf.th 
year."' 

Judge Knapp's statement is erroneous in some points, viz. : John Sullivan 
married Margery Brown, who came over in the same ship with him and 
kiiided at York in the v> inter of 1-J3: he was a man of thirty-two years; 
she was a girl of nine years; he paid the captain of the ship for her passage 
across the Atlantic; she "served her time" as a house maid from 1723 to 1735 
in one of the best families in Old York; they were married in 1735, when he 
was forty-four years old and she was twent^'-one, just "out of her time"; 
Ihey commenced housekeeping at Summersworth soon after they were mar- 



236 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ried, as we know by legal documents he drew up for others and signed his 
name "John Sullivan of Summersworth." And next, in 1737, the parish of 
Summersworth hired him as its schoolmaster; he continued such until April, 
175J, a period of fifteen years, when, at a meeting of the parish April 6, 
"voted Mr. Joseph Tate twenty-three pounds old tenor, to keep Parish School 
one month." A notice of Master Tate will be given later. 

In August, 1753. John Sullivan bought his farm in Berwick of Mr. 
Samuel Lord; he built a house on it. on the hill, and removed his family 
from the Summersworth village to it in 1754; he resided there until his 
death in June, 1796, in the 105th year of his age. So he lived in Berwick 
forty-two years only, instead of "more than sixty years," as Judge Knapp 
states. There is no record that Master Sullivan ever bought land at any 
other town or place. His remarkably brilliant family of children were all 
born in the parish of Summersworth, viz.: Benjamin, in 1736; Daniel, in 
1738: (Gen.) John, in 1740; (Gov.) James, in 1744; Mary. 1752; Ebe- 
neder, 1753. These are the facts, and yet the cyclopedias and biographical 
dictionaries keep right on repeating the old error, that his children were lx)rn 
in Berwick, Me. The error, probably, originally started by some writer 
who knew that he lived in Berwick many of the last years of his life and 
therefore took it for granted all of his married life was passed there, hence 
that his children were born there. It seems this is the proper time and place 
to correct this error of many years' endurance, and establish for the parish 
of Summersworth the illustrious honor which belongs to that little village, 
now known as Rollinsford Junction. No more illustrious family was ever 
born in New Hampshire; and no greater schoolmaster has ever lived in the 
province or state than was Master John Sullivan. 

The parish of Summersworth in Dover, as has been stated, hired ]\Iaster 
Sullivan to keep school in 1737; but that was not the first school he kept in 
the town. He arrived at York, Me., from Limerick, Ireland, in the winter 
of 1723. His first work was on the INIcIntire farm in that town to earn money 
to pay for his passage. The reader will better understand this part of his 
career by letting him tell his own story. In his old age, when he and his 
wife were calling at a neighbor's house, they got to talking about his younger 
days, and he told the following story, which was recorded by the person 
who heard it. Master Sullivan said in the presence of his wife: 

"I sailed from Limerick, Ireland, for New England in 1723; owing to 
stress of weather the vessel was obliged to land at York, Me. (it had intended 
to land at Newburyport, Mass.). On the voyage my attention was called 
to a pretty girl of nine or ten years, Margery Brown, who afterwards became 
my wife. As my mother had absolutely refused to furnish me with the means 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 237 

for paying transportation, and I had not means otherwise, I was obhged 
to enter into an agreement with tlie captain to earn the money for my passage. 

"After I landed at York, for a while I Hved on tlie Mclntire farm in Scot- 
land Parish. Unaccustomed to farm labor, and growing weary of manual 
occupation, I applied to Rew Dr. Moody, pastor of the parish, for assistance. 
I made my letter written in se\-en languages, so that he might see I was a 
scholar. He became interested in my behalf, and being conversant with my 
ability to teach he loaned me the money with which to pay the captain the 
amount I owed for my passage. Thus set free from the Mclntires, I was 
assisted to open a school and earn money to repay Dr. Moody." 

You will notice he does not say where he opened his school: but there 
is evidence concerning this point in his career. It was in the winter of 1723 
that he worked on the Mclntire farm. Winter on a farm then was cutting 
lumber in the forest; cutting firewood in the dooryard ; and feeding and caring 
for the stock in the barn. That was what the son of aristocratic Irish parents 
was set to do, and from which Dr. Moody freed him. The minister of the 
First Church in Dover, at Cochecho, was the Rev. Jonathan Gushing; Mr. 
Cushing and Dr. Moody were close friends. Mr. Cushing was influential 
in school affairs, as well as in many other ways in Dover; so it is not difficult 
to see why the following appears in the Dover town records: 

At a meeting of the Selectmen in Dover the 20th of May, 1723, ordered 
that two schoolmasters be Procured for the Town of Dover for the year en- 
suing, and that their sallery exceed not £30 Payment a piece and to attend the 
Directtions of the Selectmen for the servis of the town in eque'll Proportion. 
Test. TiiOM.vs Tkbets, Towne Clerk. 

At the same time Mr. Sullifund exseps to sarve the Town above sd as 
Scoolemaster three months sertin and begins his servis ye 21st Day of May 
1723, and also ye sd Sullefund Promised the Selectmen that if he left them 
soonner he would give them a month notis to Provide themselves with another, 
and the Selectmen was also to give him a month notis if they Disliked him. 
Test. Thomas Tebets, Towne Clerk. 

The above also shows where John Sullivan began keeping school. There 
were to be two teachers, "for the serivs of the Towne in Equi'll Proportion." 
That means one schoolmaster was for Dover Neck, at the meeting house : 
the other at Cochecho, where the Rev. Mr. Cushing lived, and the presump- 
tion is fair that Master Sullivan was located near Pine Hill where the meet- 
ing house was and Parson Cushing lived. There is no record in regard to 
the matter, but I have no doubt he kept on teaching here in Dover until he 
got married and had a call to become schoolmaster in the parish of Summers- 



238 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

wortli in Dover, in 1737. After he bonght his farm in Berwick and settled 
there in 1754. he became schoohnaster there, and kept on teaching more or 
less until he was much passed four score years of age. He was sixty-three 
vears old when he settled in Berwick, and he was a noted schoolmaster there 
for a score of years. There is not the slightest evidence that he taught school 
in Berwick before 1734. He taught school in Old Dover thirty years, and in 
Berwick twenty years. All the Dover men who took such a prominent part 
in the Revolution had been his pupils. 

Of course Master Sullivan did not keep school every month in the year; 
he did many other things. He was an expert at drawing up legal papers, 
deeds, wills, etc. He raised his own vegetables, coni, beans, etc., for the 
household, and was always ready to lend a hand at w hatever needed to be done 
in the Parish of Summersworth. He had private pupils at his house. 

MASTER JOSEPH TATE 

Joseph Tate, known as "Master Tate,'" was the immediate successor of 
Master John Sullivan as schoolmaster in the Parish of Summersworth. He 
was an Englishman, but where he was born the writer does not know. It 
is said that the maiden name of his mother was Bird. He did not live near 
the meeting house, as his predecessor did, but by the Salmon Falls river, about 
fifty rods below the lower mill. He married Elizabeth Saunders. She was 
probably a widow, as his record says, 21 Dec. 1774, "My wife's daughter, 
Elizabeth Todd, broke her leg in going home from my house." lie lived 
some years previous to his death, at the house of Captain Morris Hobbs, 
where he died in 1782. aged about ninety j-ears, and was buried near Captain 
Hobbs in the family burying ground, near the present residence of Charles 
Ham. He had a family of four sons and one daughter; the sons: Robert, 
born in 1744; Joseph, born in 1746; Benjamin, born in 1749; and Mark, bom 
in 1 75 1, were all soldiers in the Revolutionary war. 

Master Tate was noted as a schoolmaster, but he is still more noted and 
remembered to this day by the journal he kept, which is now in possession 
of the town clerk of Rollinsford. The volume is headed : "Xames of Families, 
Children, Names and Time of Birth, in the town of Somersworth. Mar. ye 
26, 1776." It is said that some of his records were lost by the burning of a 
dwelling house. The extant volume gives dates prior to 1767, of births of 
children in the families then resident in that town, and continues until 1778, 
his other records come down to 1786. The volume contains, also, "Memo- 
randums of Sundry Things, viz.. Deaths, Marriages. Disasters, etc." There 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 231) 

are interspersed extracts from periodicals, statistics, recipes, notices of cur- 
rent events, etc. ; and the book is very curious and valuable. 

Up to 1793 ^^'^^ town had been one school district ; in that year a committee 
was chosen to divide the town into school districts, and locate a schoolhouse 
in eacii district. The committee tli\ided the town into four districts. In 17Q4 
the town voted that the selectmen may not furnish the districts with school- 
masters; that each district furnisJi themselves with schoolmasters, and tliat 
they will save tiie selectmen harmless from all costs that arise from a fine on 
that account. 

Somersworth has always been up-to-date in its schools, and sometimes in 
the advance of other towns. By an act of the Legislature passed in 1848, 
known as the "Somersworth Act," school district No. 3 in Somersworth (the 
Great Falls district) was permitted to have a system of graded schools, and 
maintain a high school, to purchase land for schoolhouse lots, not exceeding 
three acres in one lot, and to erect such schoolhouses thereon as may be deter- 
mined on by vote of the district ; also to hire money to meet the cost of lot and 
building, in excess of $j,ooo. Under this act a lot was procured on Prospect 
Hill in 1S49, and the present high school was erected upon it at a cost of ten 
thousand dollars. This was the first high school established in .New Hamp- 
shire. D()\'er did nut take this ste]) until 185J. The graderl system was 
adopted. 

The principals and instructors in the high school have held high rank in 
the profession, and some of them have won distinction in other fields of work. 
As an adjunct of good schools the citizens have maintained a good circulating 
library, which was established in 1842. In the articles of agreement adopted 
December 31, 1841, they gave it the name "Manufacturers' and Village 
Library. " The organization continued under this business agreement seven 
years. On the 30th of April, 1849, a voluntary association was organized 
under the statutes, a constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers 
chosen, whereby the partnership gave way to a kind of corporation. A charter 
was obtained from the Legislature in June, 1855, which provided that John 
A. Burleigh, Mark Noble, Royal Eastman, Isaac Chandler, Henry Y. Hayes, 
George W. Wendell and their associates, successors and assigns, be and hereby 
are constituted a body politic and corporate by the name of the "Manufact- 
urers and Village Library" and that "they may establish a library in Somers- 
worth, may lease or erect and maintain suitable buildings therefor, and may 
take and hold by gift, grant, purchase, devise, or otherwise real and personal 
estate to the amount of $JO,ooo," which later was enlarged to $100,000. A 
reorganization was established and the library commenced to grow and flour- 
ish and has continued doing excellent work to the ]>resent time. 



240 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

In August, 1888, one of the original incorporators gave the hbrary a lease 
for ninety-nine years of the second story of his block on Orange street, to be 
used as library rooms. Henry J. Furber, Esq., of Chicago, a f(jrnier resident 
of Somersworth, supplemented Mr. Chandler's generous gift by giving money 
sufificient to finish and furnish the rooms so as to afford excellent accommo- 
dations for the library. The library now has about thirty thousand \olumes, 
and any person can have the privilege of reading these books by paymeet of 
one dollar a vear. 



CHAPTER XXIII 
HISTORY OF SOMERSWORTH (V) 

VARIOUS BUSINESS INTERESTS 

When the Parish of Somersworth began to be settled it was not a condi- 
tion such as the modern vaudeville song has it, "Everybody works but father." 
The fact was "father" took the lead and all the boys and girls followed in 
helping keep on hand a good supply of pork and beans, bread and butter, and 
homespun clothing for all sorts of weather, and they had plenty of "aJl 
sorts" in the beginning of things here. As the ground was covered with for- 
ests, untouched since the ice age in New England, the men and boys first of 
all had to use their axes in chopping, and their broad axes in hewing to build 
houses for all sorts of purposes. They had to use the broad axe until they 
could build saw mills, and as soon as they could get to it the town granted 
water falls to enterprising citizens for the construction and running of the 
mills; more than that, the mill owners received grants of timber for use in 
the mills. The early town records of Old Dover contain reports of many 
such grants. For example : 

5, 17 Mo; 1652. "Whereas Captain Thomas Wiggins and Mr. Lyman 
Bradstreet have sett upp sawmill works at Ouamphegon fiaW" they are granted 
trees on land a couple of miles long and one mile broad; £10 rent per annum. 

5, 10 Mo: 1652, at Fresh Creek a mill privilege, on the west side of the old 
road, was granted to "William Ffurber, William Wentworth, Henry Langster 
and Thomas Canney;" £6 rent per annum, "for the wood beside ten shillings 
for every such mast as they make use of." 

So it is manifest what the chief business was at the beginning of things 
and this business held good for more than a century and a half. About 1700 
Judge John Tuttle, one of the big men of Old Dover, came into possession of 
the Ouamphegan mills and did great lumber business for a score of years. 
His residence was on Dover Neck, a short distance below the Meeting House. 
But not all the lumber business was done in sawmills. The manufacture of 
pipe-staves, clapboard, shingles, etc., by hand, was extensively engaged in. 
You know in the old arithmetics one of the tables the boys had to commit to 

14 

241 



242 HISTORY OF STRAI<"FORD COUNTY 

memory was tliis: Four gills make one pint; 2 pints make one quart; 4 quarts 
make one gallon ; 63 gallons make one hogshead ; 2 hogsheads make one pipe , 
4 pipes make one ton. Well, the "pipe-staves" that the Dover men made were 
made into casks that held two hogsheads, as stated in the talile. Uo\er had 
coopers who manufactured the "pipes," a very profitable business; after the 
heads and hoops were all fitted, the casks were taken apart and placed com- 
pactly together, and shipped to the West Indies for the use of the molasses 
and rum trade. 

Time went on; one thing opened the way for another. Up to 1750 no 
record of more than one fanner is found at Great Falls, on either side of the 
river. Andrew Horn was resident on the Somersworth side. A sawmill and 
a gristmill were built at the lower le\el ab(iut 1735. There was no dam across 
the river, but power was obtained by drawing the water through a sluice way, 
at the side, from the upper to the lower level. The business had become so 
thriving that in 1 yftT, the mill proprietors petitioned for a road to be built that 
would give them connection with Do\'er. The proprietors of these mills were 
Ebenezer Wentworth, Isaac Hanson and several others. Up to 1820 there 
was no dam across the river, the power being obtained by the sluice way. 
Soon after that something happened. A quiet, Ijut energetic Quaker, Isaac 
\\'endell, came up there from Dover and viewed the "Great Falls" and saw 
what a mighty power was running to waste. Mr. ^Vendell had been engaged 
in the purchase of the Cochecho Falls at Dover, and in the establishinent of 
a manufactory of cotton at that place. He, with Mr. John Williams, had 
obtained a charter and formed a company, chiefly of Boston men, called the 
Cocheco Manufacturing Company. That was in 1821. It is stated by those 
who had ])ersonal recollections of conditions at the Falls in 1822, that the 
only houses there, in what was soon to become the village of Great Falls, 
were the Joseph Wentworth house, then occupied by Andrew Horn, Jr., now 
(1913) the residence of Mrs. Edgerly, widow of the late James A. Edgerly, 
Es(]., antl standing where it then stood, and Gershom Horn's house, which 
stood where the familiar J. \\ . Hates' blue stiire stood in \'ery recent period. 

The Great Falls Manufacturing Company was chartered June 11, 1823, 
with an authori;^ed capital of $500,000. .\n increase of the capital stock to 
$1,000,000 was autliorized in 1826, and in 1827 it was increased to $1,500,000. 

In 1823 the highway, now High street, was laid out, three rods wide, and 
became the way to Dover, instead of the Prospect street route, which Mr. 
Wendell described as "very narrow, rough and steep." 

The Great Ealls Manufacturing Company owned all the land from the 
Great Falls hotel south to the Indigo Hill road. Main street was opened by 
the company for a highway, and in 1827 the town laid out a road, four rods 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 243 

wide, from the meeting house to the In(Hgo Hill road. This gave to Great 
Falls the present highway to Rollinsford Junction. In 1828 that part of it 
which is known as Main street was laid out, three rods wide, reserving four- 
teen feet on the westerly side for a sidewalk. In 1827 the town voted to widen 
and straighten the road from Mrs. llannah I'arr's 1>_\' lienjamin Hussey's to 
Dover line, "as said road will be much traveled and it is of vast importance 
that the road from manufacturing estal)lishments should be good to touch 
water, or from village to village." 

The editor of this History of StratTord County was editor and publisher 
of the Dover Enquirer in 1894, as before and after that date. In January of 
that year he received the following communication from Aliss Anne E. Wen- 
dell, of Wayne, Penn., daughter of Isaac Wendell, the founder of the com- 
pany that built the mills, and the village of Great Falls. It was published in 
the Enquirer of January 26. 1894, and gives a description of the village and 
the origin of the mills which are as unique as they are of inestimable historic 
value. The editor of the Enquirer then never dreamed he wouUl be afiforded 
an opportunity to use it as now given. Miss Wendell said : 

After the Dover factories were well established and John Williams elected 
agent, father at the re<juest of the directors remained some time actively oc- 
cupied for their interests, then he turned his attention to Great Falls. 

I was w ith him on his first \isit to the Falls, on Gershom Horn's farm in 
1822. 

I remember the impression made by the fall descending 100 feet within 
less (I think) than a mile; my father, with his quick perception, at once 
realized its value as water power for manufacturing purposes. 

He soon after purchased all the water power, the old grist mill, farmliouse, 
and enough land as he then thought would answer all his wants. I think he 
paid $5,000, a large sum at that time. 

Immediately after the purchase, father commenced building. At tirst, a 
blacksmith's shop where were made tools for further operation. 

Much of the machinery was made at this blacksmith's shop, or cast at 
the little foundry on the Belamy river, which he then owned. 

The stone was quarried at "Rocky Hill," a little above, either then belong- 
ing to the propert}', or purchased afterward; large scows or flat-boats were 
used to bring the stone down. Brick was also made on the ground. 

The first factory erected was of wood. No. i, about 1 50x100. and five 
stories high. 

A canal was then opened about one-fourth mile long, thus taking the water 
from the dam to supply the factories, which were to lie Ijuilt below. 

After No. i had been filled with machinery, and put in operation. No. 2 
\\'as Iniilt. of brick, 250 feet long, and five stories high, w ith liasement making 
six stories. 

After this he organized a company with a capital of one million dollars. 



244 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

The stock was readily taken, mostly in Boston, some of the same gentlemen 
interested in Dover were among them; those of the stockholders I recall to 
memory were John Bumstead, of Trott & Biimstead, John Hooper. Henry 
Hubbard, etc.. father and uncles. A. & J. Wendell retaining one-tifth of the 
stock. 

From this time the place grew rapidly, Xos. 3 and 4 were soon built, 
father acting as general agent and business manager. 

His residence at this time was at Dover, five miles south of Great Falls. 
All of his bank business was either at Dover, Boston or Portsmouth, twelve 
miles further south from Dover, the latter town being Ijetween Great Falls 
and Portsmouth, and he drove daily back and forth between these places. 
There were no railroads in those days, and he needed fast horses, which w ere 
tenderly cared for, but he was always known on the road, even if not seen, 
by the rapid step of his horse. He often caused anxiety to his family when he 
traveled late at night with large sums of money for pay-rolls and other 
expenses; sometimes he secreted it in his boots, which wore the notes enough 
to be observable and called forth a query from one of the bank cashiers as 
to why his notes were so tumbled. 

He was an early riser, and when we resided at the Falls, four o'clock 
in the morning often found him going through the rooms at the mill, and 
the watchmen well knew no delinquency of theirs would pass unnoticed; they 
were always expecting the "old man," as he was called ; his dress, the broad 
brim and broad skirted coat worn by Friends and his somewhat stooping 
shoulders gave him the appearance of being much older than he was, but he 
was really a very active man, never walked slowly, and in these days would 
have been called an athlete. 

Houses were built early and as fast as needed ; the old farm house became 
a boarding house for men under the control of Major Orange; the first new 
house was a large one, on the opposite side of the road a little further north, 
and occupied by John Nute and wife Elizabeth, who accommodated the clerks, 
father, when there, the directors of the company, etc. ; in another part of the 
same house, girls were boarded; if I recollect aright, this house was on the 
upper corner of the old Dover road, which was then very narrow, rough and 
steep. 

There were two small houses on the North side, opposite the burying 
ground; I do not remember whether thev were new or old. 

Beyond the Nute house was earl}' erected the row of houses with the high 
front steps ; the first was occupied by Asa Arnold, and afterward by Dr. Mar- 
tin ; my father moved into the second, and the others, which were double 
houses, were occupied in 1826 and 1827 by John G. Chase, William Hill, 
Abner Jones, — Gridley, J. Stanwood, and Gideon Smith. 

Near the new bridge was a shop, occupied by Daniel Ham, hatter, and a 
store afterward used as postofiice and Tappan Wentworth's office. 

I do not know when the new bridge was built, but it was there in 1826; 
also a row of houses beyond the river, on the eastern side of the road. 

On the south comer of the old bridge was a small frame shop. I think 
shoemaker's ; next going south, was James Stanwood's large store, then Dud- 





HOLY TKINITV CIlUKCll, 
SOMERSWORTH, N. H. 



FURBKR MEMORIAL CHAPEL, SOMERSWORTH, 
X. H. 




FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND MARKET 
STREET, SOMERSWORTH, N. H. 




SOMEESWORTH NATIONAL BANK AND HIGH 

STREET, SOMERSWORTH, N. H. 





NORTH MILL; (il.'EAT FALLS MF(i. (<> 
SOMERSWORTH, N. H. 



CATHOLIC CHURCH AND FAKISH HOUSE, 
SOMERSWORTH, N. H. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 245 

ley Wiggin's tailor shop, a dwelling occupied by Dr. Martin, in 1826, the 
factory, store and counting house: below these, running nearly to the old 
grist mill, which in i8j6 was still in use, was a row of one-story buildings, 
occupied by a tin-man, barlier, and Ann Bearing's milli'nery. 

Fronting these up the hill, stood the old "Farm" boarding house, and 
still higher on the other side of the Dover road a large house, whether new 
or old, I do not remember; Oliver W'alcott occupied it. The Presbyterian 
church nearby was erected I)efore, or in 1827. 

The two-storied frame houses on the east side of the canal were built 
as early as 1823 I think, — in theiu lived at that time Whittemore, Lamos, 
Moore, Lemuel Perhani ( f^r a little while) and llilili)- the wife lieater. who 
received the ladder penalty, which cured hiiu. 

On the west side of the canal, passed the road leading to Pierwick; on this 
road in i8_'4 were built the row of two-storied brick houses, fronting others 
near the river, there being (piite a distance between the two. the canal sep- 
arating them. 

In 1824 the street back of these was opened with two-story frame iiouses 
on each side; Moore's boarding house was the last one down. 

In 1825 the company commenced the brick hotel on the corner of the 
Dover road; suon after Isaac Stanwood built his store, and Joseph Whittier 
his house, near the wood; opposite, I think, Gershom Horn's new house; these 
in 1827 were the last houses on the Dover road. There were others near, 
but I cannot recall them. 

The Presbyterian churcli was built in 1826; the Methodist had no church 
building until near 1S30; they met in pri\ate houses or vacant rooms. Dudley 
^Viggin was one of their leaders. John G. Chase joined them; he was one 
of the noblest of Christan men down to his old age, and one of the able men 
father gathered around him, among whom were Daniel Osborne, principal 
clerk; l3avid Osborne (Williams & Wendell's Boston clerk), David Barker, 
Gideon C. Smith, Brayton Slade, James Dennis, Asa Arnold, Charles Lawton, 
Abel Fletcher, a mathematician of high order, Jonathan Freeman, and others. 

There were also odd and peculiar people, and amusing incidents. No 
intoxicating drink was allowed on the place, while under my father's control, 
ginger-beer was substituted for those who desired it, but liquor was often 
secretly obtained. The laborers building the walls of the canal, left little 
hiding places for the bottle. Father had no control in Maine, and the men 
sent their shoes to be mended, he thought, rather oftener than was necessary, 
and one day, observing a messenger boy returning with a pair of boots, he 
approached the boy on the bridge, but before they met. the boots went over 
the railing into the river, and the story was told. 

One season, in very warm weather, a death occurred at Rocky Hill; 
it was reported the man would have been saved, had they been allowed stim- 
ulants ; but after examination, it was found that he alone among the men, 
had taken licjuor." 

The woolen mills were in full operation in 1826, weaving carpets and 
broadcloth. They were under the care of Oliver Walcott, but not being 
profitable, were abandoned after a few years." 



246 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

The gristmill and sawmill, which had been at Great Falls from 1755 to 
1822. when they gave place to the cotton mill, were rebuilt at the lower falls, 
familiarly known as "New Dam," in 1825. The gristmill was on the Somers- 
worth side and the sawmill on the Berwick side, a "new tlam" ha\ing been 
thrown across the river that year. The gristmill was maintained mitil 1863, 
when the Great Falls Woolen Company was incorjwrated with a capital of 
$50,000. This company took a lease of the power there and built a woolen 
mill in place of the gristmill. In 1864 the capital stock of the company was 
increased by a stock dividend to $100,000, having made immense profits on 
the manufacture of amiy goods for use in the Ci\il war. The woolen mill 
is still in operation and is owned by Deering, INIilliken & Co., of New York 
City, of which Seth M. Milliken is the head and chief owner. Mr. Alilliken 
is a son-in-law of the late Dr. Levis G. Hill, of Dover. The sawmill on the 
Berwick side has given place to the electric plant of the Consolidated Light & 
Power Company; the change was made in 1888. 

The manufacture of cotton cloth (the chief industry of Somersworth) 
was almost at a standstill during the Civil war, but the Great Falls Company, 
having confidence that the L'nion army would subdue the rebellion and restore 
prosperity, occupied the time while its looms were idle, in making improve- 
ments in its plant. A flouring mill was erected and put in operation, and 
a reservoir was constructed on Prospect Hill, and connected by a twelve-inch 
pipe with the river, to be filled by force pumi>s in one of the mills. The town 
was permitted to lay water pipes, connected with this main pipe, and to place 
hydrants through the town for protection against fire, the company to have 
the use of the town's pipe for such service as its needs might require. L'nder 
this verbal agreement the town has extended a system of pipes and hydrant 
service, so that the city is not in danger of a great conflagration through lack 
of water. The reservoir is 140 feet above the upper level of the river (top 
of the upper dam) and has a capacity of 1,700,000 gallons. In 1890, the 
company erected by the side of the reservoir, a water-tower, or stand-pipe. 20 
feet in diameter and 70 feet high, having a capacity of 160,000 gallons, which 
furnishes a pressure in the hydrants on Market street of eighty pounds to 
the square inch, sufficient to throw streams of water over the tallest buildings 
in the city. Further improvements have been made since then in various ways 
There are other minor industries carried on in the city, which are prosperous, 
but which are of comparati\ely recent date. 

B.\XKS AND B.XNKING 

The Great Falls Bank was incorix)rated by the Legislature in 1846 and 
its charter was approved July 8th of that year. Its capital stock was $100,000, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 247 

and its original incorporators were Joseph Doe. John A. Burleigh, Daniel G. 
Rollins, Samuel Hale, Nathaniel Wells, Winthrop A. Marston, Benjamin 
Hanson, Oliver H. Lord, Thomas B. Parks, Oliver Hill and Ezra Harthan. 
August 30, 1849. it was voted to increase the capital to $120,000, and August 
II, 1851, it was voted to further increase it to $150,000. The bank was reor- 
ganized as a national bank, March ij, 1865. The first president was Joseph 
Doe, 1846-1848; John A. Burleigh, 1848-1860; Nathaniel Wells, 1860-1878; 
he was succeeded by David H. Buffum, who had been the first cashier until 
April 20, 1863, when he was succeeded by Joseph .\. Stickney, who held the 
oflice until he was murdered in 1897 by Joe Kelley. The name of the bank 
was changed in 1902 from Great Falls National to First National of Somers- 
worth, and Fred M. Varney was Mr. Stickney's successor as cashier and 
served until 1908. 

The Somers worth State Bank was incorporated in 1855, and became the 
Somersworth National Bank in 1865, and its charter has been renewed under 
that name each twenty year periods since then. The incorporators of the 
State Bank were : Oliver H. Lord, George W. Brasbridge, Royal Eastman, 
Charles F. Elliott, George McDaniel, John S. Haines, Calvin Whitten, Stephen 
Shorey, John H. Burleigh, David L. Rollins, George W. Wendell and Au- 
gustus Gushing, all strong men in business affairs. Oliver H. Lord was the 
first president and held the position until i8Sr. 

Edward Ashton Rollins, son of Daniel G. Rollins, was the first cashier. 
He later achieved national fame as commissioner of internal revenue, and as 
president of the Centennial National Bank of Philadelphia. He is the gen- 
tleman who gave the money to build tlie beautiful Rollins Chapel for Dart- 
mouth College. 

George L. Dearborn was Mr. Rollins' successor as cashier of Somers- 
worth National Bank ; John A. Burleigh succeeded Mr. Dearborn ; he was fol- 
lowed by Samuel S. Rollins, who held the office nineteen years, until his death 
in 1881, while he was in performance of his duties of cashier. Henry C. 
Gilpatrick succeeded Mr. Rollins and served until his death in 1897; Charles 
M. Dorr held the office 1807-1800: and in December, 1899, Edgar .\. Leigh- 
ton was elected cashier and has held the office to the present time. The presi- 
dents of this bank have all been able and high-minded men. Since 1896 Jesse 
Robinson Home has held that position. 

The Somersworth Savings Bank was incorporated July 2, 1845, and the 
first meeting of the incorporators was held .August i6th following; they were 
Joseph Doe, John A. Burleigh, Daniel G. Rollins, Ichabod G. Jordan, Nathan- 
iel Wells, Mark Noble, Oliver H. Lord, Jeremiah Goodwin, Ezra Harthan, 
Hiram R. Roberts, Benjamin Hanson, Moses Baker and Wm. W. Rollins. 



248 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Tlie officers elected were : John A. Burleigh, president ; Hiram R. Roberts and 
Daniel C. Rollins, vice preseidents ; Joseph Doe, Moses Baker, Wm. W. Rol- 
lins, Icliabod G. Jordan, Nathaniel Wells, Benjamin Hanson and Oliver H. 
Lord, trustees. The secretary and treasurer was Mark Noble. 

The bank was opened for business September i8, 1845, in Central build- 
ing, on Main street. The first deposit book was issued to Henrj' Hobbs for 
$100; which book is now in possession of the bank. This bank has continued 
sound and prosperous to the present day, having been carefully and honestly 
managed for sixty-seven years. The treasurers have been: Mark Noble, 
1845-1857; David H. Buffum. 1857-1867; Joseph A. Stickney, 1867-1877; 
Albert A. Perkins, 1877-1897; William Sewell Tibbetts, 1897 to the present 
time. The presidents: John A. Burleigh, 1845-1860; Micajah C. Burleigh, 
1860-1881 ; Samuel S. Rollins, one month only, in 1881 ; Isaac Chandler, 
188^-1890; Edward Hargraves, 1890-1905; Jesse Robinson Home, 1905 to 
present time. There is one official now connected wiih the bank who has been 
in its service since 1871, Miss Angenette Stickney, who has served as clerk 
continuously and efficiently; no errors have been found in her work. In this 
connection it is but justice to state that Miss Martha T. Walker has held 
the office of assistant cashier of the Somersworth National Bank continuously 
since 1877. These two ladies are both remarkable for their efficiency, ac- 
curacy and courteousness in the performance of their duties. Probably no 
other banks in New Hampshire have women officials who have served that 
length of time. 

The Great Falls Bank erected a banking house, in 1845, ^t the corner of 
Prospect and Market streets, on the site of the old blacksmith shop which An- 
drew Home, Jr., occupied in 1823. The bank building consisted of one story 
and a basement and was used by both the Great Falls Bank and the Somers- 
worth Savings Bank. The entrance was from Prospect street. In 1874 a sec- 
ond story, new entrance from Market street, and a tower were added to the 
building, making it the present elegant banking house of the Great Falls Na- 
tional Bank. 

In 1876 the Somersworth Savings Bank erected the large and substantial 
block at the corner of High, Fore and Elm streets, and beside room for itself, 
provided accommodations for the Somersworth National Bank, an office for 
the American Express Company, several stores, business offices, a hall for the 
Odd Fellows, and another for the Knights of Pythias. 

RAILROADS 

The Boston & Maine Railroad had been built in 1842 through Somers- 
A\orth from Dover to Berwick, and in 1843 a branch was built from the old 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 249 

meeting-house about two miles to the village of Great Falls. The first pas- 
senger tram over this branch arrived in Great Falls July 4 1843 amid the 
boommg of cannons, firing of crackers, barking of dogs, and a general hurrah 
of the people. Some persons now living, who were boys and girls then wit- 
nessed this the grand entry of the train, and no event since then has mlde a 
stronger mipression on their memory; they say they had great fun. 

The railroad company built a station where the present station is located • 
also a stone engme house and a large freight depot on Market street Before 
the ra.lruad uas built, all the freight of the Manufacturmg Company had been 
hauled by teams over the road where the electric cars now run. bet\xeen Great 
Falls and Dover Landing. By means of the railroad these freights were 
moved with less expense and the village was brought within three hours' ride 
of Boston. This gave a great boom to business, and more capital was invested 
m the village of Great Falls. 

A postoffice had been established at Great l<alls in 1825 ; it was Somers- 
worth but did not take that name. Uncle Sam's postmaster general called it 
Great Falls, New Hampshire, and the postoffice retained that name until the 
village of Great Falls became the city of Somersworth. For more than three 
score and ten years the business world dealt with Great Falls, but had no deal- 
ings with Somersworth. So it came to pass that many intelligent citizens 
did not know that they lived in Somersworth, as it was never mentioned" 
they lived at Great Falls; that x\as the name of the postoffice and thev took it 
lor granted that was the name of the town they lived in. But when the village 
became a city the leading citizens made haste to have the name of the postoffice 
changed to Somersworth to avoid all possible chances of having the business 
world regard it as the "City of Great Falls." 



CHAPTER XXIV 
HISTORY OF SOMERSWORTH {VI) 

NOTED CITIZENS OF SOMERSWORTH 

Tlie Parish of Sumniersworth had noted men from its beginning nntii the 
Provincial Assembly changed it to the Town of Somersworth, which orthog- 
raphy was not asked for by the parish, and somebody blundered when he 
drew up the act of incorporation, and nobody noticed the blunder until it 
became law. In that part of the old parish, now Rollinsford, near Salmon 
Falls village, stands an old mansion house, a little northwest of the Boston 
and Maine Railroad station, which was built about the year 1710 by Col. 
Paul Wentworth, a very wealthy and enterprising citizen of the parish. 
This is the oldest house in old Somersworth, and an interesting history is 
connected w ith it tluring the Revolutionary war period. It has continued in 
possession of the Wentworth family to the present time (1913). Within 
its well preserved walls are yet to be seen many of the articles of household 
use in the provincial period. Among the most interesting is the old clock, 
still running antl keeping good time, the running work of which was made in 
England, and the case was made by some skilled mechanic of New Hamp- 
sliire, whose workmanship cannot be surpassed by all the "modern improve- 
ments." A long and interesting story is connected with the history of that 
house and its furnishings: but that is not for this paper; following is some 
mention of the buikler. 

Col. I'aiil U'ciit-a'Ditli was liorn in 1678. He was son of Ezekiel Went- 
worth, one of the older sons of Elder William Wentworth. This Ezekiel 
Wentworth appears on the Dover tax list of from 1672 to 1677. He was 
fined for not serving on the jury in 1687. He received a grant of sixty acres 
of land adjoining Salmon I'^alls ri\er, above Indigo Hill, and ten acres of 
marsh near Black- Water, March iq, 1693-4. He received also a grant of 
thirty acres of land near Black-Water brook, April 2, 1696. He served on 
the jury in 1609. He received a grant June 3, 1701, of ten acres of land at 
the head of his home plantation, and thirty acres between Black-^Vater 
Bridge and the pitch-pine plains. He received, with Judge John Tuttle, Sr., 

250 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



251 



October 24, 1701. a grant uf all the "niill privilege" of the west side of Sal- 
mon Palls, and with the same person (who had wife Mary, and was son of 
the hrst settler, John Tuttle, in Dover, who had wife Dorotiiy), May 19 
170J, a grant ot thirty acres of ox-pasture near their mill, at Salmon Falls' 
He was one ot the selectmen of Dover in 1702. He, Ezekiel. Sr. had from 
Thomas Paine, March 21, 1704, a deed of land lying in Cochecho, bet^^■een 
his own land on the northeast and Thomas Downs on the southwest He 
was assessor m Dover in 1705. He deeded land to his son (Col.) Paul 
April 7 1705. when the son was twenty-seven years old. He and his wife 
Elizabeth, February 3, 170S-9, deeded to son Thomas, "mariner" as his 
portion, one-fourth of his right in the sixty acres above "Indigo Hill " abut- 
ting the rn-er on its uest side, all of which "were granted to me by ye Town 
of Dover;" November ]8, 1709, he deeded one-sixteenth of the mill accom- 
modation on the west side of Salmon Falls to son (Col.) Paul; and April 2 
1711, to son John, as a part of his portion, one-half of the land bought of 
Thomas Paine in Cochecho. being sixteen acres south of his (Ezekiel's) 
dwelhng-house, thirty acres at Black-Water (in northwestern part of Dover) 
and one-eighth of the west side of Salmon Falls. He was Representative 
from Dover in 1711. 

It thus appears that Ezekiel Wentworth, father of Col. I'aul, lived in 
that part of old Dover which was incorporated as Somersworth, April '2 
1754; in that part of the Parish of Summersworth which was incorporated 
as Rolhnsford in iHv), and now known as Salmon Falls village. His house 
probably stood near where his son Paul built the house in 1710. which is now 
standing. As regards Col. Paul's house, he gave it to his nephew, Judge John 
Wentworth, who gave it to his son Andrew, and Andrew gave it to his son 
John B., and the last named gave it to his son, James E. Wentworth, the 
present owner, who was born August 26, 1834. 

Another interesting fact concerning this Ezekiel Wentworth, son of 
Elder William, is that for six successive generations, subsequent to himself, 
have been members of the New Hampshire Legislature. He died while a 
member, as also did his son Benjamin, whose son John ■* was a member. This 
John ^ had three sons who were members, viz., Paul.3 John,= and Andrew. ^ 
John's-^ son Paul," and Andrew's = son John B.'' were members, Paul's" son 
Joseph ^ was also a member. John ^ was elected to the Continental Congress, 
but did not attend. John-' was a member of the Continental Congress] 
Paul's" son John ^ (Long John of Chicago) was a member of Congress 
twelve years, and two years mayor of Chicago. Thomas M.,» son of John * 
was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature from Maine, before it was 
made a state, and his son. Thomas Millet," Jr., was a member of the Maine 



252 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Legislature. About a tlozen other descendauts iu the name W'entworth are 
also on record as nieniljers of legislative bodies in different states. 

Tlie writer will now return from this digression to a further considera- 
tion of Col. Paul •' VVentworth, who built the house in 1710, at Salmon Falls, 
already mentioned. He was born in 1678; after he built the house he lived 
in it until his death in 1748. He married (by Rev. Caleb Cushing), May 24, 
1704, Abra Brown, of Salisbury, Mass. She was admitted to the First 
Church in Dover, March 30, 1718. She was living May 9, 1740, but as she 
is not mentioned in his will made February 3, 1747-8, she doubtless died 
before him. He was one of the wealthiest men of his time, and a leading 
man in both church and state, ile was a merchant and extensive dealer in 
lumber, of which his mills at Salmon I'alls sawed as much as any other por- 
tion of the country. The lumber was rafted down the river to Portsmouth, 
X. H. and thence shipped to all parts of the world. He is called "Ensign 
Paul" in 1716, 1717; "Captain Paul" in 1727. Soon after that he was ap- 
pointed Colonel of the New Hampshire Second Regiment, and was known 
as "Colonel Paul" to the end of his life, and will always be so known in 
history. He was one of the selectmen of Dover fourteen years, between 1716 
and 1740; one of its Representatives from 1732 to 1738; Moderator in town 
meetings many times. He died June 24, 1748. The Boston ]]'cckl\ Neivs 
Letter of July 14. 1748, says: 

"New Hampshire, 24 June, 1748. This day, after a short tit of sickness, 
died Col. Paul \\'entworth, Esf|., of Summersworth, in the 70th year of his 
age; he left a \ery handsome Inheritance, out of which he gave (as it is 
judged) near 1,500 pounds (old tenor) for pious and charitable uses. That 
is to say. the improvement of said Legacy, and the Principal not to be dimin- 
ished. A very laudable example worthy of imitation." 

Col. John IVcnt-u'orth, often called "Judge John," was son of Captain 
Benjamin" and Elizabeth (l^eighton) Wentworth, and nephew of Col. Paul 
Wentworth already spoken of. He was born March 30, 17 19, in the Parish 
of Summersw'orth ; he was baptized in the First Church, Dover, December 
26, 1722. His father died when the son was six years old, and his Uncle 
Paul rendered assistance and practically brought him up and made him chief 
heir to his fortune, the house being part of the becjuest. He was a pupil of 
the famous teacher of Summersworth, Master John Sullivan, father of 
Gen. John Sullivan of the Revolution, who gave him as good as a Harvard 
College education. 

He was chosen one of the selectmen of Dover in 1747, as "Captain John" 
and was frequently re-elected while Summersworth continued a parish of 
Dover. He was chosen Representative to the Legislature from Dover 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 253 

in 1/49 3"<J ""t'l the parish was made a town in 1754. He was the first Rep- 
resentative chosen from the new town of Somersworth in 1755. From 1767 
he was annually elected Representative for a long series of years. He was 
chosen Speaker of the House in 1771, and was continued in that otifice during 
the existence of the Provincial Government, under his cousin, Gov. John 
Wentworth. The Provincial House did not meet after 1775. 

Upon the organization of Stratl^ord county in 1773, he was matle Chief 
Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, by his relative, Gov. John Wentworth, 
and held that office till that government ended. His colleagues in court were 
George Frost, Otis Baker and John Plumer. Under the Revolutionary Gov- 
ernment he was chosen by the Assembly one of the judges of the Superior 
Court. January 17, 1776. Pie was one of the State Councillors from Decem- 
ber Ji, 1775, until his death. He was colonel of the Second New Hampshire 
Regiment when the grand review took place on Tuttle Square, Dover, in 
front of the First Parish meeting-house, by Gov. John Wentworth, who came 
up from Portsmouth was a grand escort. It was at this grand review, the 
Rev. Jeremy Belknop, pastor of the First church, preached a noted sermon 
on military duty, which is preserved in the library of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society. He was lieutenant-colonel under Col. John Gage as 
early as 1767. 

He was appointed one of the Committee of Correspondence, with the 
other colonies about the Revolution. May 28. T774. He was in the Speaker's 
chair when Gov. John \\^entworth sent in an order dissolving the Assembly 
June 8, 1774. Three days later he wrote, for the committee of which he was 
a member, to the Committee of Correspondence in Massachusetts, cordially 
commending and supporting the action that had been taken in Massachusetts. 
Julv 6, 1774, a chairman of the committee (which later became the historic 
Committee of Safety which managed affairs during the war), he issued a 
call to all the towns and parishes to elect delegates and send them to a con- 
vention to be held at Exeter on the 21st day of July, 1774, which convention 
should elect delegates to a Congress of all the Colonies. 

That convention was the first Revolutionary Congress in New Hamp- 
shire; it met at the appointed time; Col. John Wentworth was chosen chair- 
man. Gen. John Sullivan and Nathaniel Folsom were chosen delegates to the 
first Continental Congress: John Wentworth, as chairman, signed their 
credentials. That Congress met in Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. This 
Congress recommended that another Congress be held May 10, 1775, so 
Colonel Wentworth issued a circular November 30, 1774, calling for the elec- 
tion of delegates by the towns and parishes to a Congress or Assembly to be 
held at Exeter, the 25th dav nf Januarv', 1775, to elect delegates to the second 



254 HISTORY OI" STRAFFORD COL'XTY 

Cuntinental Congress to be held in Thiladelphia, ^lay lo, i-JJ^- The 
second New llamjjshire Congress met in accordance with the call and Colonel 
W'entworth was chosen president of it. They elected Gen. John Sullivan and 
Gov. John Langdon delegates to the Continental Congress. They ordered the 
Committee of Correspondence to issne an address to the people of Xew Hamp- 
shire to organize for defense against any attacks by the British anthorities. 
Colonel Wentworth wrote it and signed it as chairman. It was pub- 
lished in full in the (Portsmouth) A'cit' Hainpsliire Gazette, February 3, 
1775. The beginning of the Revolution contains no more patriotic and well 
worded document than this one from the pen and brain of Col. John W'ent- 
worth. 

Colonel Wentworth was president of the convention held at Exeter, April 
-'• 1775, two days after the battle at Bunker Hill, at which a committee was 
appointed to go to Concord, Mass., and consult with the Massachusetts Con- 
gress as to what course to pursue. It adjourned on the 4th of May, as the 
regular Pro\!ncial Assembly met at Portsmouth on that day, of which many 
in the convention were members, and wished to attend. 

The Assembly met as above stated and Colonel W'entworth was unan- 
imously chosen Speaker, and his name was sent to Gov. John W'entworth for 
confinnation, and was accordingly confirmed. No business was transacted ; 
the Governor adjourned the Assembly to June 12. 1775; it met on that date 
Intl no work was done and Governor W'entworth adjourned it to July 11. 
It then reassembled and he addressed it, very prudently, from Fort William 
and Alary. He adjourned it again to September 28, 1775, at which date the 
Assembly again met and recei\ed an address from the Governor, which was 
his last official communication to the Assembly of New Hampshire, dated at 
Isles of Shoals, September, 1775. proroguing it to the next April. That was 
the end of British rule in New Hampshire. Presto, change! In came the 
Independent Government of New Hampshire, in January, 1776, and Col. John 
W'entworth, of Somersworth, Councillor and one of the Judges of the 
Superior Court, which offices he held until the day of his death. The last 
date at which he was present at the Council Board was March 22, 1781, and 
he died May 17, 1781, at 11 o'clock P. M. Thus he did not live to see 
acknowledged the independence of his country, for which he so indefatigably 
labored. 

He was buried at 4 o'clock P. M., May 21, 1781, in the family burial 
ground at Salmon Falls. There was a large attendance at the funeral. This 
burial ground is on the farm now (1913) occupied by Col. John's great-grand- 
son, Mr. James E. AVentworth, who lives in the Col. Paul Wentworth house, 
built in 1710. This farm was first owned by EzekieP W^entworth, who had 



AND REl^RESENTATIVE CITIZENS 255 

the land as a grant from the town of Dover, and gave it to his son, Col. Paul. 
In that ground were buried Ezekiel - and his descendants, who died in the 
vicinity of Salmon Falls. The grave of Col. John and his three wives are still 
pointed out. The maiden names of his wives were: Joanna Gilnian. of 
Exeter; Abigail Millet, of Dover; Elizabeth Wallingford, of Somersworth. 
Col. Thomas W'alliiujford, whose daughter was third wife of Col. John 
W'entworth, was one of the most noted men of the Parish of Summersworth 
in Dover, and of the Town of Somersworth after it was incorporated in 1754. 
He was born in Bradford, Mass., July 28, 1697; he died in Somersworth, 
July 28, 1 771. He was son of John - Wallingford and grandson of Nicholas ' 
Wallingford, the immigrant who came to New England from Old England 
in the ship Confidence of London in 1638. John - Wallingford married 
December 6, 1687, Mary, daughter of Judge John and ]\Iary Tuttle, of Dover, 
N. H. They resided in Bradford, Mass., until his father-in-law. Judge Tuttle, 
erected his saw mill at Salmon Falls about 1702, when Mr. Wallingford 
joined with the judge in the lumber business, in which Col. Paul W'entworth 
was also engaged with Judge Tuttle. That is how it came about that the 
Wallingfords became citizens of Dover at the Parish of Summersworth. 
Thomas, probably, first worked in his Grandfather Tuttle's saw mill, and by 
inheritance continued in the lumber business, more or less, for many years. 
He lived on the old road from Dover to Salmon Falls, near the site of the 
old Somersworth meeting-house, at Rollinsford Junction, as known to the 
present generation, between the meeting-house and the Falls, being the last 
house on the left-hand side as one approaches the Falls. He was a merchant 
and had his store in the village at the meeting-house. He became one of the 
wealthiest, as he was one of the alilest, men in the Province of New Hamp- 
shire. He was a Representative from Dover, Parish of Summersworth, in 
1739. and each year thereafter until and including 1745; 'le was moderator 
in Dover town meetings in 173Q, 1745, 1746, 1748; one of the selectmen in 
1733, 1739, 1741 to 1746 and 1748, and was Judge of the Superior Court 
of the province from 1748 until his death. For several years he was colonel 
of a regiment. His grave is in the cemetery at Rollinsford Junction; a 
large slate headstone marks the spot, and has an elaborate inscription. 

Jndfie Ichahod Rollins was born in Dover, July iS. ij--'- 'i'^ •l''-''! i» •'^o'"" 
ersworth, January 31, iSoo. Fie was son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Ham) 
Rollins, of Greenland, who removed to Dover about 171 1, and settled in that 
part of the town which later became the Parish of Summersworth. in the 
neighborhood of what is now Rollinsford Junction. Jeremiah was son of 
Ichabod, who was son of James, the immigrant who settled in the Bloody 
Point parish of Dover about 1640, on the farm where now is Rollins station 



256 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

on the Portsmouth & Dover Railroad. He went to school to Master John 
Sullivan, father of the general. He married Abigail Wentworth, cousin of 
Col. John Wentworth already mentioned. They lived on the farm, in the 
nineteenth century known as the William W. Rollins farm, a lineal descend- 
ant of the judge. Ichabod was Representative of Somersworth in the 
Legislature of 1775 and 1776; Judge of Probate from 1776 to 1784; 
councillor in 1789. 

Dr. Moses Carr was born in Xewbury. Mass., November, 171 5. He died 
in Somersworth, March 30. 1800. He was son of John and Elizabeth Carr, 
who was son of James and grandson of George Carr, immigrant to Ipswich, 
Mass., in 1638. Doctor Carr came to Dover with parents when he was very 
young. Se\en years of his boyhood were spent as member of the household 
of Capt. Benjamin Wentworth, of Somersworth, whose niece, Mary Gerrish, 
he married in 1740. He was educated in Master John Sullivan's school, and 
later studied medicine, commencing practice about the time he was married. 
He lived at Rollinsford Junction and for sixty years practiced his profession 
in that and neighboring towns. He was town clerk from 1748 to 1776; Judge 
of the Court of Common Pleas from 1776 to 1784; Representative from 
Somersworth to the Legislature in 1781, 1782 and 1783. 

Col. James Carr was born April 22, 1748. He married Susanna Went- 
worth, daughter of Col. John. He lived on a farm near Salmon Falls village 
on the old road to Dover. He entered the army at the beginning of the Revo- 
lution as first lieutenant in the company of Capt. Jonathan Wentworth in 
Col. Enoch Poor's regiment and served through the war, being promoted to 
major before its close for meritorious service. After the war he was colonel 
of a regiment of New Hampshire militia. He was sheriff of Strafford county 
from 1800 to 1810. He was Representative from Somersworth from 1791 
to 1800, and again from 1810 to 1815. 

Col. Jonathan Wenfzuorth was born in Do\-er. September 8, 1741; died 
in Somersworth, November 16, 1790. He was son of Samuel Wentworth, 
who was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. He lived at Dry Hill in that 
part of Somersworth called "Sligo." He was one of the selectmen of Som- 
ersworth in 1774. He was with two brothers in the Revolutionary anny. 
He commenced service as captain of a company raised in Somersworth in 
1775. and served in Col. Enoch Poor's regiment. He started with his com- 
pany from Somersworth and made a rapid march of sixty-two miles just 
previous to the battle of Bunker Hill and arrived in Chelsea, opposite where 
tlie battle w as. in the morning, but could not cross the Mystic river on account 
of the enemy, so went round by way of Medford to join the troops, but could 
not participate in the battle. He was under Washington at Cambridge, in 



AND REi'RESEXT.\TI\"J£ CITIZENS 257 

1776; was at Ticonderuga in September of that year, but owing to some dis- 
agreement of commanding ofticers lie left the service for a time. He again 
joined the Continental arni_v at l-^hode Island, August 5. 1778, under Gen. 
John Sullivan. He was major in 1783, under Col. Thomas Bartlett, of Not- 
tingham, and at tjnc lime brigade-majnr under Col. Stephen Evans. In 
March, [779, he was Representative from Somersworth in the Legislature 
and held that otiice continuously from that date to March 13, 1782. He was 
colonel of the Second New Hampshire Regiment in 1789 and later. 

Somersworth had other noted men lietween the close of the Revolution 
and i8_'0, when Great Falls began to be looked at for development of its 
power, which had been running tu waste fur centuries. During the half 
century from 1820 to 1870, the following were a few of the noted men who 
led in business, church and state ; 

Isaac ll'cndcU was born in rortsmoutli, No\'ember i, I78(): died in Bustle- 
ton, Pa., about 18OO. He was son of J(jhn "' Wendell, who married, June 20, 
1753, Sarah, eldest dauglitei of Daniel and Elizabeth ( b'rost ) Wentworth, 
of Portsmouth. This Daniel Wentworth was son of Lieut. -(iov. John ^ 
Wentworth, grandson of Sanuiel and great-grandson of Elder William Went- 
worth, (jf Dover. Elizabeth Frost was niece of Sir William Pepperrell. 
John ■'■ Wendell was son of John ^ and Elizabeth (Ouincy), of Boston. This 
Elizabeth was daughter of Hon. Edmund Ouincy, of Boston. John "* Wendell 
was great-grandson of Invert Janse Wendell, the immigrant from Holland 
who settled at Albany, N. ^'., receiving his grant of land from Go\'. Peter 
Stuyvesant in 1652: he lived t(.) be nearly a century old and became immensely 
rich. 

John ■' \\ endell, father of Isaac,' founder of the mills at Somersworth, 
was born in 1731 and graduated from tiarvard College when he was nineteen 
years old. He studied law in Boston and soon after he was twenty-one years 
old opened an office in Portsmouth, N. IT., and became an e.xpert in the real 
estate business, as well as a good lawyer. He heM professional and social 
relations with leading citizens of the time. Among others he was a personal 
friend of Gen. John Sulli\'an, of Durham, and contrilnited freely from his 
fortune, as well as by his pen, towards sustaining the stand taken in the 
province against the arliitrary exactions of the Crown. He was a ready 
speaker and writer. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Yale 
College in 1768 and from Dartmouth in 1773. He died in Portsmouth, April 
29, 1808. 

John'' Wendell was twice married. Plis first wife died in 1772 and he 
married again in 1778 Dorothy Sherburne, daughter of Judge Henry and 
Sarah (W'arner) Sherburne, of Portsmouth. He w-as then forty-seven years 

16 



258 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTV 

old and she was twenty, only two years older than his eldest child then was. 
Their son Isaac, who was born November i, 1786, had an older brother 
Abraham and a younger brother Jacob, who were associated with him in the 
ownership of one-filth of the capital stock of the Hrst Great Falls Manufac- 
turing Company in 1823. 

This Jacob Wendell was a noted and very wealthy merchant in Ports- 
mouth, ancestor of the distinguished Prof. Barrett Wendell, of Harvard 
College. He became associated with his brother Isaac, in 1815, in the "Upper 
Factory" cotton mill at Do\'er. .\ letter written by Isaac's daughter, Miss 
Ann Elizabeth XA'endell, of Wayne, Pa., about 1880, gives the following 
interesting account of her father and Uncle Jacol). She says: 

"This undertaking was first initiateil l)y some gentlemen of Dover, at 
what is known as the "L'pper h'actory," where they were at that time (1815) 
spinning yarn and also making nails. Isaac Wendell, my father, entered 
wamily into the enterprise, and enlisted in its interests, and in those of the 
new mills established at Dover (Cochecho Falls), and subsequently at Great 
Falls ( Somersworth ). his brother, Jacob Wendell, and others, with his 
partner, John Williams, of Dover. The location and rise of the Great Falls 
Manufacturing Compan.y dates from 1823, the legislative act granting its 
incorj)oration bearing date June 11, that year. The inspection of mechanical 
details in the factory at Dover was intrusted to William Blackburne, an expe- 
rienced weaver from the city of Manchester, in England, while Isaac Wendell 
occupied the position of agent, and exercised a general supervision over the 
interests of the mills.'" 

"Of the working cai)acity of these factories some idea may be gained 
when we state that the first year (1821) three thousand spindles were put in 
operation in the wooden mill at Dover, since removed, while the total number 
operated at both places exceeded 30,000. The bricks necessary for these build- 
ings were made on the ground (from the excellent clay banks), while much 
of the ironwork needed was furnished l)y a small furnace erected on the 
Bellamy river (at lower falls). The mills made shirtings, print cloths and 
sheetings, and the annual production was \'ery large. Twelve to fifteen hun- 
dred operators were employed on the corporation, w bile the amount of money 
disbursed, monthly, exclusive of the cost of cotton, amounted to a large sum. 
In 1825 the company attempted the manufacture of woolen cloth and carpets, 
erecting a mill for that purpose, but it soon relinquished this project, and put 
the new factory also upon the manufacture of cotton. 

"The industry of weaving textile fabrics was then in its infancy on this 
side of the Atlantic, very little being known here at that period of improved 
machinery patented in Great Britain, which was prohibited by the Govern- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ' 259 

ment from exportation abroad. Isaac and Jacob Wendell, the embryo manu- 
facturers, purchased through Daniel Webster, then resident in Portsmouth, 
several fine water privileges, the first acquisition being the estate in Dover, 
known as the (Daniel) Waklron farm, upon winch they erected successively 
several structures. In the fall of 1821, the first mill was ready to commence 
operations, and its machinery was started in control of a skilful superintend- 
ent, under such favorable auspices, and with such satisfactory results, that 
two years later another mill was built upon the Salmon Falls river (Great 
brails) ])urchased of Air. ( iershoni Horn, which was the pioneer factory of 
the (ireat Falls corporation. 

"For some time everything went prosperously. The mills earned a hand- 
some profit upon the capital invested; the stock advanced to a premium, and 
all seemed to augur well for the future, until the notable commercial panic of 
1827-28 swept the country, and one mercantile crash succeefled another. The 
destruction of all confidence in business credit and financial strength was 
rapid and w idespreatl, in\-olving on all sides extended commercial ruin, 
among which was the failure of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, 
and the consetpient precipitation of heavy losses u|)on the Wendell Brothers, 
Isaac and Jacob. "J'he shock of this cahunity, though it very seriously 
cri]3pled them financially, did not cause utter discouragement. Accepting 
the unwelcome and unexpected circumstances, they devoted their energies, 
in the long years to come, in successfully getting into comfortable circum- 
stances, and passed their old age on Easy street." 

Jacob Wendell died at the homestead on Pleasant street, Portsmouth, 
N. H., ."Xugust 27, 1865. Isaac Wendell married Ann Austin Whittier. of 
Dover, N. H., in 1708, who was cousin to the father of John G. Whittier, 
the poet. "Whitcher's Falls" on the Cochecho river took its name from 
her father or grandfather. Isaac Wendell removed from Dover to Bustleton, 
Pa., in 1S30, and was engaged in manufacturing business there more than 
thirty years. He died about 1866. 

Nathaniel Wells was born at Wells, Me., February 28, 1805; he died at 
Somersworth, August 16. 1878. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Acad- 
emy in 1826. He then went to Brunswick, Me., where he engaged in trade 
for a time and edited a weekly newspaper. He came to Great Falls in 1830 
and studied law in the office of W^inthrop A. Marston, and after his admis- 
sion to the bar became a partner of Mr. Marston, and soon became one of 
the leading lawyers in Strafford and York counties. When Mr. Marston 
removed to Dover in 1842, Mr. Wells became law partner with Hon. Charles 
H. Bell, who later became Governor of New Hampshire, .^fter the death 



260 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of Mr. Marston in 185 1, Mr. Wells formed a partnership with Royal R. 
Eastman and the partnership of ^Vells & Eastman continued until 1873. 

Mr. Wells was acknowledged as a leading lawyer in Strafford county, 
and his reputation extended throughout the state. He was ottered a posi- 
tion on the hench of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, but declined. 
He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850, but he was not 
a politician nor a seeker after office. He was one of the h\e organizers and 
first directors of the Cireat Falls Woolen Co., at "New Dam." He was one 
of the organizers of the Great F'alls State Bank, and first president of Great 
Falls National Bank, now the F'irst National Bank, of which his son 
Christopher H. Wells is now president ; the senior Mr. Wells was president 
eighteen years until his death. He was an incorporator of the Somersworth 
.Savings Bank and for many years was its vice-president, which position his 
son, above mentioned, holds. 

Mr. Wells lent a heli)ing hand in the construction of the Great Falls & 
Conway Railroad, and was one of the incorporators and first president of 
the Great Falls Gas Company. In 1870 the honorary degree of Master of 
Arts was conferred on him by Dartmouth College. With a broad and deep 
knowledge of the law, excelling in drawing up legal instruments, and safe 
and honest as an adviser, he built up a large [)ractice and gained a wide 
reputation as a lawyer. 

On the 20th of F'ebruary, 1844, Mr. Wells was united in marriage with 
Eliza Lane Thom of Derry. To them were born six children, four of whom 
are now living: William T. of Maiden, Mass.; Harriet C. of St. Louis, 
Mo. : Christopher H. of Somersworth, and Mrs. H. W. L. Thatcher of 
St. Louis. 

Charles Francis Elliot. M. D.. was born at Mt. Vernon. N. H.. Novem- 
ber 3, 1803. When he was but a child his parents removed to Amherst, 
N. H. He obtained his preparatory education for college at Amherst and 
at Pembroke Academy. He entered Dartmouth in 1825 and graduated 
in 1829 with honor. He at once commenced the study of medicine at 
Amherst in the office of Doctor Spaulding; he completed his studies at Dart- 
mouth and at Bowdoin ^ledical Scliools, and recei\'ed his degree of M. D. 
in 1832. 

In December, 1833, he took up his residence here and for forty-two 
years practiced medicine in this place. He died at his home here June 23, 
1876. Dr. Elliot was a large, fine looking man and a physician of great 
skill and ability. He was one of the leaders of his profession in this section 
of New Hampshire, one of the best type of doctors of his time. He had 
a large practice, was universally esteemed as a man of high character and 



AND REPRESEXTATRE CITIZENS li61 

worth. He was president of the Strafford District jNledical Society, 1847-8. 
He was deeply interested in educational work and at one time was school 
commissioner, being called upon to visit all the schools in the county. 

He married Harriet Adelia Thorn of Derry, August 4, 1834. Of their 
four children one is li\ing, Miss Mary P. Elliot, whtj resides in the old 
homestead on Beacon street. 

Hon. Daniel G. Rollins was born m Lebanon, Me., October 3, 1796; 
he died February 2 J, 1875; he was a son of John and Betsey (Shapleigh) 
Rollins; her immigrant ancestors antl his lixed on the banks of the Pas- 
cataqua river: the one in Old Kittery, now Eliot, the other at Bloody Point 
in Dover, now Newington, their original grants of land were nearly oppo- 
site, and before 1650. Mr. Burleigh was a thoroughbred Englishman in 
both paternal and maternal ancestors, James l\<jllins l^eing the paternal and 
Alexander Shapleigh the maternal immigrant. His father was a farmer and 
brought his son up to do all kinds of farm work, from hunting hens' nests 
in the barn when a kid to driving the oxen with the goad, and holding the 
plow among stumps and rocks in the "])reaking ui)" for spring planting; 
while his father took good care in his bringing up, outdoors on the fami 
and in attending the winter schools, the good mother in the house saw to it 
that he received good moral and religious training; so in early manhood, 
in muscle and mind he was thoroughly trained to do well whatever his hands 
found to do, and there was a lot of it during the nearly four score years 
of his life. 

Mr. Rollins left tlie farm and started out in the worlil when he was 
twenty-five years old. That year was spent in Boston, at work in a store. 
The next year, 1823, and for two years following he was located in Ports- 
mouth as agent of a sugar refining company ; his chums at that time were 
men who later became known as Hon. Icha1)od Bartlett and Hon. W. H. Y. 
Hackett, two very distinguished New Hampshire lawyers. 

He was married February 3, 1825, at Watertown, Mass., to Miss Susan 
Binney Jackson, liy the Rev. Dr. Borie of that town. She was attending a 
boarding school in Portsmouth when Mr. Rollins made her acquaintance, 
resulting in a mutual falling in love. They celebrated their golden wedding 
February 3, 1875, only twenty days before his death. 

Judge Rollins, as he came to l)e known later in life, was a man of 
unusual enterprise. He made the acquaintance of tlie Wendells, Isaac and 
Jacob, while in Portsmouth, and by them was induced to remove to Great 
Falls, but he did not at first settle on the Somersworth side of the river; 
he lived on the Berwick side, where he had a sawmill and did a good deal 
in the lumber business: quite a lot of his lumber he used in building houses 



262 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

in the Great Falls village (Somersworlh) for the accommodation of the men 
and women who worked in the cotton mills. Later he removed his family 
across the river and spent the rest of his years in the village, and his spacious 
old homestead is still held in the family. He was largely instrumental in 
the projection, construction and management of the l)raiich railroad from 
the village to KoUinsford Junction, two miles, to connect with the Boston & 
Maine road, in 1843. The first passenger train over this hranch arrived in 
Great Falls July 4, 1843, amid great rejoicing by the people. Judge Rollins 
was one of the passengers and recei\ed hearty cheers when the puljlic saw 
him. Later Judge Rollins was leader in the construction of the Great Falls 
& Conway Railroad, which was completed to Rochester in 1850 and to 
Conway in 1870. He also helped extend the Conway road in the other 
direction to South Berwick and connect it with the Portsmouth, Saco «& 
Portland road at Conway Junction. He was an incor[)orator of the Great 
Falls Bank and of the Somersworth Savings Bank, and had much influence 
in getting the town to vote to establish Forest Glade Cemetery ; he gave 
it the name. 

He was appointed Judge of Probate for Strafford county in 1857 and 
held the office until 1866. He was not a lawyer; he never studied law, but 
his heart was warm, his sympathies quick, his judgment was logical, always 
making a careful decision according to the law as laid down in the books 
and according to common sense and justice when common law demanded 
a decision. Judge Rollins rarely made a mistake in his decisions of probate 
cases. His integrity w as never challenged or suspected ; he was a man of 
personal purity ; his speech Avas never unclean, profane or irreverent ; he 
was subject to no e\il habit. He was a member of the Congregational 
Church, and one of its liberal supporters. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Rollins were born ele\en children. Two died young 
and nine survived him. His sons were : Franklin J. of Portland, lor many 
years United States collector of internal revenue for the district of Maine; 
Edward A., Speaker of the Xcw Flampshire House of Representatives in 
1850, 1852; U. S. commissioner of internal revenue and president of 
the Centennial National Bank in Philadelphia: and donor to Dartmouth 
College of the beautiful Rollins Chapel. He was graduated from Dartmouth 
in the class of 1851; he died at Hanover, N. H., September 7, 1885, aged 
fifty-seven years. Daniel Gustavus. district attorney for tlie city of New 
York several years, and surrogate. New York. 1882-1888. He died at 
Somersworth in August, 1807, aged fifty-fi\-e years. George F. served many 
years in the Treasury Department at Washington. 

Micajah Currier Burleigh was l)oru in South Berwick, ^le., June 15. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 263 

i8]8; died in Sonierhworth, March 7, 1881. He was a son of Hon. William 
Burleigh, M. C, and Deborah Currier, his wife; his father served three 
terms in Congress from the first district in Maine, and died when his son 
Micajah was nine years old. The son was educated in the common schools 
and at Stratford Academy and New London Academy, at which institution 
he was converted and joined the Baptist Church, of which he always remained 
a member. In the fullness of his years he gave this institution $2,000. For 
a few months he studied law with his uncle, Hon. John A. Burleigh. Four- 
teen years he was a seafaring man. entering the service as a common sailor 
and rising to be captain in the last years. In that service of command of 
the ship and all in it Mr. Burleigh acijuired a habit of "command" which 
lasted through life; he did not forget the blulf. hearty sailor ways in dealing 
with men in other callings of business, but he did not often displease by 
these characteristics. 

On Ifeaving the seafaring life he engaged in business in South Berwick 
in the store of Parks & Hains, general assortment of goods such as were 
in demand in a village store ; he was all-round clerk for a while, then, having 
mastered the business, he became a partner in the firm for a year or two, 
then gave it up and became partner in the firm of \V. & E. Griffin, iron 
founders, then running two small foundries on the Salmon Falls river, 
one at Salmon Falls, the other at Great Falls. In about three years Mr. 
Burleigh obtained control of the whole business, the partners withdrawing. 
It was in 1848, when thirty years old, that he started in business for himself 
as an iron founder. In 1849 he procured an act of incorporation under the 
name of the Somersworth Machine Company and Mr. Oliver H. Lord 
became partner with him in the business. Mr. Burleigh was agent and 
Mr. Lord treasurer of the corporation. They met with great success and 
gathered in the shekels hand over fist. This partnership continued until 
1S64, Burleigh and Lord holding their respective offices. In that year 
Mr. Lord purchased the Dover Iron Foundry and turned his attention more 
especially to it, and Mr. Burleigh alone was the executive head of the 
Somersworth concern, and he kept on doing big business just the same, 
devoting the best and most active years of his life to it; with it his name was 
inseparably connected, and from it he ac(iuired a large property. 

When Mr. Burleigh had got himself well established in business in 
Somersworth he began to take an interest in public affairs; having been a 
successful sea captain, he knew how to rule men in other ranks in life, and 
his fellow citizens placed confidence in him and he never betrayed them. In 
1854 and 1855 they made him their Representative in the State Legislature. 
They made him State Senator in 1858 and 1859. In 1876 they made him a 



& 



264 II [STORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

member of the Constitutional Convention. In all these he did good service 
on important committees; he was not a public speaker or debater. Up to 
i860, when the Civil war began, he was known as Captain Burleigh. 
Governor Gilmore made him one of his stafif officers with the rank of 
colonel, after that he was known as Colonel Burleigh and liis fame was 
mighty among the men of Somersworth and Strafford county. New Hamp- 
.--hire. and York couftty. Maine. Colonel Burleigh had a commanding per- 
sonal appearance; he was abo\-e the medium height, broad shouldered and 
deep chested, weighing when in health considerably over 200 pounds, but 
there was nothing slow about him; always erect, and usually agile in his 
carriage. He was one of the most efficient memloers of Gilmore's staff and 
was a tower of strength to the Governor in that distressing time of war. 
He had a large. massi\-e head, features strong and regular, a clear blue eye, 
and a mass of dark, wavy hair in the prime of life, which in his old age had 
turned white and made him a marked man in all places where men assembled. 

On December 9, 1847, he married ;\Iary Francis Russell of Somers- 
worth. They had a large family of children. Two sons graduated from 
Dartmouth College: \\'illiam Russell, who was born in 1851, and graduated 
in 1872. His father was present at commencement and received the honor- 
ary degree of A. ^^.I. at the same time the son received the degree of A. B. 
The son studied law and commenced practice in Somersworth. He is now 
and has been for a number of years a lawyer in Manchester. The other son, 
Edward Stark, graduated from Dartmouth in 1878; studied law and for 
many years has practiced his profession in Florida, where he was obliged 
to go for his health. 

Oliver Hubbard Lord was born in Soutli Berwick, Me., Xo\eml)er 19, 
181 t: he died in Somersworth in 1S90. He was a son of Epliraim and 
Sally (Goodwin) Lord. He was educated in the public schools and Berwick 
Academy of that town and learned the trade of saddler and harness maker. 
Later he worked in the woolen factory there and won rapid promotion 
under the agent. Joshua \\". Peirce. May j8, 1S3J, when he was twentv- 
one years old. he came to Great Falls (Somersworth) and entered the eiuploy 
of a dry-goods store as clerk. He remained with ]\Ir. Lawton one year, 
then engaged with the firm of Tarr & Bates as clerk; salary, $100 a year. 
Ha\'ing learned the Inisiness, he soon was engaged as manager of the store 
of John W. Davis; after working two years he became partner with 
Mr. Davis, under the firm name of Jacob Davis & Co. In 1836 he withdrew 
and engaged with John B. W^ood, under the finu name of Wood & Lord, 
which continued until 18,39. He then opened a store of his own and did a 
prosperous business up to 1850, when he retired from the dry-goods busi- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 265 

ness, and soun engaged with lion. M. C. Burleigh, June, i<S5i, in the iron 
fountlry liusiness, ui tlie Suniersw orth Machine Company, he Ix-ing treasurer 
and Mr. Uurleigli agent. Several years afterward he became proprietor of 
the Dover Iron h'oundry, which was managed by his son-in-law, Charles E. 
Marston, after Mr. Lord's death. In all these concerns Mr. Lord prospered 
and acquired large wealth. 

Mr. Lord was one of the incorporators of the Somersworth Savings 
Bank. He was trustee from the time of its organization until 1876, when 
he declined a re-election. He was one of the incorporators of the Great 
Falls State Bank in 1846, and one of its directors until 185J. when he 
resigned to take a directorship in the Salmon Falls State Bank, then being 
organized. He was president of the savings Ijank uj) to 1882. He was a 
stanch reiiuljlican. ha\ing been a Free Soiler before the Republican party was 
organized. He was one of the Representatixes from Somersworth in the 
Legislature in 1S61 and 1862. He was a stanch supporter of the Great 
Falls & Conway Railroad, and sa\ed it from going into bankrujitcy in 1836. 
He was chairman (jf the lioard of trustees of the third bondholders, who 
took possession of the road. 

^Ir. Lord's wife was Mary W. G. Ste\'ens, daughter of Dr. Whiting 
Ste\'ens of Shai^leigh, Me. They were married in August, 1838. They 
had two sons and two daughters, who li\ed to grow up: George Boardman : 
Mary A., wife of James Dix, for a number of years principal of Colby 
Academy, New I,ondon, N. H. : Annie A., wife of Charles E. Marston; and 
Edward Oliver. The last named graduated from Colby L'ni\ersity in 1877. 
For a number of years he was editor and proprietor of the Great Falls 
Free Press and Journal. 

Dai'id Hanson Biiifiiiii w'as born in North Berwick, Me.. Nox-emljcr 10, 
1820. He was a son of Timothy and .\nn (Austin) I^.uffum. His father 
died when the son was six years old. He was brought uj) 1:)y his uncle. He 
was educated in the common schools and Berwick .\cademy. and taught 
district schools in the winter. He began his business career as clerk in a 
store at Great Falls (Somersworth) in 1839, at a salary of eight dollars a 
month. He began when he was nineteen and worked two years as clerk. 
When he was twenty-one he became a partner in the concern and worked 
two years more. He then sold out, in 1843, ami liuilt a brick block with 
three stores in it, one of which he occupied himself for the sale of general 
merchandise. December 5, 1846, he was chosen cashier of the Great Falls 
State Bank and gave up storekecping to attend to banking. He was cashier 
until April 20. 1863. In .\ugust, 1867, he was elected treasurer of the 
Somersworth Savings Bank and held the office ten years. In 1857 Mr. 



266 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Buffuni and John H. Burleigli organized the Xewichawannock Woolen 
Company, at South Berwick, Me., and in 1S62 he was one of the organizers 
of Great Flails Woolen Company, and became its treasurer and general 
manager. He also owned a felt mill at Milton, and was partner in the wool- 
pulling establishment of L. R. Herron & Co. of Berwick, Me. He was a 
stockholder and director in the Great Falls Manufacturing Com])any from 
1877 till his death. 

Mr. Buffum was town clerk in 1843, 1844; moderator from 1S48 to 
1857, and selectman in 1846, 1871 and 1872. He was Representative in the 
Legislature of i86t and 1862. State Senator in 1877 and 1878; he was 
president of the Senate in his second year, being the first Strafford county 
man to be thus honored as presiding officer. In 1880 he was delegate to the 
Republican National Convention at Chicago. The reader does not need to 
be informed that Mr. Buffum lived a very busy life; he was not only a very 
busy man, but a very able and successful one. 

Mr. Buffum's wife was Charlotte E. Stickney, daughter of Alexander 
H. Stickney of Great Falls. They were married January 26, 1853. Their 
three sons — Edgar S., Harry A. and David H. — all grew up and became 
worthy and successful business men. 

Caf>!. Isaac ChaiiiHcr was born in Windsor, Conn.. September 22, 181 1. 
He received a common school education, and commenced work in a cotton 
factory at Ludlow, Mass., when he was sixteen years old. When he was 
nineteen he left there and came to Great Falls (Somersworth) in 1830 and 
engaged in covering rollers for the Cotton Manufacturing Company; his 
pay was twenty-two cents a day, and during the first year, at that, he laid 
by forty-nine dollars and seventy-six cents. He was then promoted to the 
mule-room, receiving a few cents more a day; he soon mastered that work 
and they set him at work mule-spinning, and he soon by far exceeded the 
efficiency of the old workmen, who tried to bluff and bother him. In 1S35 
he was placed in charge of the belt and roller shop, which position he held 
for a long series of years. 

A young man who could save forty-nine dollars in a year on a salary of 
twenty-two cents a day, as he did. was sure to succeed ; that saving charac- 
teristic ruled in his financial affairs all through life. He possessed financial 
foresight which led him to make investments in Government land in the 
West as opportunity presented. He began this practice as early as 1833. 
and kept it up and received large returns on his investments. 

Notwithstanding he was connected with the mills, he found time to do 
lots of other things. He commanded a militia company four vears and won 
his title of captain. In his mature years he was a director in the Great Falls 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 267 

National Bank; vice-president of the Somersworth Savings Bank; director 
in the Great Falls & Conwa}' Railroad; one of the founders of the village 
library; Representati\e in the Legislature in 185 1; for thirty years he was 
member of the school committee and was a powerful force in keeping the 
schools of the town a little ahead of other towns in educational methods. 
As school committeenian he soon made up for his own lack in boyhood 
education by making himself familiar with all the text-books used in all 
grades of the schools, so far as the English language was concerned. There 
was nothing stingy about Mr. Chandler's character or hal.iits ; he was a 
benevolent man, but he chose to be his own judge of how to spend his 
money on charity; he ne\er turned the worthy poor away empty; on the 
contrary, he sought them out when they did not seek his aid. 

Mr. Chandler's wife was Elizabetli Downing Inirber, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Alice C. Furber. They were married No\ember 26, 1837. Their 
children were: Mary Eliza; Charles Furber; Arabella; and Albert F. The 
sons were educated in the Somersworth scho(.)ls and went West when young 
men, where they became successful business men and useful citizens in the 
communities in which they li\'ed. 



CHAPTER XXV 
HISTORY OF ROLLINSFORD (I) 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME, THE FARMERS 

Rollinsford adjcjins South Berwick. Me., from which it is separated by 
the Salmon Falls river Up t(j July 3. 1S49. its territory was a part of 
Somersworth and its history, chiefly, to that date has been given under the 
head of Somersworth. Since it was incorporated as a separate town it has 
continued to flourish and progress in a manner very creditable to its citizens. 
It has always been regarded as one of the best farming towns in Xew 
Hami)sliire. and its early reputation in this respect has been maintained by 
the farmers of the present century; they are up to date in every farm 
imprdvement. The Kdlinsfdrd ( Irange is one of their latest institutions and 
:t is one nf the best in the state, and none better in the countv. They have 
a fine hall in wdiich to hold their meetings, both officially and socially; in 
fact, it is the social center of all interests outside of Salmon Falls village, 
which latter is made up largely of foreign elements that work in the mills. 
The old. native Somersworth stock is as vigorous as at anv time in its 
history. .Many of the families on the farms can trace their ancestry back 
to the immigrant settlers of Old Dover, of which Somersworth was a parish. 
In their Grange meetings they discuss all the new questions of the day and 
keep up the old traditions of historic interest. It is a pleasure to ride on the 
various good roads in the farming district and look at the elegant and 
well kept farm buildings, and gaze over the broad, smooth fields in the grow- 
ing and the harvest seasons of the year. If one wants to get a fine view of 
Rollinsford farms, the best place to get it is from the upper lialcony of 
the Sawyer Memorial Observatory on Garrison Hill, the east part of which 
hill is in this town. 

\\ hen Rollinsford was incorporated in 1840. the petitioners asked that 
It be so named, as the Rollins family was one of the most numerous and 
most prominent in the town. Of course, there were others equally promi- 
nent, but not .so numerous. They owned large farms; they held important 

268 



AXI) KEPRESEXTATIVE CITIZEXS 269 

official positions from time to time. Judges, Representatives. Senators. 
Hence tiie origin of tiie name of the town. 

ITS X'AIUOL'S INDUSTRIES 

Otherwise tiian farining, the cine I industry of Rolhnsford is the manu- 
facture of cotton goods at Sahnon EaUs viUagc. The postoffice of the town 
is Sahiion Falls, hence a great many persons take it* for granted that is the 
name of the town. It is a very ancient name, dating away back to 1634, or 
earlier; it may be s') far back as the founding of Dover, and was so named 
because for ages Ijefore the white men came here the salmon hsh used to 
come up this river in great "'schools" from the salt water of the Pascataqua 
and Newichawannock rivers to get into fresh water to lav their spawn to 
hatch a new lot of salmon annually. It was preciselv the same here as it 
is now in the Columbia river and other ri\ers of the western United States 
and Alaska. The salmon fish kei)t up this annual work in springtime -until 
they were shut out from getting to fresh water by dams across the fresh 
water rivers at Ouamphegan E'alls and Cochecho h'alls after 1640. When 
the fish could not get to the fresh water they ceased coming up the salt water 
rivers and became extinct in the waters along the New Ham[>shire and 
Maine coasts. They could not continue existence without the annual migra- 
tion to fresh water. An abundant supply was kept up for Do\-er fishermen 
until about 1640. So, of old, these falls in Rolhnsford were called Salmon 
Falls, and the Indians had their spring fishing there for ages before the 
Englishnien' built a log house on the bank of the river. 

There was a saw mill at the falls at an early period, but the water power 
was not used to any extent imtil the Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company 
was incorporated, June 17, iSjj. The incorporators and pioneers in this 
work were James Rundlett, Jerennah Mason, John Haven and others; the 
General Court of New Hampshire emjiowered them to carry on the manu- 
facture of cotton, woolen and other goods at Salmon Falls in the town of 
Somersworth. They began wi^rk jjy erecting a mill where No. i now stands, 
for tlie manufacture of woolen cloth, and ran it with \arying success until 
August 7, 1834, when it was totally destroyed by fire. This stroke of bad 
luck was very discouraging to the owners, and the political situation at 
Washington rendered it uncertain what prospect of success there might be 
if they rebuilt the burned walls, but two years later, August _'6, 1836, the 
stockholders held a meeting and voted to rebuild ; after the building was 
erected there was a difference of opinion among the managers as to what 
they should manufacture, woolen cloth, as formerly, or cotton cloth; this 



270 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

disagreement blocked all progress until 1844, when a number of Boston 
capitalists got hold of a controlling interest in the property of the corpora- 
tion ; among these enterprising men were Abbott Lawrence, Amos Law- 
rence. William Appleton and others who had become interested in the manu- 
facture of cotton goods in other sections of New Englaml. Thev put in 
the best machinery that could be bought in England and in due time had 
the mill manufacturing bea\y cotton drillings and sheetings. The \-enture 
])ro\ed a success, to such a degree that four years later, in 1848, they built 
another mill of sixteen thousand spindles, and they increased their capital 
stock from $500,00x3 to $1,000,000. This Xo. 2 mill was 360 feet long, 60 
feet wide and five stories high. The business prospered up to the beginning 
of the Civil war. A large village had grown up in Rollinsford, which 
changed the conditions of the town, socially and financially. A new class 
of people had come in. Of course, during the war, when cotton was scarce 
;uid high priced, the mills could not dn much. 

July 8. 1864, the company sustained a heavy loss by the total destruction 
by tire, of No. i mill, agent's house, machine shop, cloth room and other 
property. In the spring of 1865, when the managers saw the end of the 
war was near, and they could be assured of a good supply of cotton, they 
commenced to rebuild No. i mill in larger proportions, and put up lirick 
wall three hundred and sixty-three feet long, fifty feet wide and five stories 
high, in which they installed 15,000 spindles, and business began to boom, 
and has been kept generally good ever since. They had been so prosperous 
that in 1876. by judicious alterations and improvements, the number of 
spindles was increased from 31,000 to 54,304. In connection with the mills 
they have a large picker house, a machine shop and a cloth room and a cotton 
house. Various impro\-enients lia\-e been made since 1876, old machinery 
being displaced for that which is up to date in doing rapid and economical 
as well as first class work in cotton manufacture. 

The company not only built the mills, but they practically built the 
village around it. They put up good houses for their help to live in ; they 
laid out streets, and lent a helping hand to the town in various ways. All 
this was in the line of progress, but it reduced the prosperous village of Old 
Soniersworth, at Rollinsford Junction, to a hamlet of prosperous fanners, 
and brought to an end the Parish of Summersworth, that was full of good 
works of worthy, high-minded, industrious men and women. The old 
church at the junction gave place to the new Congregational Church, which 
was organized May i, 1846, with Mr. Samuel J. Spalding as pastor, which 
has done good work ever since. Mr. Spalding served as minister to June 9, 
1851; among his successors are E. E. .\lwater, 1852-1857; D. B. Bradford, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 271 

185S-1862; S. V. Robie, 1S66-1870; Selali Merrill, 1870-1874; George W. 
Christie, 1878- 1880; R. G. W'oodbridge, 1880- 1890. 

The Protestant Episcopal Church started in holding ser\ices in the vil- 
lage in 1830 under the supervision of the Rev. Henry Blackaller, who was 
then preaching at Great Fails. Services continued to be held in halls there, 
from time to time, until "Christ Church" was organized in February, 1831; 
their church edifice was dedicated July -'4. Services were held c^uite regu- 
larly up to J84O, since when there have been \ery few services, at irregular 
intervals, owing to a change in the class of population. 

A Methodist Episcopal Society was organized in the \-illage in August, 
1849, with twenty-four members and the lollownig board of stewards: 
Thomas Foye, j. W . Worster, Foster Wilson. Orange Page, Amasa Fitch, 
N. G. Clary and R. C. Fernakl. The societ\- ne\er erected a meeting house, 
but held services in halls, and the Episcopal Church when not in use until 
1862, when the war had so pnjstrated business that the supply of the pulpit 
could not be maintained. Since then a union was established with the Con- 
gregational Church, .\mong those who served as pastors were Reverends 
Henry Drew, James Thurston, Samuel P>udle, Byron Mark, Silas Green, 
Eliazer Smith, Simeon P. 1 leatli and J. H. Holnian. 

The Roman Catholics erected an edifice for worship in 1857, near the 
present passenger station in the .Salmon Falls village. The cost of the large 
brick building was about ten thousand dollars; the membership then was 
about six hundred. The first priest was the Rev. Michael Lucy, who served 
until 1865. He had under his charge also the Catholics at Great Falls, hold- 
ing services at both places each Sunday. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
Patrick Canovan, who was the priest over the church until 1870. His suc- 
cessor was the Rev. John Sullivan ; next was Rev. William Herbert, w-hose 
successor was the Rev. F^rancis X. Bou\ier, who was followed by able priests 
to the present day. 

The Salmon Fails Manufacturing Company has had very able men for 
agents to manage its mills. Their names are as follows : James Rundlett 
from November 21, 1822, to July 14, 1823; Ebenezer Ball from August 21, 
1823, to January i. 1825; Joshua \\'. Pierce from January i, 1825, to May 
14. 1844; Pliny Law ton from May 14, 1S44, to July 14, 1854; Varnum A. 
Shedd from July 14, 1854, to April 2, 1859; Joshua Converse from April 20, 
1859, to July 15, 1875; O. S. Brown from July 31, 1875, until his death in 
1904. His successors were Charles H. Rumer, one year; J. P. Lewis, eight 
years; present agent, L. W. Omaley. The results of the management by 
these men were highly creditable to them and satisfactory to the stockholders. 



272 lllSroRV Ui'" STRAFFORD CUL'XTV 

who have received good divideiuls during the larger jjart of tiie )'(.ars ihe 
coini;any has heen in existence. 

SOMERSWURTll MACHINE COMl'A.NA' 

The Sonierswortii Machine L'onipany lias a foundry and machine shop 
about one-thirtl of a mile down the riser from the factory mills. This was 
estaljlished at an earl)- period after the mills were in running order and 
supplied a long felt want, not only for the mills but also for all the business 
interests of Stratfori! county, as also of York county, Maine. For many- 
years past it has been under the very etiicient management of Edwin A. 
Stevens, Esq. .\bout seventy-five men are employed and all sorts of castings 
are made, as business of the community may demand. F^or many years the 
manufacture of stoves was a specialty. 

BANKS A.Vl) BANKING 

There are t\\(j Ijanks in the \illage. the Salmon h'alls State Bank, and 
the Rollinsforcl Savings Bank. The former was incorporated as a state 
liank July 3, iiS^i, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, divided into five 
hundred shares of one hundred dollars each. The first meeting was held 
Septemlier 13. 1N51. William IT. Alorton was chosen cashier and held the 
office continuou-^ly. until his death in 1898. Flis successor, who had been 
a'^sistant cashier for a number of years, was John O. A. W'entworth, who 
has held the office continuously to the present time. The bank commenced 
operation on the first day of January. 185J, and it has always been conducted 
in a sound and successful manner. The directors first chosen were : Hiram 
R. Roberts, Augustus Rollins Pliney Lawton Samuel Hiedden. John Tyler, 
Humphrey S. Watson and 01i\'er Lord. Wr. Roberts was elected president 
and held the office until his death in 1876. He was succeeded by his son, 
Joseph Doe Roberts, who holds the office at the present time. 

The Rollinsford .Savings Bank was incorporated by the New Hampshire 
Legislature in 1850, one }'ear after the town was incorporated, and it com- 
menced operations soon after it was incorporated. The officers chosen by 
the incorporators w ere ; President, Hiram R. Roberts ; vice-presidents, 
Josejjh Doe and F'liney Lawton ; trustees, Francis Phimer, William H. Mor- 
ton, John Woodman. Horace Barber, Roliert C. Fernald and Charles T. 
Stewart; secretary and treasurer. Justus D. \\'atson. In 1855 William H. 
Morton was chosen secretary and treasurer, which offices he held until his 
death in 1903. His successor was John O. A. Wentworth. whii has held 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 273 

the offices to the present time. On the death of President Hiram R. Roberts 
in 1876, Mr. Edwin A. Stevens \\as elected his successor, which office he 
holds at the present time. 

On July I. 1835, the deposits were $70,463; in July, 1877, the amount 
had increased to above $800,000. In the winter of 1877-78 there occurred 
a large depreciation of the resources of savings banks in general throughout 
New England, owing to the failure of western securities; Rollinsford bank 
suffered with the rest, hence the bank commissioners ordered the deposits 
of the bank to be cut down 25 ])er cent, which was done. But in a few years 
the affairs of the bank \\ere managed s<> well that the cut down was restored 
to the depositors. Since then the l>ank has c<Mitinued to prosper; the amount 
of its deposits at the present time is more than $734,539.04. 

K.\ILI^().\I),S 

The Boston & Maine Railroad has about four miles of road in Rollins- 
ford, from the Dover line at Garrison Hill to the east shore of the Salmon 
Falls river. It is double tracked and in every way in first class condition. 
There are two stations, one at Salmon Falls village, the other at Rollinsford 
Junction, where for a great many years was the center of business in Old 
Somersworth. At Rollinsford station is a branch track of about two miles 
and a half to Great Falls, the center of the city of Somersworth, where it 
connects with tlie Great Falls & Conway Railway for all northern points in 
New Hampshire. This latter road has about one mile of track in Rollins- 
ford. connecting with the eastern branch of the Boston & Maine at Conway 
Junction in Eliot, Maine. This road connects with the Portland & Ogdens- 
burg road at North Conway. In the touring season of each year there is an 
immense amount of travel through this town to the White Mountain region. 
The branch road from Somersworth gives the citizens of that city ample 
connection with all points south and west. 



16 



CHAPTER XXVI 
HISTORY OF ROLLINSFORD (II) 

MILITARY RECORD 

Althougli Rollinsford is a small town, and at the beginning of the Civil 
war in 1861 its total population was a little over 2,000 inhabitants, of whom 
y^j were males, men and boys, it did valiant service for the Union cause, 
as the following list of soldiers it furnished clearly shows. The following is 
a list of the men mustered into the United States service under the call of 
July 2, 1862, and subsequent calls, and assigned to the quota of Rollinsford, 
and to whom the to\vn paid bounties, and was reimbursed in part by the 
amount affixed to each name, as awarded by the commissioners for the 
reimbursement of municii^al war expenditures, appointed by the Legislature 
under the act of July, 1870 and 1S7T. 

The commissioners took no cognizance of men who enlisted and were 
mustered in previous to the said call of July 2, 1862.' 

John D. Mahony. Co. A, 4th Regt. : Feb. 10, 1S64: re-enlisted. 

Charles E. Colcord, Co. C, 4th Regt.; Fclx 17, 1864; re-enlisted. 

Daniel Murray, Co. K, 5th Regt.; Dec. 7, 1863. 

August L. Litchfield, Co. F, 7th Regt.; Feb. 28, 1864; re-enlisted. 

Patrick H. Maguire, Co. F, 7th Regt.; Feb. 29, 1864: re-enli.sted. 

Peter W. :\lorandy, Co. F, 7th Regt.; Feb. 29, 1864; re-enli.sted. 

Webster Miller, Co. F, 7th Regt.; Feb. 29, 1864; re-enlisted. 

Thomas Ford, Co. F. 7th Regt.; Feb. 29, 1864; re-enlisted. 

James Mnrpliy, Co. I, 7lh Regt.; Feb. 28, 1864; re-enlisted. 

Enoch Tebbets, Co. C, Qtli Re.gt. ; Dec. 7, 1863. 

Albert H. Perkins, Co. C, Qth Regt.; Dec. 8, 1863. 

Albanois Worster, Co. C, 9th Regt.; Dec. 8, 1863. 

Michael Hogan, Co. F. loth Regt. ; Sept. 16, 1862. 

James O'Brien, Co. F, loth Regt.; Sept. 16, 1862. 

John Liddon, Co. F, loth Regt.; Sept. 16, 1862. 

John Handlin, Co. F, loth Regt.; Sept. 16, 1862. 

Patrick Croger, Co. I, lOth Regt. ; Aug. 20, 1862. 

274 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 275 

Henry Downing, Co. I, loth Regt. ; Aug. 4, 1862. 
Charles W. Abbott, Co. E, loth Regt.; Sept. i, 1862. 
James Coulter, Co. I, loth Regt. ; Aug. 23, 1862. 
Henry Redan, Co. B, nth Regt.; Dec. 18, 1863. 
Frank Davis, Co. B, nth Regt.; July 29. 1864. 
James McCluney, Co. D, 12th Regt.; Dec. 11, 1863. 
Thomas O'Brien, Co. D, 12th Regt.; Dec. 11, 1863. 
Thomas Kingley, Co. D, 12th Regt.; Dec. 11, 1863. 
Benjamin Williams, Co. D, 12th Regt.; Dec. 11, 1863. 
Thomas Douley, Co. D, 12th Regt.; Dec. 11, 1863. 
William Davis, Co. D, 12th Regt.; Dec. 11, 1863. 
Alonzo E. Curtis, Co. D, 9th Regt.; July 30, 1864. 
James Dorrity, Co. D, 9th Regt.; July 30, 1864. 
Edward Flannigan, Co. D, 9th Regt. ; July 30, 1864. 
James Thompson, Co. D, 9th Re.gt. : July 30, 1864. 
George B. Brown, Co. D, 9th Regt.; July 26, 1864. 
Joseph Wentworth, Co. D, 9th Regt. ; July 26, 1864. 
Michael McLaughlin, Co. D, 9th Regt.; July 28, 1864. 
James M. Thompson, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
George F. Shedd, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
James M. Pierce, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Levi J. Bradley, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1S62. 
John M. Dore, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18. 1862. 
N. B. Chapman, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
William H. Sythes, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Albion K. B. Shaw, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
William H. Aspinwah, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. iS, 1862. 
Charles B. Averill, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Ira A. Bedell, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
David W. Bodge, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Richard Doherty, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
John Drew, Co. B, 13th Re.gt. ; Sept. 18, 1862. 
John A. Dawson, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. t8, 1862. 
Franklin Grant, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Charles E. Hartford, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
James O. Hanscom, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
John Hanscom, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
James F. Hayes, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
David Hodgdon, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. t8, 1862. 
Albion A. Lord, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 



276 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

William E. Lord, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
John McKinsey, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
David McGroty, Co. B, i3tli Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Charles H. C. Otis, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
William C. Powers, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
John Peiidham, Co. B. 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Smith C. Page. Co. B. 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
William H. Peckham. Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Orrin Rollins. Co. B. nth Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Orenzo Rollins, Co. B, 13th Regt.: Sept. iS, 1862. 
Renhen Randall, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
William F. Staples, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Charles B. Saunders, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Alhert C. Thompson, Co B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Henry C. \\'illard, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Horatio H. Warren, Co. B. 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Joseph Wiggin, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Thomas Wentworth, Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept. 18, 1862. 
Eli.sha E. Dodge, capt. Co. B, 13th Regt.; Sept i-j, 1862 
Frank J. Courson, Co. B, ist Cav. ; March 28, 1864. 
Joseph H. Currier, Co. B, ist Cav. ; March 25, 1864. 
James McGregor, Co. B, ist Cav.; March 26, 1864. 
Nelson C. Eastman, Co. B, ist Cav.; March 26, 1864. 
John S. Powers, Co. B, ist Cav.; March 28, 1864. 
George A. Webster, Co. I, ist Cav.; March 23, 1864. 
George H. Steele, Co. K, ist Cav.; March 18, 1864. 
Luke R. Russell, Co. G. H. Art.; Sept. 4. 1864. 
Gilman Knight, Co. G, H. .\rt. ; Sept. 4, 18.64. 
John H. Sanbern. V. R. C. ; Dec. 17, 1863. 
Charles N. Adams, I'. S. A.; Feb. 9, 1864. 
Frank Stanley, Aug 9, 1864. 
Richard Stanley, Aug. 9, 1864. 
William Dorman, Aug. 21, 1864. 
Charles Kermin, .Aug. 2. 1864. 
George ^^'illiams, Aug. 2, 1864. 
William L. Lane, Aug. 2, 1864. 
.-\mos W. Pike, .Aug. 2, i8('>4; substitute. 
John O'Neil, Aug. 17, 1864. 
• James Sharracks, Sept. 8, 1864. 
Henry Hemp, Sept. 8, 1864. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



m 



Frank S. Mildraw, Sept. 6, 1864. 

Pierce B. Buckley, Sept. 6, 1864. 

Lewis Ceroid, Sept. 6, 1864. 

Thomas Mon-ity, Sept. 7, 1864. 

Michael Medden. Sept. 7, 1864. 

Robert Carr, Sept. 7, 18O4. 

William Williams, Sept. 17, 1863. 

Charles Smith, July 3, 1863. 

Henry B. Philiiot, Aug. 15. 1864. 

John Drury, Aug. 10, 1864. 

Thomas Kearns, Aug. 12, 1864. 

George W. Brooks, September, 1863. 

Patrick O'Grady, September, 18^3. 

C. J. Collager, September, 1863. 

Richard Proctor, September, 1863. 

Alexander (i. .\nderson, Seirtemljer, 1863. 

John Shepard, September, 1863. 

Samuel H. Rollins, ]\Iay 5, 1S63: substitute. 

Men who served four years i $ 133-34 

Men -who served three years 108 10,800.00 

Men who served one year 6 Joo.oo 

Men who served two months i 5.55 

Total $11,138.89 



FIK.ST REGIMENT VOLUNTEERS Three MoiltllS 



George Guppey, ist sergt. Co. A, 
Minot R. Bedell, Co. A. 
George Boncher, Co. A. 
Charles E. Colcord, Co. A. 
James Daniels, Co. A. 
Webster Miller, Co. A. 
Henry Nichols, Co. A. 
Ivory Pray, Co. A. 
George H. Robinson, Co. A. 



George R. Shapleigh, Co. A. 
Josiah Whitehouse, Co. A. 
George H. Jenkins, corp. Co. B. 
George R. Downing, Co. B. 
Jones Reynolds, Co. B. 
Jacob W. Yeaton, Co. B. 
Lewis K. Litchfield, corp. Co. B. 
William Yeaton, Co. B. 



CHAPTER X.WII 
HISTORY OF ROLLIXSFORD (III) 

NOTABLE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN 

In the Rollinsford part of Old Somersworth lived a good number of 
notable persons whose record is given under the head of that city, but 
Rollinsford, since it became a sejiarate town, has kept up the reputation that 
\\as established in former years. Among the number are the following: 

Bartlwlomciv ]\'c)itworth, born January j. 17S8, lived and died on an 
estate which was granted to his great-great-grandfather, Elder William 
Wentworth, December, 1652, and on which he li\ed and where he died and 
was buried, when past four-score years of age, IMarch 16, 1696-7, the 
eighty-first anniversary of the day of his baptism. Bartholomew was the 
twelfth child and se\'enth son of a family of fourteen children, ten of whom 
arrived to maturity. He was a son of liartholomew and Ruth (Hall) Went- 
worth; grandson of Lieut. Benjamin and Deborah (Stimpson) Wentworth; 
great-grandson of Benjamin and Sarah (Allen) Wentworth, who was the 
youngest son of Elder William Wentworth, ami all of these, in succession, 
lived on the elder's homestead of 1652, and which yet remains in possession 
of Bartholomew's grandson, John Wentworth. 

Bartholomew Wentworth, Sr., died May 25, 1813, and his wife died 
in January, 1840. She was a descendant of Deacon John Hall of Dover, 
who came from England about 1639. He was a man of prominence in the 
settlement on Dover Neck, and for forty years was deacon of the First 
Church in Dover. 

Bartholomew Wentworth, Jr., on July 2?', iSii, was united in marriage 
with Nancy Hall, daughter of Capt. William and Sarah (Roberts) Hall. 
Their children: Arioch, l)orn June 13. 1813: Catherine, born April 28. 1815; 
Ruth, bom April 25. 1818; Sally, born December 12, 1S22; William Hall, 
born March 30, 1824; Rebecca Ann, born March 2, 1826; Seleucus, horn 
March 3, 1831. All these are dead; the last surxivor was Rebecca .\nn, 
who died in 1910. One of this group of children has a remarkable record. 
Arioch Wentworth, born in 1813; died in Boston. 1904, a multi-millionaire. 

278 



Ai\D REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 279 

He was educated in the scliools of Dover and Franklin Academy; learned the 
trade of marble cutter; commenced work at his trade in Boston when a 
young man; saved his earnings and became boss of the marble establishment 
in which he commenced as a day laborer ; enlarged the works, doing an 
immense business; imested his surplus earnings in real estate in Boston; 
by shrewd, careful and honest business management he had become pos- 
sessed of several million dollars' worth of property when he was past four 
score years of age. He lived to be past ninety-one years. He founded the 
Wentworth Home for the Aged, near Garrison Hill, Dover, and endowed it 
with $200,000. He founded the Wentworth Hospital, in Dover, close by 
the Wentworth Home, giving the city of Dover, for that purpose, $100,000. 
All this in his life time; and by will he founded a workingmen's college in 
Boston, endowing it with several million dollars, wliich is now in tine work- 
ing order and is doing a vast amount of good in training experts in all 
departments of mechanics. 

Bartholomew Wentworth, Jr., was a man tall of stature, powerfully 
muscular, keen of mind, a great worker. Being a giant in strength, he was 
never weary until old age bade him cease from active labor. He was a good 
father, worthy citizen and esteemed by all who knew him. 

Judge Hiram R. Robrrls, born May 16, 1806, in Somerswortli, now 
Rollinsford; son of Stephen and Deborah (Wentworth) Roberts, and grand- 
son of John and Elizabeth (Hodgdon) Roberts, who was a great-grandson 
of Gov. Thomas Roberts of the Do\'er Combination of 1640. at Dover Neck. 
Judge Roberts was educated in the public scliools of Somersworth and at 
South Berwick Academy ; when a \-oung man he taught district schools in 
the winter. His father died when the son was fifteen years old. He inherited 
the Roberts homestead in Somersworth, now Rollinsford, which was first 
settled on by his great-grandfather, Roberts, in 1743, and has now been in 
the Roberts family 170 years, the present owner being his youngest son, 
Hon. Joseph D. Roberts, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this book. 

Judge Roberts was an .Andrew Jackson democrat, but he never let politics 
interfere with business. He was not a lawyer by profession, yet he was a 
wise and esteemed judge for many years. He was abo\e all a first class, 
progressive farmer and a Christian gentleman, in every way a crerlit to his 
town and a helpful neighbor. 

Judge Roberts was an excellent farmer, but he was more noted as a leader 
of the Democratic party in StraiTord county: he led, others follow^ed. He 
was one of the first selectmen of Rollinsford ; he w-as its Representative in 
the Legislature several times, first in 1837; in 1839, when he was thirty- 
three years old. Governor Page appointed him Associate Judge of the Court 



280 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of Coninion Pleas for Strafford count}-, uhicli then inckuled Belknap and 
Carroll counties. He held this oftice thirteen years, performing the duties in 
a manner satisfactory to those who had anything to do with the courts. He 
resigned in 1852 and Gow Xoah Martin of Dover appointed him Judge of 
Probate for Strafford county, which position he filled with credit to himself 
and the satisfaction of all who transacted probate business. He served in 
this capacity five years, and then resigned. The great political battle of his 
life was in 1875, when lie was the Democratic candidate for Governor. He 
conducted a red hut campaign and ga\e the Republican leaders a race they 
found it ditiicult to keep up with. His opponent was P. C. Cheney, who 
received less than two hundred more votes than ]\tr. Roberts. There was no 
election by the people, so the (juestion was decided in favor of INIr. Cheney 
by the Legislature, which was controlled by the Repulilican party. 

Judge Roberts was one of the incorporators of the Salmon b'alls Bank 
and the Rollinsford Savings Bank and was their jjresident from the date of 
organization until his death, ^Nlay 30, 1876. He was a good financier and 
his judgment in matters of business was an important factor in the success 
of those institutions w hile he was in oflice. 

For more than forty years he was a member of the Baptist Church at 
South Berwick, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday 
school. For .several years he was superintendent committee for the public 
schools of the town and always took a keen interest in promoting popular 
education among all classes. 

His wife was Ruth Ham, daughter of Joliii and Mercy (Wentworth) 
Ham of Dover; they were married in November, 183 1: they were cousins. 
Their children were : Stephen ; Elizabeth ; Edward H. ; Walter S. H. and 
I'rank W',, who settled in Iowa when young men; Susan J., who married 
Samuel H. Rollins ; and Joseph Doe, who inherited the homestead, a biograph- 
ical sketch of whom appears in another part of this book. 

Auyiistiis Rollins was born August 29, 1797: he was son of Capt. 
Hiram and Joanna (Wentworth) Rollins. He lived on the farm north of 
Garrison Hill, opposite the Senator Rollins farm. He held various town 
offices and represented Rollinsford in the Legislature, but he was not a poli- 
tician; on the other hand, he was one of the best farmers in the town and kept 
his fann and buildings in first class condition. He believed in higher educa- 
tion for his children and gave all the best ad\-antages for obtaining it that the 
times afforded. His eldest son, Samuel Winkley Rollins, was graduated from 
Dartmouth College in 1846 and was one of Xew Hampshire's noted lawyers 
and jurists, who resided at Meredith village. For many years he was Judge 
of Probate for Belknap county. Mr. Rollins' youngest son, Augustus W. 



AND REPRESENTATRE CITIZENS 281 

Rollins, entered the service uf the Union army, in the Civil war, November 
7, 1861, as captain of Company F, Seventh New Hampshire Regiment; he 
was promoted to major July 2^. 1S63; to lieutenant-colonel September 30, 
1864; and for his skill and bra\ery as a commander at the storming of Fort 
Fisher was breveted colonel March 13. 1865; and later was appointed colonel 
of the New Hampshire Second Regiment, which office he held at the time of 
his death., February 16. jSjo. The father of these two worthy sons. Augustus 
Rollins, did not go to the war himself, hut he was a Republican in i-olitics 
and contributed liberally of his time and money in support of "the boys at 
the front." He was one of the most active and influential citizens n{ Rollins- 
ford. 

Mr. Rollins married. J4th of :May. 1824. Miss Abiah W'mkley, of Bar- 
rington; their children were: Samuel W'inkley; ( )li\er K.; .\ugustus \V. ; 
Mary Ellen and Lydia Hale. 

William H. Movton was liorn at IV.rtsmuulli. l-ebruary 14. 1814; died 
June 4. 1903: he was son of William and Sarah ((iriftith) Morton; his 
parents removed to Salmon Falls in 1823, when the son was nine years old. 
and that became his home until his death in 1898. He was educated in South 
Berwick Academy, in which he had the record of being a good student, and 
he Vvas amply fitted for success in his future career. 

\\ hen he was sixteen years old he entered the employ of the Salmon I'alls 
Manufacturing Company to learn the business; he began as a wool sorter at 
which lie worked four years and became master of that department of the 
work. In 1834 the mills were destroyed by fire and he went to Grafton, 
Mass., and worked in a woolen mill there for two years. He then engaged 
in mercantile business in the same town. When he was twenty-eight years 
old, 1842, he went to Blackstone, Mass., and continued in trade as at Grafton. 
In 1845 he returned to Salmon Falls and opened a store for general trade, 
in which he continued until elected cashier of the Salmon Falls Bank in 185 1 ; 
he then disposed of his store and devoted all his time to banking. When the 
savings bank was organized he was elected secretary and treasurer; all of 
these offices he held up to the time of his death, June 4, 1903. He pro\'ed to 
be one of the best banking officials in New Flampshire, as the records of the 
bank show, and was vigorous up to his eighty-ninth 3'ear. 

Mr. Morton w as not only a good banker, but a good citizen in every way. 
He was town treasurer for Rollinsford from organization in 1849; town 
clerk from 1833; both of which offices he held for life; his townsmen had 
such confidence in him they did not want any one else as long as Mr. Morton 
could serve them. Before the towns were separated he was one of the select- 
men of Somersworth two years; and for Rollinsford he was selectman three 



282 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

years. He was a republican in politics after that party displaced the old 
whig party. He was a Congregationalist and was a liberal supporter of that 
church in the Salmon I-'alls village. Rollinsford had no better or more highly 
esteemed citizen. 

Mr. Morton was thrice married; (i) in 1841 to Sarah P. Merriam, of 
Grafton, Mass. ; they had three children, only one of whom survi\es. Etta, 
widow of John Merriam. Mrs. Merriam died in 1849. (2) He married 
Armine Leavitt. of York, Me., in 1851; children: Frederick H., deceased; 
William A., a merchant in Portland, Me.; and Sara J., a highly educated and 
most comi>etent woman for all good, patriotic work that may fall to her lot to 
do. She is one of the leaders in Margerj' Sullivan Chapter, Daughters of the 
American Revolution, and has been one of the managers of the Went worth 
Home for the Aged, since its organization in i8g8. Her mother died in 1866 
and Mr. Morton took for his third wife Miss Mary Shackford, of Ports- 
mouth, in 1S07. 

Joshua Converse was born June 15. 1813. in l-iinge, X. H. ; died in Rol- 
linsford, April 4, i8<)i. He was son of Joshua and Polly (Piper) Converse. 
He was given a good common school etlucation by his parents and then set to 
work in one of the cotton mills of Lowell. ]\Iass. He was an apt pupil in the 
business and worked his way up tpiite rapidly and for several years before 
he was forty he became superintendent for the Suffolk Manufacturing Cor- 
poration in that city. In 1859 he was appointed agent for the management 
of the mills at Salmon Ivalls and removed from Lowell to that village; in this 
position Mr. Converse was eminently successful. 

While a resident of Lowell, he took a hand in public affairs as well as in 
the manufacture of cotton goods. He began as member of the common 
council, of the city government; he served the customary two years and then 
was promoted to aldennan and served two years. Plis record as a city otificial 
was clean-handed, high-minded and efficient. There was no "graft" permitted 
in any deiiartment he controlled. Next he served two years as Representative 
in the Massachusetts Legislature. He was director and subsequent president 
of the Travelers' and Mechanics' Insurance Company; a director of the 
Prescott P.ank, and a trustee of the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank, from 
the organization of these institutions until he removed to Salmon Falls. 
W bile he was agent of the mills in that \-illage he was director in the Salmon 
Falls Bank, and vice president of the Rollinsford Savings Bank. In his 
management of the mills and in the performance of his ofificial duties in con- 
nection with the banks, Mr. Converse manifested great ability and integrity 
and held the unqualified respect of his associates. 

In 1875 Mr. Converse purchased a tract of land on the eastern slope of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 283 

Garrison Hill, in Rollinsfurtl, on which he huilt a l)eauliful and commodious 
dwelling from the windows of which can he seen a \ery fine view' of the 
city of Dover and the surrounding country. He removed from Salmon 
Falls village to this elegant residence. He purchased a wharf on the Cochecho 
river at Dover Landing, and put it in good shape to engage in the lumber 
business, shipping his lumber from Maine and the British Provinces. At 
first he conducted the business alone; the business venture prospered and he 
took in company Charles C. Hobbs ; the firm name for a number of years 
was Converse & Hobbs. Later Mr. Hobbs retired and Mr. Converse took 
as his partner Mr. Marshall B. Hammond in 18S3, and the firm name became 
Converse & Hammond. This partnership continued until severed by the 
death of Mr. Converse, April 4, 1891. He left the business in a fiourish- 
ing condition, and at the age of seventy-eight years ended a long, active 
and honorable career. After he engaged in the lumber business he was elected 
Representative from Rollins ford in the State Legislature in 1877 and 1878. 
He was a staunch Rei)ul)lican. 

October 18, 1835, Mr. Converse was united in marriage with Jane B. 
Damon, daughter of Galen and Jane (Barker) Damon. Children: William 
Henry, Josephine and Mary Jane; the son and oldest daughter died young; 
the other daughter became the wife of James A. I'lace, of South Berwick, Me. 
Mrs. Converse died March 4, 1868, and August 30, 1870, he married 
H. Jennie Dearborn, daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Drew) Dearborn. 
They had no children. 

U'iUiaui Roberts Garvin was born March 15, 1830, in what is now Rol- 
linsford; died May 16, 1910; son of Samuel and Susan (Roberts) Garvin, 
a great-grandson of the immigrant ancestor, James Garvin, who settled in 
the "Sligo" section of the town about 1700. Mr. (iarvin was educated in the 
common schools of Somersworth and Berwick Academy. When he had 
completed his academy education he engaged in school teaching several 
winters and was successful in the work, keeping the big boys under control 
and thoroughly instructing in the use of the "three R's." But Mr. Garvin's 
chief ambition was to be equal if not a little ahead of the best farmer in town 
or county. For this reason he soon became an active member of the first 
agricultural society that was organized in the county of Strafford and gave 
it his earnest support. From discussions in the meetings of the society he 
became the leader in improving the stock of his farm and the whole town; 
later he won fame and many premiums at cattle fairs by his successful breed- 
ing of the celebrated Avreshire cattle. Mr. Garvin was systematic, energetic 
and progressive in the management of his excellent farm and splendid stock. 



284 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

He stood in the front rank of good fanners in that best of farming towns 
in the state. 

Being a Democrat in pohtics he was not always successfnl in iiis pohtical 
\'entures, liut his townsmen honored themselves by electing him to local offices, 
selectman, schoiil committee, road sur\eyor, etc.. and he was once tiie I )cnio- 
cratic candidate for county commissioner, l)ut failed of election after making 
a \ery strong can\ass. 

Mr. (_iar\'in was a member oi the Uaptist Church oi South Berwick, and 
was an active worker in its Sabbath school, holding official positions and 
lending a helping hand in the church work in every way. 

]\Ir. Garvin was united in marriage with Frances H. Yeaton, of Rollins- 
ford, April 2, 1862; they had a family of seven children, three sons and four 
daughters: .\nnie Bertha; Clara W. ; William Roberts; Susie Homer; 
Ciertrude and Samuel R. 

John E. Tyler, M. D., was born in Boston, December 9, 1819; died in 
April, 1S78; grailuated from Dartmouth College in 1841 ; then engaged in 
teaching in Rhode Island a few years ; studied medicine at Dartmouth Med- 
ical School and medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from 
which he received his diploma in 1846. He then came to Salmon Falls and 
began jjractice of his profession, in which he was \ery successful; he 
remained here until his appointment, (Jctober 5. 1852, superintendent of the 
New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane. He held this office successfully 
until 1858, when he resigned to accept the position of superintendent of the 
McLean Asylum for Insane, which important position he held until he 
resigned on account of ill health in 187 1. He then tra\-elled in Europe for 
(|uite a while. He died in 1878. 

Doctor Tyler was a gentleman of marked ability; he not onlv stcjod high 
in the ranks of his profession, but he possessed good business capacity in 
other ways. When Rollinsford was separated from Somersworth in 1849, 
and held its first state election in March, 1850, Doctor Tyler was elected its 
first Representati\e in the Legislature. He was one of the directors of Salmnn 
Falls State Bank. 

John G. Pike, M. L\, was born in Somersworth, .Vugust 17, 1817; died 
in Dover, 1907, agetl ninety years. He was son of Nathaniel G. Pike, grand- 
son of John and great-grandson of the Rev. John Pike, first minister of the 
Parish of Summersworth. He was fitted for college at Berwick Academy, 
from which he entered Bowdoin College and was graduated from that insti- 
tution in 1843. ^^ studied medicine with Dr. Theodore Jewett of South 
Berwick and w-as graduated from Bowdoin Medical College in 1847. He 
commenced practice of medicine that year in Durham village. In 1848 he 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 285 

removed his oftice to Salmon Falls village, where he continued in practice of 
iiis profession twenty years. Dr. Pike then sought a wider field of work and 
opened an office in Boston in 1868, where he continued in successful practice 
until 1871, when he removed to Dover, X. H., where he resided until his 
deatli in kjO/, at ninety years of age. Doctor Pike was a large man, physic- 
ally, antl had a commanding presence, and ranked well up in his profession. 
He remained in practice until past four score years. During the last decade 
of his life he was blind, but his mind was as keen and active as in his younger 
years. 

Jonatluiii S. Ross, M. D., was born in Lisl)on, X. H., April 12, 1822; died 
in Concord, 1877. He fitted for college at Holmes Academy, Plymouth, and 
graduated from Dartmouth College in i<'>43. He studied medicine in Dart- 
mouth Medical School, and in the JMedical College of the University of 
Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 
1846. He commencetl practice in Boston, but went to Bath, N. H., and 
opened an olfice in XovemI.»er, 1846, where he remained until the fall of 1852, 
when he came to Rollinsford and opened an office in Salmon Falls village 
and practiced his profession three years. He then opened an office in Som- 
ersworth at Great Falls \'illage and was in practice there twenty-two years. 
He (lied X'ovember 22, 1877. He was Representative from Rollinsford in 
1853, in the State Legislature. August 14, 1862, he was appointed surgeon 
for the Eleventh Xew Hampshire Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. He 
serxed in the armv continuouslv luitil the fall of i8f>4, when his health failed, 
and he was discharged Decemljer 7, 1864. While in the army he was pro- 
moted to surgeon of Second Brigade, Second Division, Xinth .Vrmy Corps, 
Gen. ,S. G. (iriffin. In 1865 he was appointed post-surgeon and stationed at 
Concord, and serA-ed to the close of the war. wlien he returned to his home 
in Somersworth. Doctor Ross was an excellent surgeon and a highly 
esteemed gentleman. 

lulwiii /'. Jaqiics. M. D., was li<irn in Machias. Me.. March 9, 1841 ; he 
graduated from Wesleyan Seminary, Kent's Hill, Me., and studied medicine 
in Bowdoin Medical College, from xvhich he recei\'ed his degree of M. D. in 
June. i860. After one year in practice at X^irway, Me., he came to Rollins- 
ford and opened an office in Salmon Trails village and continued in successful 
practice until June, 1872. The next two years he was engaged in hospital 
work in Boston, and the experience he obtained was of great value to him 
in his later career. In the fall of 1874 he opened an office in South Berwick, 
Me., and has practiced his profession continuously to the present time. 
Besides being a good physician and surgeon, he is one of the honored citizens 
of that town. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

HISTORY Ol' DURHAM (I) 

THE PARISH 01-" OYSTER RIVER 

I-'roni 1633 to 1732, May 15, when it was incorporated as the town of 
Durham, the territory was a part of Dover, and was known and called 
"Oyster River in Dover." An act of the Provincial Assembly made it the 
"Parish of Oyster River in Dover," May 4. 1716. L'p to that time there had 
been separate ministerial services in that section from 1655. The first settle- 
ments in the Oyster River parish had been commenced lief ore 1640. As soon 
as the settlement on Dover Neck got well started the enterprising pioneers 
searched for good spots to locate along the l>anks of all the rivers; one of these 
was Durham Point ; from there the settlements gradually crept up the river, 
on both banks, to the falls, "Oyster River freshet." Hill, Smith. Mathes, 
Meader, Bunker, Burnham, \\'illiams. Bickford, Edgerly. Woodman, Jones, 
Davis. Chesley. I'itman, Tasker, Jenkins, Durgin, Cretchett, Doe, Willy, 
Demerett, Jackson, are among the names of the earliest .settlers, and descend- 
ants of these are dwellers in that good old town today. 

It was the common law of the town that all grown persons must attend 
church on the Lord's Day. They did not call it Sunday or Sabbath. The 
tneeting-house was on Meeting-house Hill, Dover Neck. It was quite a dis- 
tance for the Oyster River farmers to travel in their boats to the Cove on 
Back ri\er and climb the hill, going Ijy "Deacon Hall's Spring," to the meet- 
ing-house and get there before Richard Pinkham finished "beating the drum." 
as a warning for all to attend. Being a tedious morning journey, soon after 
1650 the}' began to petition for the town to provide a special service to be 
held at Durham Point, for the convenience of all. So 16. 2 mo.. 1655, in 
town meeting the following is the record : "It is agreed upon concerning 
setting comfortable maintenance of tlie ministry of Dover and Oyster Ri\er, 
all the rent of the saw mills shall be set apart into a Towne stocke. with two 
pence upon ye pound to be rated upon the estates of all the inhabitants, and 
all such estates so apjMinted are to be put into the hands of any that shall 
be chosen Treasurer by ye sd. Towne to receive the same, which sum hath 

286 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 287 

respect to the Rate is to be paid in Money, Beaver, Bief, Poarke, ^\■Ileat, 
Pease, Mault, Butter, Cheeise, in one or any of these. This order to take 
place 25tli of June next and continue one wliole yeare." 

June 30, 1^)56, the town vdted to huiid a liouse at Oyster River "near the 
meeting-house, for the use of the minister, of the following dimensions, viz. : 
thirty-six feet long, ten feet wide, twelve feet in the wall, with two chimnies 
to be suitably finished." This was done and indicates that the Oyster Rive, 
inhabitants had built a meeting-house at their own expense, ready for service. 
The first minister there was the Rev. Edward Fletcher, who served "one 
whole year" and then returned to England, from whence he had come. Fol- 
lowing this they had no minister of their own. but thev i)aid their ministerial 
tax to Dover and had the service of the regular minister at the First Churcli 
on Meeting-house Hill, who came over to Oyster River as often as his time 
would permit. 

The town records say: "Mr. Fletcher and the town having had .some 
discourse whether he will leave them, he willingly manifested that he was 
not minded to stay any longer, but to prepare himself for Old England and 
could not justly lay any blame upon the town." After Mr. Fletcher left it 
was arranged that the Rev. John Ruyner, minister of the h'irst Church, 
should have fifty pounds extra for services rendered at the Oyster River 
meeting-hou.se. November 10, 1658, in town meeting, it was voted that the 
charges for "fitting the two meeting-houses of Do\er and Oyster River" 
should be borne by each place respectively, each place taking care of its own 
house. 

In iC>f)2 the tax list shows that twenty-eight taxpayers lived on Dover 
Neck, twenty-nine lived at Cochecho, twelve at Bloody Point, forty-two at 
Oyster I'^.iver and one William Ffollett at Belle-Man's Bank. This shows that 
Oyster River settlement was a lively place and they employed the Rev. Joseph 
Hull to be their minister. Mr. Hull was born in England in 1594; graduated 
from St. Mary's, Oxford University, in jCu^: liegan preaching, as a I'uritan 
minister, in 1621 ; he came to New England about 1650; he came to Oyster 
Rix'er in 16O2 and was the minister for that community about three years, 
then removed to the Isles of Shoals, where he died November 10, 1665. 
During his ministry the Quaker women missionaries came o\-er from Dover 
Neck and gave him considerable trouble in his Sunday meetings. They would 
stand up when he was delivering his sermon and contradict what he said 
and persist in arguing the ipiestion. On ()ne occasion one was so discourte- 
ous, not to say abusive, that the deacons interfered and removed her from 
the meeting-house. 

In 1668 the minister's house at Oyster River needed repairs and in town 



288 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

meeting Captain Waldeme and Robert Burnum were cliosen to oversee the 
work, and Left Coffin and William Ffollett were instructed not to "act any- 
thing" without their consent and "what they shall consent unto shall be the 
act of the town for finishing the house." 

In 1669 the church difficulties between Dover Xeck and Oyster River 
broke out afresh and a ix-tition to the General Court in Boston asking that 
the Oyster River section of Dover be made a separate township, in which 
they say: "We groan under intolerable grievances, our niimstry being 
greatly weakened, yea, and hazarded thereby, having neither head nor hand, 
to mo\e in order to calling (a minister) when without, or selling and main- 
taining (one) when obtained, and it being so difficult for us to attend civil 
(town) meetings there (at Dover Neck meeting-house) that often most of 
us cannot be there, hence we are in danger to be neglected or not taken 
care of, nor our affairs so well provided as if we were a township of our- 
selves, we being in all two hundred and twenty souls, near fifty families and 
seventy-odd soldiers, a convenient number of farmers, humbly request this 
honored court to grant us that so beneficial a privilege of becoming a 
township," etc. 

The petition was duly considered by the General Court ; Capt. John Wood- 
man was the chief spokesman for the petitioners, but Capt. Richard 
Walderne overruled him in strength of argument. So instead of granting 
the petition, the committee of the court reported : "We have grounds to hope 
there may be an agreement and settlement of things betwixt you (Dover 
Neck and Oyster River) ; we commend to your considering it best that you 
should jointly agree upon terms which may be most advantageous for each 
other and for public good ; and for that end we judge it mete to respit ye 
case till next session of this court," etc. That was the end of the case for 
the time being, and no further effort was made in this direction until 1695. 
In 1675 it was agreed that two of the five selectmen should be chosen 
from Oyster River. Under this arrangement the people for many years had 
their own minister, who was paid by the town of Dover, but with taxes 
imposed upon the Oyster River taxpayers. Just who officiated as minister 
up to 1G84 is not quite clear, but during that year the Rev. John Buss was 
duly installed in that official capacity. Mr. Buss was both physician and 
minister, and an able man in both capacities. He was born in England about 
1640. and as layman did some Puritan preaching before he came over to 
New England. He first appears at Wells, Me., in 1672, and served that 
settlement as minister and physician until 1684. when he settled at Oyster 
River, and was a leader among that people for many years. He lost his 
house and valuable library in the awful Indian and French massacre in the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 289 

summer of 1694, when nearly a hundred of his parishioners were killed and 
others were carried away captives. He died in 1736. An ancient landmark, 
"Parson p]uss' Pulpit," on the south side of Oyster River, will ever recall the 
memories of this tine old gentleman, who was for many years the guardian 
of the health and the souls of his people there. 

In 1695, what the Indians had left of the Oyster River people presented 
a petition to the Provincial Assembly of New Hampshire, asking to be made 
a township. There is no record that any action was taken in regard to 
this petition. It may be of interest to the reader to see the names of the 
petitioners of this date. They arc: John Woodman, Stephen Jones, Paul 
Davis, Sampson Doe, James Bunker, Sr., Jeremiah Cronimett, James Durgin, 
William Williams, Elias Critchett, Nathaniel Meader, John Cromell, Jere- 
miah Burnum, John Smith, Thomas Bickford, John Binder, Ffrancis Mathes, 
Henry Nock, John Willcy, Thomas Edgerly, Iidward Leathers, Henry 
Marsh, Joseph Meader, Edward Wakeham, Philip Chesley, Sr., Thomas 
Chesley, Jr., George Chesley, William Jackson, Joseph Bunker, John Smith, 
Joseph Jones, John Doe, John Williams, Thomas Williams, William Durgin, 
Henry Vines, Philip Cromell, John Meader, Jr., William Tasker, Philip 
Duly, Eli Demeritt, Joseph Jenkins, James Bunker, James Thomas, John 
Edgerly, William Durgin, Joseph Smith, Thomas Willey, Thomas Chesley 
and bT'rancis Pitman. 

The next record in regard to this question appears in the Provincial 
Records, May 4, 1716, as follows: "In Answer to ye Petition of Capt. 
Nathaniel Hill and ye People of Oyster River. 

"That ye agreement of ye town of Dover with yt Part of ye town called 
Oyster River, abt maintaining a Minister among them at their own cost & 
charges be confirmed & yt ye new meeting house built there be the place of 
ye publick worship of God in that District an establish a Distinct parish 
with all rights & privileges belonging to a Parish with full power to call & 
settle a Minister there and make Assessments for ye payment of his Salary 
& all other Parish charges equally on ye several inhabitants within yt Dis- 
trict & annually to chose five persons, freeholders in said Parish to make ye 
ta.x & manage all affairs of ye Parish," etc. 

The first parish meeting was held May 14th, following the granting of 
the petition, at the new meeting house. John Thompson, constable of the 
district, was authorized to call the meeting and notify the inhabitants. The 
new meeting house had been erected in 171 5 upon the spot where the one 
afterwards built in 1792 was located; that is where the General Sullivan 
monument now stands. 

The first minister of the new parish was the Rev. Hugh Adams. He was 

17 



290 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

bom May 7, 1676; graduated from Harvard College in 1697; studied for 
the ministry and preached at Braintree, Mass., where he was ordained and 
settled September 7, 1707; later he was minister at Chatham, Cape Cod, and 
was dismissed in 1715. He came to the Oyster River parish in 1716, and 
August 7, 1717, purchased the residence now known as the "General Sulli- 
van house." 

"At Oyster River Parish, in Dover, March 26th (1718). This day 
(through the smiles of Heaven upon us) we had a Church gathered here, 
in Decency and Order of the Gospel, and our Teacher, the Rev. Hugh 
Adams, was then consecrated and Established the Pastor thereof, who then 
preached from the Text in Cant. 3-1 1; we being then favored with the 
Presence and Approbation of some Reverend Pastors of the next Neighbor- 
ing Churches with the Honoured Messengers thereof, at the said Solemnity, 
in our New Meeting-House, wherein they gave the Right Hand of Fellow- 
ship. 

"As witness our Hands. 

"Nathaniel Hill, 
"Stephen Jones." 

Mr. Adams v\as a man of great power and influence in the new town; 
he was minister in this place until he asked to be dismissed, and his request 
was granted January 23, 1739. He died in 1750, aged seventy-four. From 
the records it appears that more than a hundred persons, besides the ten who 
organized the church, became members during his ministry; and a still 
larger number of persons of various ages were baptized. 

The Rev. Nicholas Gilman, a native of Exeter, was Mr. Adams' suc- 
cessor in the ministry at Durham; born January 18, 1707; graduated from 
Harvard College in 1724; was ordained at Durham March 3, 1742. He con- 
tinued as minister until his death, April 13, 1748. "He was buried at 
Exeter, the home of his ancestors, whither his remains were carried by the 
young men of the town. He was greatly beloved for excellencies of charac- 
ter and disposition." 

Mr. Gilman's successor was the Rev. John Adams, son of Matthew 
Adams of Boston and nephew of the Rev. Hugh Adams, above mentioned. 
His father was one of the noted men of Boston and a leading citizen when 
Benjamin Franklin was a boy, to whom he lent books which, no doubt, had 
much to do in shaping the career of the great philosopher and statesman. 
Dr. Franklin mentions this fact in his memoirs and gratefully acknowledges 
the favors received in his boyhood. Mr. Adams was born June 19. 1725; 
graduated from Harvard College in 1 745 ; and three years later came to 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 291 

Durham, as its minister, it being his first pastorate. He was ordained March 
25. 1749- He was a man of fine literary ability; he possessed musical talents 
ot a high order and saw to it that all the best musical talent in the parish 
was brought mto use; he was skilful as a mechanic and would have been a 
first class master builder had he turned his attention in that direction instead 
of the mmistry. He was a patriot and during the Revolution made the old 
meetmg house rmg with soul-stirring sermons in aid of the cause of Ameri- 
can mdependence. He was not only a strong minister, but also a good 
physician for the community at large. At his request he was dismissed 
June 16, 1778. Soon alter he removed to Newfields, Me., where he was 
one of the leaders in founding the town. He continued his ministry there 
and practiced medicine until his death, June 9, 1792. 

Mr. Adams' successor was the Rev. Curtis Coe; bom in Middletown, 
Conn., July 21, 1750; graduated from Brown University in 1776, and began 
his ministry at Durham about three years later, being ordained and installed 
November i, 1780. He was minister here more than a quarter of a century 
He resigned May i, 1806, and became a home missionary in the frontier 
towns of New Hampsliire and Maine, where no ministers were settled 
He was a good man, a great preacher, and successful pastor. He died 
at Newmarket, June 7, 1829, leaving many worthy descendants. 

The meeting house erected in 171 5, and under which the powder taken 
from Fort William and Mary was stored by General Sullivan in December, 
1774, was taken down in 1792. and a larger one erected upon the same site' 
where now the Sullivan monument stands. That meeting house was built 
by the town, just as the ministers had been supported by the town ; this town 
support of the minister continued up to 1806, when Mr. Coe resigned. After 
that the town, as such, declined to vote money for the minister's salary in 
town meetings. In changing over from the old to the new order of ministry 
there was some little delay in getting the church machinery in working order 
They had preaching occasionally, but no regular pastor until 1814, when 
the Rev. Federal Burt commenced to preach in the meeting house on the hill 
He was born March 4. 1789, at South Hampton, Mass. That bein- the 
day on which the Federal Government of the United States was put in 
operation, is the reason why the paternal Burt named his son "Federal" 
Burt. He graduated from Williams College in 1812; he was formally 
settled as minister for the Durham church June 18, 1817. He was then a 
young man of twenty-eight years, and possessed of an interesting person- 
ality, as well as a thorough knowledge of and skill in using the English 
language. He had preached quite a while before he was ordained and had 
created a great revival in 1816, which led to his ordination the following 



292 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

year. He was a man of commanding presence and exercised a wonderful 
power over the people of the town, outside of the church organization. He 
died February 9, 1828. 

The old meeting house on "Broth Hill" was given up in 1848, when the 
present house of worship was erected. A fonner resident of the town, who 
could remember seeing Mr. Burt in the last years of his ministry, wrote as 
follows: "What a spacious attair it was, with its high galleries all around; 
its square pews; seats on hinges; high pulpit up a long flight of stairs; the 
sounding board over the pulpit, slightly back of the preacher; and printed 
in gilt letters on a green ground the fourth verse of the one hundredth 
psalm, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with 
praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name.' And then it was an awe 
inspiring sight as Mr. Burt, robed in his elegant black silk surplice, ascended 
those stairs, opened the Bible and read the morning lesson." 

The Rev. Robert Page was Mr. Burt's successor; born April 25, 1790; 
graduated from Bowdoin College in 1810; from Andover Theological Sem- 
inary in 1815; he was installed as pastor at Durham, December 3. 1828; 
dismissed March 31, 1831, and died January 12, 1876. 

His successor was the Rev. Alvan Tobey, D. D. ; born at Wilmington, 
Vt., April I, 1808; graduated from Amherst College in 1828; Andover 
Theological Seminary in 1831, and began preaching in Durham the first 
Sabbath in October of that year, and remained the minister of the church 
until the first week in January, 1871, a period of a little more than thirty- 
nine years. It was the wi,sh that he remain pastor for life, but he declined. 
He was a discrete manager among the people and kept the membership of 
the church well up, leaving it in fine and harmonious condition. Dr. Tobey 
received his degree of Doctor of Divinity from Dartmouth College in 1867. 
He was the author of several religious works during his pastorate. Soon 
after he retired he removed to Somersworth, where he resided until his 
death, September 30, 1874. 



CHAPTER XXIX 
HISTORY OF DURHAM (II) 

THE OYSTER RIVER MASSACRE^ JULY l8, 1694 

The greatest event in the history of the Oyster River parish was the 
massacre perpetrated by the Indians and French on July i8, 1694. At that 
time the settlement had grown to such an extent that houses were along the 
banks on both sides of the river, from Durham Point to the falls, where 
Oyster River freshet connects with the tide water, and all these were 
attacked soon after midnight, July 17-18. There were twelve garrisoned 
houses, and several others which were not protected with palisade logs. The 
dwellers in the latter houses went to the garrisoned houses whenever they 
supposed there was any danger of attack by the Indians. As they had 
recovered from the fright given them by the massacre at Cochecho in June, 
1689, they were resting quietly in their respective homes on this eventful 
night, not apprehending any danger, as the Indians had been quiet for some 
time past, since they had murdered the great and brave Maj. Richard 
Walderne in his garrison, which stood where the courthouse stands in Dm er. 
Everything was quiet in July. 1694, and the people of Oyster River had no 
occasion to entertain fear, as they had not done anything to incur the special 
enmity of the Indians, as Major ^\'alderne and the iieople at Cochecho had. 

It is said that the design of surprising the Oyster River settlement was 
publicly talked of at Quebec two months before it was put into execution. 
Sieur de Villieu, who had distinguished himself in the defense of Quebec 
in 1692, when Sir William Phips attempted to capture it, was leader of 
this raid. During the first week in July there were rumors of Indians seen 
lurking around in the woods hereabout, but no mischief being attempted, 
the dwellers here imagined they were merely hunting parties, so thought no 
more of it. But, at length, the necessary preparations having been made, 
Villieu, with a body of 250 Indians, collected from the tribes of St. John, 
Penol)scot and Norridgewog. attended by a French priest, had gathered in 
the forest around, early in the night, without being discovered. 

At the falls they formed two divisions, one of which was to go on each 

293 



294 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

side of the river and plant themselves in ambush in small parties that 
would cover all the houses, so as to be ready for a simultaneous attack on all 
at the rising of the sun, which, you know, at that time in July is about 4 
o'clock. The plot was well laid, but it miscarried to a certain extent. 

You saw just before you crossed over the river to the Sullivan monu- 
ment, a mill dam and the ruins of an old mill. Well, in 1694, John Dean's 
house stood near that old mill. I presume he was a miller. As it happened, 
that morning he arose before daybreak, probably about 2 o'clock, to go off 
on a journey, perhaps to Portsmouth. It had been agreed among the Indians 
to commence the attack at all points when the first gun was fired, at sunrise. 
But when John Dean stepped out of his door to take his boat to go down 
the river, an Indian shot him dead. This firing disconcerted the plans of 
the Indians, in part, as several parties who had some distance to go had not 
then arrived at their stations: the people in general were attacked imme- 
diately, where the Indians were ready to begin their bloody work; some of 
the people at the lower part of the river, here, had time to make their escape 
across Little Bay, to Fox Point, while others prepared for defense. The 
fight raged for two or three hours. 

Of the twelve garrisoned houses, five were destroyed, viz. : Adams', 
Drew's, Edgerly's, Meader's and Beard's. They entered the Adams gar- 
rison without resistance, where they killed fourteen persons. The grave is 
still to be seen in which they were all buried : it is just across the river from 
where you saw the site of the Davis garrison, near the mouth of the river. 
It was built by Charles Adams. Mr. Adams and his wife and son, Samuel, 
were among the numi)er killed. The huge mound of the grave has always 
been respected by the owners of the soil, by never stirring the sod by plow 
for planting. The ancient Mathes burying ground is near it. 

Thomas Drew's garrison was just above that of Adams' ; he surrendered 
his garrison on the promise of security, but they murdered him; also his 
brother, Francis, was killed, and several of the family were carried away 
captives to Canada. Among the number was Thomas Drew, Jr., and his 
wife. Tamsen: they had been recently married and were living in the old 
garrison in 1694. when the Indians captured them and burned the house. 
A boy, nine years old, one of the family, was made to run the gauntlet, the 
lane of Indians throwing their hatchets at him until he was finally killed. 
Thomas Drew and his wafe were separated by the Indians on their retreat, 
and he was carried to Canada, but she was carried to Norridgwog. He was 
redeemed after remaining in Canada two years ; she was not redeemed until 
1698, and during her bondage of four years she suffered great cruelties. 
After four years she returned and she and her husband commenced house- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 295 

keeping on the shore of Great Bay. where they lived until he was ninety- 
three and she was eighty-nine years of age, and they raised a family of 
fourteen children. Their descendants are numerous and most worthy 
citizens. 

The Edgerly garrison was built by Thomas Edgerly about 1680, on 
the shore of Little Bay, south of the mouth of Oyster river; on account of 
tlie alarm being given ahead of schedule time, by the shooting of John Dean, 
Mr. Edgerly and his family had time to get out of the house and into boats, 
by which they crossed over the bay to Fox Point, but they were shot at by the 
pursuing Indians, and his son, Zachariah, was killed by one shot. The rest 
escaped. The Indians burned his garrison and all the contents. This Thomas 
Edgerly was appointed a justice of the peace in 1674 and m February, 
1684-5. was one of the judges appointed by Governor Cranfield to try the 
Rev. Joshua Moody, pastor of the church in Portsmouth, for violation of 
the law in refusing to administer the Lord's supper to Cranfield and two of 
his council, according to the forms of the Church of England, "as set forth 
in the Book of Common Prayer, and no other." Justice Edgerly held that 
Mr. Moody was not guilty. Whereupon Cranfield revoked Edgerly's com- 
mission as justice, but it was restored to him by Cranfield's successor. He 
was living as late as 1715. 

Beard's garrison, whose location you saw a short distance this side of 
the falls, was built by William Beard in 1675, when the Indians first began 
to be real ugly, and in September of that year a party of Indians under the 
lead of the Chief Squando made their first onset at Oyster River; they 
burned two houses belonging to persons named Chesley; killed two men 
in a canoe and carried away two captains, both of whom soon after made 
their escape. They came up to Beard's garrison and, meeting him outside 
the garrison, killed him, and in a barbarous manner cut off his head and set 
it on a pole in derision ; then they went on to Exeter and Hampton, where 
they committed more murders. That was the first serious trouble that 
Oyster River settlement had with the Indians. In 1694 the Beard garrison 
was occupied by his son-in-law. Edward Leathers, who with his family made 
their escape before the Indians attacked and burned the garrison. By the 
way. this Edward Leathers, who seems to have been a very respectable and 
worthy citizen, as were many of his descendants, was the ancestor of the 
noted dwellers in the famous Leathers City of Barrington, whose fame was 
.great both far and near, but the city in Barrington is now but a quiet neigh- 
borhood. 

The Meader garrison, which stood in the neighborhood of where Mr. 
Elisha R. Brown's summer residence is, up there opposite Fox Point, was 



2(16 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

built by John Meader as soon as the wars began in 1675. I" 1694 Mr. Meader 
was about sixty-four years old. When he heard the firing of guns about 
daybreak on the morning of the massacre, he was not properly and sufifi- 
ciently prepared to defend his house, because ammunition was lacking, so 
he took his family across the river to Fox P^oint before the Indians had a 
chance to begin their attack on his garrison. When they reached there, 
finding it vacant, they burned it to the ground, but Mr. Meader immediately 
rebuilt it after the massacre and called on the Government to station soldiers 
there, which was done, according to the provincial papers, and they remained 
until December. 1694. 

There were other farm houses about the settlement which were not gar- 
risoned; that is. did not have a large yard around them enclosed by a high 
stockade of posts in the ground which no man could climb over, the entrance 
to which was by a gate of strong timbers which was fastened at night by a 
strong bar across it. On that horrible night in 1694 nearly all of these 
defenseless houses were set on fire, the inhabitants being either killed or 
taken prisoners; some of them escaped to the garrisoned houses, or hid in 
the bushes, or other secret places. Dear friends, just imagine yourself under 
such circumstances; you can then appreciate this story. 

I have told you of the garrisons that were burned. The other seven 
garrisons, viz.: Jones', Bunker's, Smith's, Davis', Burnham's, Bickford's 
and Woodman's, were resolutely and successfully defended. Taking them 
in the order as you saw the localities in coming down here I will first 
mention — 

The Tones garrison, ^^•hich stood on the upper side of Jones creek, a 
pleasant location, with the river in full sight. It was built by Stephen Jones, 
who settled there in 1663, and the farm has been in possession of the Jones 
family to the present day, 246 years ago. He is called Ensign Jones in 1692, 
being one of the three officers appointed for the defense of the settlement, 
the others being Capt. John ^Voodnlan and Lieut. James Davis. That was 
three years after the massacre at Cochecho, so it is more than probable that 
they sup]ilied their garrison well with amnninitinn and other means of 
defense, which made them thoroughly prepared to fight the Indians when 
they made the attack two years later. The Jones garrison was beset before 
daybreak. Ensign Jones hearing his dogs bark, and imagining that wolves 
might l)e near, went out to secure some swine, which done, he returned 
unmolested ; but being suspicious that all was not right, he then went up into 
the flankout and sat on the wall. Discerning the flash of a gun, he dropped 
backward ; soon a ball entered the place where he had withdrawn his legs. 
Of course there was something doing at once; he aroused his household and 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 297 

prepared for defense, which was successfully made, although his fort was 
beset on all sides. 

The Bunker garrison you saw the ruins of, as you came here. It is on 
the upper side of Bunker's creek. It was built by James Bunker, who was 
settled at Oyster River as early as 165J: it was built about 1675. It was 
successfully defended in 1694, and a part of the original estate, including 
the old garrison, has remained in possession of the Bunker family to the 
present time, 257 years. 

Tiie Smith garrison stood on a hill, near where you saw the Smith bury- 
ing ground. It was built by Joseph Smith, \\ho on July 31, i6t)0, had a 
g-rant from the town of Dover of that lot of land, which has remained in 
possession of the Smith family to the present time, 253 years, the jiresent 
owner being Forest S. Smith, Esq., a prominent merchant in Boston. This 
Joseph Smith was a son of George Smith, who was one of Capt. Thomas 
Wiggins' company that settled at Dover Neck in 1633, 281 years ago, and 
was a prominent citizen of Dover, being town clerk several years; he some- 
times spelled his name "Smyth." He is named among those who were the 
first freemen of Dover. Joseph Smith resided on that land until his death; 
his remains were interred in the burial ground nearly where the garrison 
stood, and on his gravestone you read this inscription: 

"Sacred to the memory of Joseph Smith, ivho died December 15, 1728, 
aged eiiihty-nine years. He 7uas the first Euro/yean zvho cultivated the soil 
in zvhich his remains arc deposited." The adjoining tombstone bears this 
inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Smith, wife of Joseph 
Smith, ivho died May 25, 1727." In that burial ground you saw the grave- 
stones of six generations of the Smith family, who in turn had been owners 
of that land; it is a condition which probably no burial ground in New 
Hampshire can duplicate. In the Woodman burial ground, up near the col- 
lege, there are the graves of Capt. John Woodman and six generations of his 
descendants, who in turn owned the \\'oodman garrison anrl the land around 
it, but not all of the graves have separate headstones to designate the exact 
spot where each was buried. The Smith garrison was successfully defended, 
"being seasonably apprised of the danger," as the report says, other families 
taking refuge there. The Indians made furious and continued attacks, liut 
the brave men within "held the fort." The Smith family in every genera- 
tion descended from Joseph has had men distinguished for ability, energy 
and faithful sennce in public trusts. 

The Davis garrison, the location of which you saw near the mouth of 
Oyster river, was built by John Davis of Haverhill, Mass., who came here 
as early as 1653 and settled on that land in 1654; he is the present writer's 



298 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ancestor. He is called Ensign John Davis as early as 1663, and died before 
1686. He built tlie garrison about 1675, and in it resided his son, James, 
and family at the time of the massacre in 1694. This James was then 
Lieut. James Da\is; later in life, in the next century, he became colonel of 
his regiment and was one of the great men of his generation, valiant in 
wars with the French and Indians, wise and energetic in peace ; judge, coun- 
cillor, and incorruptible in all official positions ; he accumulated great wealth 
and left a family of nine children, whose ages, at their death, averaged 
eighty-seven years eacii. He died in 1748, aged eighty-eight years. You 
saw the headstone at his grave, where it has withstood the storms of 160 
years. Around it arc the unmarked graves of his descendants for several 
generations. 

\\'hen the Indiana made their attack on the garrison on the morning of 
July i8th, Lieutenant Davis and his neighbors who had gathered there were 
ready for them, being forewarned by the guns up the river, and they suc- 
cessfully repulsed every attack that was made, without the loss of a man. 
But what a horrible night it was as he looked across the river and saw the 
burning houses and heard the cries of his neighbors, whom he was unable to 
assist. It is the tradition of the neighborhood that Col. James Davis, the 
veteran officer and able magistrate, used on occasion to lay aside his carnal 
weapons, and convene religious meetings at his capacious garrison, in which 
he took the lead in prayer and exhortation. (Some time after the affair of 
1694, it is the tradition that six or seven persons from Oyster River Point, 
on their way to the boat from one of these meetings, were waylaid and slain 
by the Indians on the Meader land just below Davis creek. Their bodies, 
discovered some days later, were covered with earth where they lay. This 
place was pointed out to you by Mr. Chesley.) 

The Bickford garrison stood at Durliam Point, across the river from 
Colonel Davis' but lower down. It was built by Thomas Bickford, ancestor 
of the present writer; that point of land has Little Bay on one side and 
Oyster river on the other. On the occasion of the attack. Captain Bickford 
being forewarned by the noise and fire up river, sent his family across the 
bay to Fox Point, and remained to defend his garrison, when the attack 
should be made, which he knew was sure to come. He did the work in a 
very ingenious and successful way ; it w as surrounded by a strong palisade. 
Despising alike the promises and threats by which the Indians would have 
persuaded him to surrender, he kept up a constant fire at them, changing his 
dress as often as he could, showing himself with a different cap, hat or coat, 
and sometimes without either, and giving orders of command in a loud 
voice, as if he had a company of soldiers with him, and continually shooting 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 299 

at the enemy, he completely deceived them and they finally gave up the 
attempt to capture the garrison, thinking it was too strongly manned for 
them. 

The first meeting house at Oyster River was just across the river from 
the Smith garrison ; the Indians did not disturb it, and it is the tradition that 
while the massacre and l>urning of houses was going on, a French priest, who 
accompanied the party, remained in the meeting house, and employed him- 
self in writing on the pulpit with chalk, and would not permit the house to 
be damaged. At that time the pastor was Rev. John Buss; he happened to 
be away from home, but the Indians destroyed his house, nearby the church, 
with a valuable library, wiiose books and manuscripts would be of inestima- 
ble value if our historical society could possess them now. His wife and 
family escaped to the woods and thus saved their lives. 

The Burnham garrison, above the meeting house, also made a successful 
defense. After the fight on both sides of the river was over, Dr. Belknap 
says: "Both divisions then met at the falls, where they had passed the even- 
ing before, and proceeded together to Captain Woodman's garrison. The 
ground being uneven, they approached without danger, and from behind a 
hill kept up a long and severe fire at the hats and caps which the people 
within held up on sticks above the walls, but did no damage except battering 
the roof of the house. At length, apprehending it was time for the people 
in the neighboring settlements to collect in pursuit of them, they finally with- 
drew, having killed and captivated between ninety and a hundred persons, 
and burned about twenty houses, of which fi\e were garrisons." 

Just a few words about that Woodman garrison, which was standing 
in a fine state of preservation until it was burned to the ground in N()venil)er, 
1896. You saw what a beautiful location it stood on, the hill at the head 
of Beard's creek, with brooks and deep ravines on every side of the acclivity, 
except the west. It has a fine outlook for an approaching enemy, as well as 
a charming view in every direction, except in the rear, where the rise of land 
intercepts the prospect. Durham village, which did not exist in 1694. lies 
at the south in full view ; at the east may be traced the windings of Oyster 
river. .'\t the north, through an opening between the hills, can be seen the 
spot where stood the Huckin's garrison; and nearer at hand, but separated 
by a deep ravine, is the field where occurred the massacre of r68(). when 
the garrison was destroyed and eighteen persons were killed in a field by 
the Indians. The mound where they were buried can still be pointed out, 
never having been disturbed by the plow. 

The W^oodman garrison was built by Capt. John Woodman, a direct 
ancestor of the present writer; he was a son of Edward Woodman of New- 



300 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

bury, Alass., one of the founders of that town. Captain \Voodman came to 
Oyster River as early as 1657, and in 1659 had a grant of twenty acres of 
land, the same on which he built the garrison. Captain Woodman was one 
of the leading men of the town and the province. The garrison and the 
valuable fami remained in possession of his descendants, in the Woodman 
name, for more than two hundred years, the last of the name to own it 
being the distinguished Prof. John S. \\'oodman of Dartmouth College, who 
died in the old garrison May 9, 1871, and was buried in the ancient burial 
ground, which you saw on that beautiful spot on the hill by Beard's creek, 
where five generations of his ancestors had been laid before him. After his 
death it was sold by his widow, together with the farm. By carelessness on 
the part of the owner, it was burned in November, 1896, an event that never 
ought to have occurred; such carelessness in connection with historic places 
is inexcusable. 

The Woodman burial ground is on a beautiful ridge between Beard's 
cove and the broad, green field at the south of it. This was an ancient 
burial ground for the Indians in the ages before the white man came up 
Ovster river. In 1862 Prof. John Smith Woodman of Dartmouth College 
erected a fine monument in the center of the ground on which are the fol- 
lowing inscriptions : 

"Here lie the remains of the Woodman family, who have occupied these 
grounds since 1659. Here are the graves of seven generations; August, 1862. 

"Tohn Woodman. Esq.. came from Newbury, Me.; born 1630, died 1706; 
his son Jonathan, born 1665, died 1729; his son John born 1701, died 1777; 
his son Captain Jonathan, born 1743, died 181 1 ; his son Nathan born Decem- 
ber 29, 1789, died March 2. 1869; his .son Prof. John Smith, born Sep- 
tember 6, 1819, died May 9, 1871. Professor Woodman's wife bom May i, 
1833, died December 15, 1884. Their daughter Fanny born September 5, 
1861, died February 26, 1862." 



CHAPTER XXX 
HISTORY OF DURHAM (HI) 

DURHAM IN THE REVOLUTION CAPTURE OF THE POWDER AT FORT WILLIAM 

AND MARY, DECEMBER, I// 4 

The third great event in the history of Durham was the Revolutionary 
war, in which its citizens took an active and important part, beginning with 
the first overt act of the war, in December, 1774. The parish was incorpo- 
rated as a town by the Provincial assembly, May 15, 1732. It received the 
name of Durham, apparently at the request of the Rev. Hugh Adams, who 
had been minister of the parish a number of years. In his address to the 
General Court in 1738, he says this parish "was chartered into the township 
of Durham" in answer to his petition "for its privileges and said name, as 
therein pleaded for." For some reason not explained, Mr. Adams had a love 
for Durham in Old England and wanted it given to this new town in Xew^ 
England, and the Assembly so named it. 

The men of the new town took an active part in the French and Indian 
wars preceding the opening of the Revolutionary struggle. The most con- 
spicuous man among Durham citizens in the Revolution was John Sullivan, 
born in the parish of Summersworth. in Dover, February 17, 1740; son of 
the famous schoolmaster, John Sullivan, and his wife, Margery Brown. He 
was given a good education by his father, and completed his study of law, 
with Samuel Livermore of Portsmouth, when he was twenty years old, and 
was married that same year, commencing housekeeping at Berwick, Me., 
where his father lived (not South Berwick). Later he settled as a lawyer 
in Durham, and on December 19, 1764, purchased from the heirs of Dr. 
Samuel Adams the well known Sullivan house, near the Sullivan monument 
on "Broth Hill," where the old meeting house stood. That house Parson 
Hugh Adams, father of Samuel, had purchased of Joseph Burnham, August 
7. 1717. It was then a new house, Init now (1913) must be near, or quite, 
two hundred years old. That house was General Sullivan's home until his 
death, January 23, 1795, and the home of his family for many years 
after that. 

301 



302 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

The young lawyer soon acquired an extensive and lucrative practice of 
his profession and for ten years was one of the leading lawyers in New 
Hampshire and in York county, Maine. He was brilliant, energetic and 
eloquent as an attorney and he carried on considerable mill business, outside 
of his law practice, so that in ten years he had acciunulated quite a handsome 
fortune, for that period. It would have been nothing unusual for him to 
oppose war to save his property, but the oppressive measures of the British 
ministry found him a bold opponent. Perhaps he inherited this feeling of 
opposition from the way his ancestors had been despoiled of their possessions 
in Ireland. He was of the O'Sullivans of the southwestern part of that 
island, near Bantry bay, to whom the name of England was justly a synonym 
of merciless tyranny and bloody despotism. He could trace his ancestry to 
holders of castles leveled by the English invader. His grandfather, Major 
Philip O'Sullivan, had been a soldier in the defense of Limerick, the last 
place in Ireland to yield to King William III, and on its fall had chosen 
liberty in exile in France, where he died, rather than to submit to forswear 
himself at home. 

This young lawyer of Durham, at thirty-four years of age, had the spirit 
and courage of such ancestors, and when the call came for him to show his 
colors in 1774 he was ready for tlie fray. In December of that year Paul 
Revere took his first patriotic horseback ride and came to Portsmouth and 
infonned the leading patriots there that a British warship was coming to 
that town to take the powder and other war materials from Fort William 
and Mary, where Fort Constitution now is, and he advised them to get busy 
and remove the war material Ijefore the British sailors could get a chance 
to do it. It was a very important and timely journey, though not much has 
been said about it since then. 

Well, a party at Portsmouth acted promptly on Paul Revere's advice. 
On the afternoon of December 14, 1774, they went down river to the fort 
in Newcastle: surprised everybody in it, and took away ninety-seven barrels 
of powder and brought it all up river to Portsmouth. Then the question 
was what to do with it. If they kept it there in Portsmouth the British war- 
ship could come there and capture it; and the ship did arrive a day or two 
after the powder and other stuff had been taken safely inland and stored 
where no British army could find it. 

The Portsmouth Sons of Liberty very speedily and wisely sent a message 
to Major John Sullivan in Durham to come down with a crew of men and 
help them. They received a prompt and hearty response, and Sullivan and 
his party arrived early the next day and began to make plans of what to 
do and how to proceed in doing it, as will be shown a little further along. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 303 

The Pascataqua river empties into Ipswich bay in the space between Fort 
Constitution and Kittery Point; its mouth is wide and deep. From tliere it 
goes ahnost straight up to Dover Point ; at this points it curves to the south 
and west and extends up about two miles, where it has its head, at Fox 
Point, around which the tide flows into Little bay, two miles west of which 
is Great bay, and beyond that Exeter. Oyster river flows into Little bay a 
short distance south of the head of the Pascataqua river, and it is about 
three miles from the mouth to the head of tide water at the falls at Durham 
village, where stood the meeting house under which the powder was first 
stored, December 17, 1774, as it took two days to cut the ice in Oyster river, 
from Little bay to the falls, the weather being very cold. The rough sketch 
enclosed shows the route by which the i^owder was carried in gondolas and 
other boats. Why they did this I will explain later. 

In 1774 no powder was manufactured in .'\merica ; all was brought from 
England. In the fall of 1774 King George ordered that no more powder 
should be exported to the .A^merican colonies; orders also were given for the 
British commanders over here to collect and get complete control of all the 
powder that w as o\-er here already ; that meant that the colonists, deprived of 
powder, could not fight the King's armies, if war should come; no powder, 
no fight. The king would have complete control. Now, then. 

News of this order by the King reached Boston early in December. The 
King had two warships m Boston, which Paul Revere learned were pre- 
paring to come to Portsmouth and get the jiowder at Fort William and Mary, 
now Constitution. December 13, 1774, Paul Revere rode to Portsmouth 
and infonned the patriots there that the British warships were coming to 
get the powder, and urged them tu organize a party and capture and remove 
it at once from the fort to places where the warships could not reach it. 
This Paul Revere is the same man who four months later made that historic 
horseback ride from Charlestown to Lexington and Concord and infonned 
the people that the British soldiers were coming to capture the powder at 
Concord, which resulted in that "firing of the shot that was heard around 
the world." His ride to Portsmouth on December 13, 1774, was just as 
important and beneficial in its results as was his ride to Lexington and Con- 
cord in the darkness of .\pril 19, 1775, but as no blood was shed at Ports- 
month, and cutting ice is not so poetic as shooting men in battle array. 
General Sullivan's ice cutting in Oyster river has never been landed in poetry 
and song as has l)een the fighting by the farmers at Concord, and their fight- 
ing from behind c\'ery stone wall along the road over which the British sol- 
diers made their hasty retreat to Boston. The result was the same in both 



304 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

instances. Tlie colonists saved their powder at I'^ort William and Mary and 
at Concord; the one by cntting ice, the other by shedding blood. 

Well, Paul Revere arrived in Portsmouth on the afternoon of December 
13th. On the 14th. John Langdon and other patriot leaders organized a 
party, properlv armed, and on the afternoon went to the fort and captured 
the powder. There were no bridges then ; the journey to Great Island had 
to be made in boats, and in boats it had to l)e taken away; no easy job on a 
cold day, but they got out nearly a hundred barrels and brought it up here 
to Portsmouth. The next day, December 15th, Gen. John Sullivan (he 
wasn't a general then) and a party came down from Durham, and with 
Portsmouth men went to the fort at night and took out the rest of the 
powder, the cannon and the guns, and brought it all up to Portsmouth. 

So far. well done; but it never would be safe to leave it there. The 
frigate Scarborough was on the way from Boston, and could take it just 
as well at Portsmouth as at the fort, so the work began at once of removing 
the powder and guns to places where the British soldiers and marines could 
not get hold of it. 

As is w-ell known, it is deep water all the way from Fort Constitution 
to the head of the Pascataqua river. The frigate Scarborough could easily 
have gone up there had the powder been left along the way, hence the 
powder was taken to Durham, the nearest point of safety. So, as fast as 
possible, with favoring tide, the loaded gondolas were taken up the Pas- 
catacpia as far as Pittle Bay. the water being free of ice. At Fox Point they 
could go no farther, as the Oyster river had frozen over, the ice being a few 
inches thick. This had to be cut by Sullivan and his men, but in a day or 
two the powder was all floated up the river and the barrels were rolled ashore 
and taken up the hill to the old meeting house, which stood where the Sulli- 
van mounment stands. The cannon and guns were also taken care of; but 
the powder was the most precious of all. 

After they had the powder safely hidden under the meeting house floor 
the news came that the frigate Scarborough had arrived at Portsmouth 
harbor to get the pow^der. The officers examined the fort and found all the 
war material was missing. So it appears that Langdon and Sullivan and 
their com]>atriots were just in time; a few days' delay would have made 
it impossible to save the powder from British hands, except by a hard 
fight with the British frigate, in which it would have been difficult for the 
patriots to have saved the powder. 

The powder did not remain long under the meeting house; for greater 
security it was carted to the towns around Durham. Maj. John Demerritt. 
who resided in Madbury, about three miles from the meeting house, had 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 307 

his men dig a siJtcial cellar under his barn, in which he deposited a number 
of barrels of the precious explosive. He had a passageway dug from his 
house cellar to the powder cellar, by which the barrels were rolled in, and in 
midwinter he rolled out some of them and hauled them to Medford. Mass., 
with his ox team; some of that powder was used at the battle of Bunker Hill, 
and more of it in the siege of Boston. 

The capture of the powder and arms was the first overt act of the 
Revolutionary war. ante-dating the encounter at Lexington and Concord 
by four months. 

As regards the way the assaults were made upon the fort, the story given 
in Brewster's "Rambles about Portsmouth'" is not correct, although it is 
dramatic and interesting. Wv. Brewster says the attack was made by the 
Portsmouth party on a bright moonlight night (Deceml^er 14. 1774), about 
midnight; that Capt. Thomas Pickering was the first man who scaled the 
western ramparts of the fort and surprised the sentinel and disamied him, 
and then some other men arrived and held the sentinel while Capt. Pickering 
went to the quarters where Captain Cochran, the commandant of the fort, 
was asleep, and arrested him before he was fairly awake and informed him 
the fort had been captured and he was a prisoner. "Whereupon Captain 
Cochran tendered his sword to Captain Pickering, who politely handed it 
back to him. observing he was a gentleman and should retain his side amis, 
and turned to leave him. As he turned. Cochran thought he had the gallant 
Pickering at his adxantage and aimed a blow at him with his sword, which 
Pickering parried with his arm, and then, without deigning to draw his 
trusty sword, he felled the miscreant to the ground with his clinched hand." 
Just then others came to Pickering's assistance and Cochran was placed 
under guard. I need not quote more : the facts of the case are. however, 
quite different, as I will show. 

Paul Revere brought his message on Tuesday, December 13, 1774, from 
the Committee of Safety in Boston to the committee in Portsmouth, of 
which Mr. Samuel Cutts was chainnan, announcing that troops were to be 
sent to re-enforce the fort, and bringing information also of the King's 
order in council prohibiting the exportation of gunpowder and military 
stores to America ; and he urged the committee to at once get the powder 
and arms at the fort. Mr. Cutts immediately called the committee together 
and they formulated plans for the capture of the powder upon the following 
day. Governor Wentworth seems to have had some intimation of w-hat 
might happen from Paul Revere's visit, for he sent word to Captain Cochran 
to be upon his guard. In 'W^'ent worth's report on the affair, however, he 
states that "before any suspicion could be had of their (the committee's) 

18 



308 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

intentions, about four hundred men were gathered together." The result of 
the committee's conference and plans was that at 12 o'clock noon on 
Wednesday, December 14, they had secretly and quietly come upon the 
square, and with a drum and fife corps commenced parading the streets to 
call the citizens together. Of course Governor Wentworth heard the music 
and soon learned what were the intentions of the committee, and by his 
order the Chief Justice of the province made proclamation that what they 
proposed, to go and take the powder, would be open rebellin against the 
King. The Sons of Liberty were not terrified in tlie least. They kept the 
drum and fife going and the whole town came out to see what was the mat- 
ter. About 2 o'clock 200 men got on board all kinds of boats and started 
down the river for the fort at Newcastle. On the way others joined them, 
so that about four hundred men arrived at the fort about 3 o'clock in the 
afternoon and beset it on all sides. Captain Cochran says he had been 
mfomied about i o'clock that they were coming "to take possession of the 
fort, upon which, having only five effective men with me, I prepared to make 
the best defense I could, and pointed some guns to those places where I 
expected they would enter." When the men had landed from their boats 
Captain Cochran told them, on their peril, not to enter. They replied they 
would. The captain then says: "I immediately ordered three four-pounders 
to be fired on them, and then the small arms; and before we could be ready 
to fire again we were stormed on all quarters, and they immediately secured 
both me and my men and kept us prisoners about one hour and a half, during 
which time they broke open the powder-house, and took all the powder away, 
except one barrel ; and having put it into boats and sent it off, they released 
me from confinement. To which I can only add, that I did all in my power 
to defend the fort, but all my efforts could not avail against so great a 
number." 

That is the w ay the powder was taken from the fort, according to Capt. 
John Cochran, who was in command of it. Quite different from Mr. Brew- 
ster's prettv story in his "Rambles." It does not appear that any one was 
killed or wounded by the discharge of the cannon and small arms; if there 
had been three or four killed the great historians would have made as much 
of a story of it as they have of the Lexington and Concord fight. The pow- 
der was taken up to Portsmouth and kept a day or two, in the gondolas in 
which it had been loaded, in all ninety-seven barrels. Probably as the tide 
favored the boats were taken farther up the river. Just who led in this 
capture of the powder is not stated in any of the letters and documents relat- 
ing to it, but Capt. John Langon has always been mentioned as one of the 
number. The four hundred Sons of Liberty were all of one mind and did not 



AND REPRESEXTATIXE CITIZENS 309 

need any cuniinander. Langdon and Pickering and Cutts were all in it with 
the rest, (jovernor \\ entwortii says "after they entered the fort they seized 
the captain. ga\ e three hii/.zas, and hauled down the King's colors;" let this 
suffice for December 14. 

( )n tlie following day. Thursday, December 15, 1774, Maj. John SuUi- 
\an ( later general ) , of Durham, appeared on the scene and took a hand in 
the affair uf completing the work of dismantling the fort; he had no connec- 
tion with the first day's work. Of course those drumbeats on Market Square 
C(juld nut lie lieard at Durham, but expresses were sent out in all directions 
to alarm the county people, and one of these came to Durham. General Sulli- 
van in one of his letters says : "A messenger came to my house (on the night 
of December 14) from the Hon. Colonel Long (of Portsmouth) and I think 
also signed by President Langdon, informing me that one hundred barrels of 
powder were sent to my care ; that they had been to the fort and secured as 
nnich of the powder as they could; and desired me to come down with a 
parlv to secure the remainder, with the cannon and munitions of war, as they 
were in danger of l^eing seized by the British ships." 

The result was that by the next forenoon Major Sullivan had mustered a 
large company of Durham men and they arrived in Portsmouth about noon 
of Thursday, December 15. He says that among the number were Rev. Mr. 
Adams, Deacon Norton. Lieutenant Durgin, Capt. Jonathan Woodman, 
Mr. .\aron Davis, a ^Nlr. Footman of Dover, and Alexander Scammell, his 
law student, later colonel of the First New Hampshire regiment at the capture 
of Comwallis at Yorktown, where he was killed. When they arrived at 
Portsmouth they w ere drawn up on parade, on Market Square. They chose 
a committee consisting of those persons who had been the most active in the 
affair of the preceding day, with Major Sullivan and some others, to wait 
on the Governor and ascertain whether he expected any of the King's troops 
or ships to come to the fort. They called on him and the Governor, after 
expressing great concern for the taking of the powder from the fort, which 
they pretended to disapprove and to be ignorant that it had been taken, 
assured them that he knew of neither troops or ships coming into the Prov- 
ince, and ordered Major Sullivan, as a magistrate, to go and disperse the 
people. The committee returned and reported to the assembled patriots what 
the Governor had told them. They voted it was satisfactory, but they also 
voted approval of the taking the powder from the fort. Matters then ap- 
peared to subside and the authorities thought the people had left quietly for 
their homes. They did leave the parade quietly, but Major Sullivan, with 
about seventy of his men, concealed themselves until the evening and then 
went to the fort, arriving before midnight, and took out the remainder of the 



310 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

powder, with fifteen four-pounders and one nine-pounder, and a quantity of 
twelve and four and twenty pound shot, with a lot of small arms, and having 
loaded it in gondolas, with favoring tide went up the river as far as they 
could, towards Durham. It does not appear in any reports that they met with 
any resistance at the fort, but the men said it was very cold work wading in 
the water to load the material in the I>oats on that December night. 

They got all of this and the powder up as far as Oyster river all right; 
then tliey had to cut ice with saws, and General Sullivan says it took two days 
to get it all up to his house at Oyster river falls. The ice was not strong 
enough to haul the powder and heavy guns on sleds by unloading it from the 
gondolas. This ends the first part of the story of Durham men in the 
Revolution. 



CHAPTER XXXI 
HISTORY OF DURHAM (IV) 

DURHAM IN THE REVOLUTION ON THE BATTLEFIELDS AND IN THE 

COUNCILS OF STATE 

Durham men did \aluable scr\ice on the battlefields and in the councils 
of state during the eight years of the Revolutionary war. Their careers 
and ser\ices are finely set forth in the valuable history of Durham by the 
Rev. E. S. Stack-pole and Col. Leucien Thompson, recently published, so 
only a brief of what was done can be given here; those who want to know 
more in this regard are respectfully referred to the first volume of Stackpole 
and Thompson's history. 

The Durham men who held high positions in the army were Gen. 
John Sullivan, Col. Alexander Scammell and Col. VVinborn Adams. The 
two last named lost their lives in the service; Colonel Adams in 1777 at the 
battle of Stillwater, New York, and Colonel Scammell in 1781, Sept. 30th, 
at the siege of Yorktown, Va. At the Fort William and Mary overt act of 
war against the Crown, Sullivan was a young man of 34 years; Scammell 
was 28. He had graduated from Harvard College when he was 23 years old ; 
then taught school a year; then came to Portsmouth, N. H., and was in the 
employ of Governor Wentworth, making surveys of his Wolfeborough land 
estate' where he established liis summer residence and planned great things 
for that section of New Hampshire around Lake Winnepesaukee which he 
would have carried out if the war had not changed the course of events 
in his life. The Governor had Scammell make data for a map of his prov- 
ince and mark the broad arrow on the best pine trees he found in the forests, 
for future use in the King's Navy. In 1772 he concluded he had had enough 
of forest survey work with Governor Wentworth and came up to Durham 
and commenced studying law with Maj. John Sullivan, that being the 
militarv title then of the future general, as he was an officer in a militia regi- 
ment; 'and being a law student he went down to Portsmouth with the 
Major and helped bring the powder and guns up to Durham. He had nearly 
completed his law studies and so, when Sullivan was elected delegate to the 

311 



312 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Continental Congress in 1775, Scammell took charge of the law business at 
Durham and carried it on until there was more call for war than for law. 
When his preceptor was appointed Major-General in the Continental Army 
July 29, 1776, he had Scammell appointed Brigade-Major, and the law office 
at Durham was closed, and remained closed three years, when the General 
resigned in 1779, at the close of his brilliant Indian campaign in Central New 
York, and came home and opened it to eani some clothing for himself and 
family, and provide them with the needed bread and butter. At one period 
in his military campaigns he said he had not money enough to buy a much 
needed new suit of clothes for military use. Scammel served with General 
Sullivan in the battle of Long Island and of Trenton and Princeton. In 
1777 he took command of the Third New Hampshire Regiment of the Amer- 
ican Army, having been appointed on the lOth of December, 1776. His regi- 
ment was ordered to re-enforce the Northern Army under Gen Horatio 
Gates. In that campaign he was notably active and efficient and was wounded 
at Saratoga. In 1778 he was appointed adjutant-general of the army and 
became a member of General Washington's military family. He held that 
office until March. 1781. when he was given command of the First Regiment, 
New Hampshire Regulars, General Joseph Cilley having retired, after holding 
command of it from the beginning of the war. He went South with his 
regiment, under command of General Washington, and took an active part in 
the siege of Yorktown, on the 30th of September, 1781, he was reconnoitering 
the enemy's position and was captured by Hessian dragoons, and wounded 
after he surrendered. On request of General Washington, who was deeply 
grieved at the news, Comwallis permitted him to be taken to Williamsburg 
for treatment, where he soon after died. Colonel Scammell was an accom- 
plished scholar; an eloquent speaker; a brave officer, sans peur et sans re- 
proche. Durham farmers very thoughtfidly and properly have named their 
grange, "Scammell Grange." 

John Sullivan, son of the famous school master John Sullivan of Som- 
ersworth, N. H., whose wife, Margery Brown, was equally noted, was born 
at what is now known as Rollinsford Junction, Feb. 17, 1740; it was then 
the Parish of Summersworth in Dover. The cyclopedias of American biog- 
raphy say he was bom in Berwick. Me., which statement is incorrect. Mas- 
ter Sullivan gave his son an education equal to most of the graduates of 
Harvard College at that time. Later he studied law and opened his law 
offices in Durham. In 1772 he was appointed Major of the militia, receiv- 
ing his commission from Gov. Jolm Wentworth, against whom he rebelled, and 
committed treason against King George in December, 1774. He did not send 
in his resignation to Governor Wentworth, but converted his regiment in 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS did 

1775, into a regiment of patriots ready to fight for American rights. Fol- 
lowing is a brief of what he did for the glory of Durham and the success 
of the American cause. 

Durham held a town meeting, at tlie call of Col. John Wentworth of 
Somersworth and elected Major Sullivan delegate to the provincial conven- 
tion held at Exeter early in 1775 ; the convention elected delegate to the Con- 
tinental Congress in Philadelphia; that Congress, in June, 1775 appointed him 
one of the eight Brigadier-Generals for the American army; General Sulli- 
van came to Cambridge with General Washington and was placed in com- 
mand of New Hampshire regiments at Winter Hill which command he held 
during the siege of Boston, except that he came to Portsmouth in the fall, 
October, and put the troops, there gathered, in proper array to keep the Brit- 
ish warships from coming up the river to Portsmouth, and then left the river 
ports in command of Colonel Wingate. When 2,000 Connecticut troops left 
him at Winter Hill in December, 1775 he came to New Hampshire and raised 
2,000 recruits to take their place ; Durham sent a good number of his neigh- 
bors. General Washington complimented Sullivan's command at Winter 
Hill, during the siege, as being the best drilled, and kept in the best sanitary 
condition of any in the army around Boston. 

It was while he was in command of the forces at Winter Hill, watching 
the Britsh troops on Charlestown Neck that he wrote John Adams a strong 
letter in favor of having Congress declare independence at once. This letter 
was written Dec. 21, 1775, six months before Congress actually issued its 
Declaration. The British troops had just been throwing shot and shell across 
from Charlestown into his camp; he says: "Let me ask if we have anything 
to hope from his Majesty or his Ministers, Have we any encouragement 
from the people of Great Britain? Could they exert themselves more if we 
had shaken off the yoke and declared ourselves independent? Why then, 
in God's name, is it not done ? Whence arises this spirit of moderation ? this 
want of decision ? Do the members of your respectable body think that they 
will throw their shot and shells with more force than at present? Do they 
think the fate of Charlestown or Falmouth might have been worse, or the 
King's Proclamation more severe, if we had openly declared war? Could 
they have treated our prisoners worse had we been in open and avowed rebel- 
lion, than they do now?" 

When the enemy had been driven from Boston, March 17, 1776, General 
Sullivan with Washington's approval was assigned to our army in Canada. 
He went there via Lake Champlain and the Sorrel River. When he reached 
our army there, which was on its retreat from Quebec up the St. Lawrence 
River, he found it in a pitiable condition with the enemy in close pursuit. 



314 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

General Montgomery had been killed at Quebec, and Maj.-Gen. John Thomas 
had been placed in command by Congress. On the retreat General Thomas 
died, just previous to Sullivan's arrival, who then took command. This first 
n;o\e was to reenforce General St. Clair at Three Rivers, but that proved 
useless, as the British force in pursuit numbered ten thousand while Sullivan, 
A\itli the combined American forces had but se\-en thousand, and half of 
them were sick with smallpox. The Americans were in imminent danger of 
being cut off from a chance to retreat. From this position, and under these 
conditions, with the enemy only two hours' march behind him, Sullivan extri- 
cated his little army with admirable skill. Not a sick man was left behind, 
and he .saved all of his military impedimenta, and brought the whole fot.. 
the sick and the well, down Lake Champlain to Ticonderoga, where he 
relinquished the command to another. At his parting he received the hearty 
thanks of the men and officers for the way he had conducted the awful 
retreat. Among those who signed the address were John Stark, Enoch 
Poor, James Reid, .\nthony \\'ayne and .\rthur St Clair. 

He was next assigned to duty on Long Island, not far from New York, 
under General Greene and assisted in the erection of defenses. General 
Greene being taken sick, General Putnam wa'^ assigned to command, with 
Sullivan and Lord Stirling as subordinates. The battle of Long Island 
occurred Aug. ij. The enemy numbered four times the .\merican forces, 
and the Americans could not prevent defeat. 

Sullivan next was engaged in the campaign in New Jersey and by the 
skilful movement of his forces he enabled W^ashington to make that brilliant 
movement upon Trenton, Dec. 26, 1776. At the crossing of the Delaware 
Sullivan was in command of the right wing, and Greene, with Washington 
present, in command of the left. The march was in a storm of snow and 
sleet. Sullivan sent word to \\'ashington that the ammunition was thoroughly 
wet and asked what should be done. "Use the bayonet" was Washington's 
reply. That suited Sullivan and he dashed into Trenton, with John Stark 
in advance. over]X)wering all opposition and disposing his troops in sucli 
a manner as to prevent any escape on the right; Greene's cooperation took 
care of the left, and the Hessians were captured. Eight days after this Sulli- 
van with his troops captured Princeton, and nearly two hundred prisoners. 
He was stationed a while at Princeton, and kept close watch of the British 
movements. At the Brandywine. September 11, Sullivan commanded the 
right wing of Washington's anny. Sullivan's activity and skill were every- 
where visible, but he could not do the impossible. At the battle of Gennan- 
town Oct. 4, 1777, General Sullivan led tvro divisions, and succeeded in the 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS ai5 

part assigned him, driving the enemy from their position; it was not his fault 
that Washmgton was compelled to order a retreat. 

General Sullivan passed the winter in the sufferings of Valley Forge, but 
on the 17th of April, 1778, he was assigned to command of the army in Rl'iode 
Island, most of which was then held l.v the British, u ho occupied a stron-ly 
fortihed position at Ne^^'l)ort. That Rhode Island campaign was not The 
success It was expected, because the French fleet did not perform its part 
of the programme. But Sullivan ended the campaign with what Lafayette 
declared to be one of the m,,st hotly cnnte,.ted an,l best commanded battles 
durmg the war. Congress passed a resolution declaring -that the retreat made 
by General Sullivan, with the troops under his command, from Rhode Island 
was prudent, timely and well conducted, and that Congress highly approve.s 
the same, and that the thanks of Congress be given to Major-General Sulli- 
van and to the officers and troops under his command for their fortitude and 
bravery displayed in the action of August 29, in Avhich they repulsed the 
British forces and maintained the field." 

General Sullivan's last military campaign was the work of chastising the 
Indians in the Sus,|uehanna Valley, an.l of dealmg a blow at their power 
which \\ould guard the fnmtier settlements from such atrocities as had 
betallen Wyonnng in the preceding year. British, Tories and Indians were 
m combination. The British Government was employing savages in this 
mfamous warfare. Congress directed Washington to provide for the work 
of chastisement. His orders were severe; the country was to be laid waste. 
General Sullivan was given four brigades with artillery and riflemen. After 
cutting their way through the forests General Sullivan's forces came in con- 
tact with the enemy August 29, 1779. From that to the end of the campaign 
Sulhvan carried out Washington's orders perfectly. Not a fruit-tree or a 
cornstock was left standing. Immense quantities of supplies were destroyed. 
Not a roof -tree was left from the Genesee Valley to the Susquehanna. Some 
writers have condemned his severity; but they forget the murders of Wyom- 
mg Valley. In speaking of Sullivan's campaign Gen. Wm. T. Sherman 
said: "Washington gave General Sullivan orders to go there and punish 
the Six Nations for their cruel massacre in the Valley o^f the Wyoming, and 
to make it so severe that it would not occur again. And he did so. General 
Sullivan obeved his orders like a man and a soldier, and the result was, from 
that time forward, your people settled up these beautiful valleys." 

Durham men were with General Sullivan nearly all the time he was in 
the anny, captains, lieutenants and private soldiers. Congress, Oct. 14, 
1779, adopted strong resolutions of thanks to General Washington for order- 
ing, and to General Sullivan and his brave officers and soldiers for effectually 



316 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

executing, the expedition. This was General Sullivan's last military service. 
On the 9th of November, 1779, he tendered his resignation to Congress. He 
gave as a reason the impairment of his health, and the advice of his pliysicians. 
He then lacked three months of being forty years old. 

Col. IVinborn Adams began his military service in June, 1775, when he 
was appointed captain to raise a company for Col. Enoch Poor's regiment, 
to consist of sixty able-bodied, effective men. There were eight companies 
in the regiment; Benjamin Tilcoml) of Dover and Jonathan Wentworth of 
Somersworth were two of the eight captains. On the 17th of June Captain 
Adams was ordered by the New Hampshire Committee of Safety "to march 
by the middle of next week to join the amiy at or near Cambridge in the 
Massachusetts Bay, there to receive further orders." The next day Colonel 
Poor's w hole regiment was ordered to march to Cambridge. Captain Adams 
remained in the ser^-ice as captain during the siege of Boston, being at Winter 
Hill under General Sullivan. Colonel Poor's regiment was known as the 
Second New Hampshire. In April, 1777 it was reorganized and the follow- 
ing were its officers: Col. Nathan Hale of Rendge; Lieut.-Col. Winbom 
Adams, Durham; Maj. Benjamin Titcomb, Dover; Adjutant, 'William Elliot, 
Exeter. In July following Colonel Hale was taken prisoner in the battle of 
Long Island and died while a prisoner. Previous to the reorganization 
Captain .Vdams had been promoted to Ala j or in Col. George Reid's regiment. 
The reorganized regiment went to Northern New York and were in the 
retreat of the army from Lake Champlain in the summer of 1777 and in 
September and October were in the battles that preceded the surrender of 
Bnrgoyne October 18, at Saratoga. As Colonel Hale was a prisoner, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Adams was in command of the regiment in the battle at 
Bemis' Heights, and during the engagement he was killed, 19th of September. 
Captain Adams' company which he enlisted and first commanded in the 
Second New Hampshire Regiment was made up largely of men of Durham 
and the towns around. Previous to entering the army he kept a public house 
at Durham, opposite where the Sullivan Monument now stands. His wife 
was Sarah Bartlett. sister of Col. Thomas Bartlett of Nottingham, a very 
accomplished and excellent woman. After he entered the army Mrs. Adams 
continued to keep the tavern open for a few years, and it maintained a repu- 
tation for first class service. This was on the route of travel of the soldiers 
from Dover, Somersworth, Berwick and other towns in Maine, when they 
were on the march for Boston and beyond. And they always made a halt 
when they climbed the hill from Oyster River Falls to Madam Adams' Inn. 
They always regarded it as honoring Colonel .\dams who had given up his 
life in the cause of American independence, as well as honoring and aiding 



AND REi'RESENTATlVE CITIZENS 317 

Mrs. Adams. In 1780, the General Assembly of New Hampshire, in accord- 
ance with the resolves of Congress, granted her a pension of one-half of her 
husband's pay. 

Col. Hercules Mooney, who has already been mentioned as a schoolmaster 
in the Parish of Summersworth in Dover, was a resident of Durham and 
schoolmaster there for a number of years after 1750, and has a good war 
record in the Revolution. He had two sons, Benjamin and John, who were 
soldiers at times during the war, the former being lieutenant of a company. 
The record of Colonel Mooney and his sons is good from beginning to end. 

Col. Thomas Task was a prominent resident of Durham for a number of 
years and had a good war record in the French and Indian w ars first preced- 
ing the Revolution. At a special meeting of the Council and Assembly of 
New Hampshire held Sept. 14, 1776, to consider the matter of raising more 
men to reenforce the army in New- York, at which it was "\oted that there 
be raised in this State one thousand men, officers included, to reenforce the 
army of the United States of America at New York, to be divided into two 
regiments, eight companies to a regiment, to be in the service until the first 
of December next unless sooner discharged." 

In accordance with that, Sept. 17, Thomas Tash of Durham, an old 
French war ofiicer was appointed to the command of the first regiment, the 
field and staff officers of which were as follows : — Colonel, Thomas Tash, 
Durham; lieutenant colonel. Joseph Welch, Plaistow ; major, William Gregg. 
Londonderry: surgeon, John Cook; adjutant, Joseph Smith, Durham; quarter 
master, Jonathan Chesley. Barnstead. There were cpiite a number of Dur- 
ham men private soldiers in this regiment. In this connection it seems per- 
tinent to state that in the last half of the year 1776, New Hampshire had 
three regiments in the regular or Continental army under General Washington, 
viz., Stark's, Poor's and Reid's ; a regiment in the Canada service under Col. 
Timothy Bedell ; Col. Pierse Long's regiment, which was stationed for the 
defense of Pasquataque harbor until it marched to reenforce the garrison at 
Ticonderoga in February, 1777; and in addition furnished four regiments of 
militia as reenforcements, viz., Wyman and Wingate's in July and August, 
Tash's and Bald\\ in's in September and Gilman's in December. 

New Hampshire troops participated in the battle at Trenton and Princeton 
and honored themselves and the .State by their bravery and good conduct. 
Durham men did their share of brave work. But it was not wholly in the 
field sen'ice that Durham men were active and influential leaders ; in the 
committee of safety, in the Council and in the Assembly they were among 
the leaders. 

Judge Ebenezer Thompson, a neighbor of Gen. John Sullivan and Col. 



318 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

W'inborn Adams, and Cul. Alexander Scamniell, and Cul. Thonia> 'lash, and 
Col. Hercules Mooney. He was a descendant of one of the old families of 
that town, son of Robert and Susanna Thompson. He was born March 5, 
1737-8; he died suddenly August 14, 1802. His father gave him a goo<l 
education and he studied medicine when a young man but does nut api)ear 
to have practiced that profession nuich as his time was too nuich taken up 
in other directions. He built the house and lived where his great-great 
grandson, Col.Lucien Thompson, lives in Durham, not far from the State 
College, which house has remained in possession of his descendants ever 
since. Governor William Plumer in his biographical sketch of Judge Thomp- 
son says ; "He was esteemed a good physician, but as his talents qualified him 
for office the people required his ser\ice, and he yielded prompt obedience 
to their will." 

He was selectman of Durham in 1765; he was Representative in the Gen- 
eral Assembly of the province in 1766, and sen-ed continuously for ten years, 
to 1776, when the Pro\'incial Assembly ceased to exist, and the Colonial or 
State Assembly took its place. He was a prominent member of the House and 
took a decided stand for the rights of the people. Governor W'entwortli ap- 
pointed him justice of the peace to May 10, 1773, for Straft'ord county, when 
the county was organized, and he held the office continually until his death. In 
the Assembly records he is called "Dr. Thompson" and is called one of the prin- 
cipal leaders of the House. His name has the signal honor of being connected 
with the ver\' last act of the Royal Go\ernment in Xew Hampshire. This 
was in June, 1775, when the House of Representatives voted not to receive 
three members from Grafton county, who had been "sent by virtue of the 
king's writ only," from towns which had not heretofore had that privilege, 
and without the concurrence of other liranches of the Legislature. This was 
considered as "a breach of the spirit and design of the constitution, and 
pregnant with alarming consequences." Governor W'entworth entered a vig- 
orous protest and demanded a repeal of the vote of exclusion and leave the 
three members free to take their seats. The same day, July 14, 1775, the 
House voted that Captain Langdon, Colonel Bartlett, Doctor Thompson and 
Mishech W'eare be appointed to prepare an answer to his excellency's mes- 
sage. Their replv. refusing to rescind tlie vote and giving the reasons, was 
so unsatisfactory to Governor Wentworth that he immediately ordered the 
House to adjourn. This was July 15, 1775, and the General Assembly of the 
Provincial Goveniment never met again. 

Doctor Thompson was member from Durham in all of the five conven- 
tions called "Congresses," the seven held at Exeter during the year 1775, 
and was an active member. At the opening of the Second Provincial Con- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 319 

gress at Exeter, January 25. 1775. Ebenezer Thompson was, Iiy \otc of the 
delegates, cliosen one of the coinniittee of seven with power "to caU a Pro- 
vincial Convention of deputies when they shall judge the exegencies of pub- 
lic affairs shall re(]uire it." This was first called Committee of Correspondence 
but is known in New Hampshire history "The Committee of Safety," and 
they were practically the ruling power during the Revolution, acting for the 
Assembly when not in session. 

This committee met at Thompson's house in Durham on April 20th and 
issued a call for a convention to be held at Exeter immediately, and the next 
day sixty-six members assembled there. Ebenezer Thompson was chosen 
clerk of the convention, and the same day appointed one of the committee to 
reply to the Massachusetts Congress about the needs of the country, \^'hen 
Theodore Atkinson, former provincial secretary of the province, tendered his 
resignation to the Fourth Provincial Congress in 1775, and delivered up the 
provincial records to a committee which was sent to receive them, Ebenezer 
Thompson, Esq., was appointed in his place. And after the organization of a 
State Government changing from a province to a state in the "United States 
of America" he was the first to hold the office of Secretary of State of New 
Hampshire and every succeeding year he was reappointed by the Legislature 
until June, 1786 — eleven years. He was clerk of the Senate from 1776 
until 178'!. 

As regards the Committee of Safety, sometimes called the "Little Con- 
gress," Ebenezer Thompson was a member from the beginning during the 
most critical period of the Revolution — that is, from 1775 till 1781, when 
the war was virtually over. The number first appointed on May 20, 1775, 
consisted of Josiah Bartlett, Matthew Thornton, Nathaniel Folsom, Ebenezer 
Thompson and William Whipple; but the number was afterwards increased 
and \aried from year to year. Ebenezer Thompson was always secretary 
of this committee while he was a member, and frerpiently chairman pro tcui. 
At the same time he belonged in Durham, to the town Committee of Safety, 
of Correspondence and of Inspection. During some part of the time Dur- 
ham had another member on the Committee of Safety, Hon. John Smith, 
who has an honorable record as a patriot and for efficiency in managing the 
afifairs of government in the state. 

Mr. Thompson was the first Representative elected in Durham to attend 
the first Assembly or Legislature under the State Government, and he was 
one of the committee appointed "to draw^ up a plan for the government of 
the Colony of New Hampshire during the contest with Great Britain;" on 
the 28th of December, 1775, he was one of the five men chosen "to form the 
plan of constitution for the rule of the government of the colony." At 



320 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

one of the preceding Congresses tlie name had been changed from "province" 
to "colony" to make it uniform w ith the form used by the other twelve "col- 
onies." On Jan. 9, 1776, he was chosen one of a committee of six "to 
revise the system of laws lately in force in this colony, antl to report what 
alterations, additions and amendments are necessary to be made in our pres- 
ent circumstances for guidance of the executive officers of the Government." 
This new form introduced the Council which has continued to the present 
time and has the power of confirming or rejecting appointments made by 
the Governor. The first Council consisted of twelve members and was 
appointed Jan. 6, 1776, and Mr. Thompson was one of the number. .At 
first and during the Revolutionary period, the Council constituted a kind of 
senatorial body, whicli together with the House of Representatives made 
the laws and governed the state for several years. Up to Jan. 26, 1776, 
Mr. Thompson had held the commission of justice of the peace by appoint- 
ment by Governor Wentworth ; on that day, together w ith other members of 
the Council, he was appointed justice of the peace and quorum throughout 
the state. 

The records show that Ebenezer Thompson served on a great many 
important occasions for the success of the American cause and the welfare 
of the State of New Hampshire. For example, Jan. 22, 1778, Ebenezer 
Thompson and Nathaniel Peabody were appointed commissioners to New 
Haven to meet delegates from other states for the purpose of deciding some 
questions of national economy, such as the regulation of prices, then daily 
rising in consequence of the rapid depreciation of the currency. 

In the celebrated controversy about "New Hampshire Grants," which had 
been made by Gov. Benning Wentworth on both sides of the Connecticut 
river, Ebenezer Thompson was appointed agent of the state to confer with 
a committee sent to that territory by the Continental Congress. New York 
claimed its boundary line extended to the Connecticut river and took in all of 
Vermont, on the ground that it was included in a grant of Charless H to his 
brother, the Duke of York. The settlers themselves did not wish to belong 
to either New Hampshire or New York. They asked to be recognized as a 
separate state, and to be admitted into the Federal Union under the name 
of Vermont. This led to bitter controversy with New York, whose influ- 
ence prevented Vermont from being admitted until 1791. Vermont wanted 
not only the towns along the western bank of the Connecticut which Gov- 
ernor Wentw orth had granted, but also the towns along the eastern bank of the 
river which are now and were then New Hampshire towns. So this com- 
mittee of which Ebenezer Thompson was a member, was instructed to draw 
up a remonstrance to the Congress at Philadelphia against the proceedings in 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 321 

Vermont in "taking into union a certain number of towns on the New Hamp- 
shire frontier, and inviting others to revolt from the state, as an infringe- 
ment on the Confederacy of tlie United States and the special rights of New 
Hampshire, and desiring Congress to grant some order thereon "to prevent 
effusion of blood." June 26, 1779, it was voted "that the Hon. Ebenezer 
Thompson be and hereby is chosen in behalf of this state to repair to the 
New Hampshire grants and that he be instructed to confer with the Commit- 
tee of Congress, and lay before it the nature and origin of the difficulty, and 
the action of the General Assembly, and to answer any matters touching the 
dispute." Mr. Thompson perfonned the duties thus conferred upon him 
and successfully prevented civil war along the Connecticut river. The mat- 
ter was finally referred to Congress, which, Aug. 20, 1781, declared to 
Vermont that it would be an indispensable preliminary to her admission into 
the L'nion to renounce all jurisdiction east of the Connecticut river. To this, 
after some opposition, consent was finally given ; but the dispute with New 
York was not settled till 1791, when, on the i8th of February, Vermont was, 
with the consent of all the states, admitted into the Union. 

It has been justly remarked, by one who is thoroughly acquainted with 
the records of New Hampshire, that Ebenezer Thompson, during the Revo- 
lutionary period, "was appointed on more legislative committees to inquire 
into and report on matters of disputes between towns, etc., than any of his 
contemporaries, especially committees which were autliorized to sit when the 
Legislature was not in session." 

At a town meeting in Durham, April 2, 1778, it was voted "that the 
Hon. Ebenezer Thompson, Esq., be and is hereby appointed to attend the 
convention at Concord — for the forming and laying a permanent plan or sys- 
tem of government for the future happiness and well being of the people of 
the state, and pass any vote or votes thereunto that may be deemed expe- 
dient." Mr. Thompson accepted the office and was the delegate from Dur- 
ham in 1778 and 1779, and was chosen secretary of the convention. 

Aug. 14, 1778, he was appointed one of the Representatives of New 
Hampshire to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia for one year; but 
he declined the appointment. This closes the notice of Mr. Thompson's 
career during the Revolution. It nnist not be supposed by the reader that 
Mr. Thompson was the only man in Durham who rendered service to the 
American cause of independence in the performance of duties other than in 
the army. No, there are several of this class, but mention of them cannot 
be here made to any extent. But what has been given shows that Durham 
was one of the important centers of influence in both departments of the 
Revolution. 



322 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Perhaps it may be a matter of interest to tlie general reader to give a 
brief of Judge Thompson's career in the post-revoUitionary period. After 
the organization of the courts of law under the constitution of the state in 
1783, he was appointed clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the county of 
Strafford, which office he held till September, 1787. when it was given to 
his son Benjamin. In 1786 and 1787 he was Representative of Durham at 
the General Assembly. He was again chosen member of the Executive 
Council in 1787 for one year, and State Senator in 1787 and 1788. On the 
7th of September, 1787, he was appointed justice of the peace of the Inferior 
Court of Common Pleas for Strafford county, whickh office he held till April, 
1795, when he accepted the appointment of justice of the Superior Court of 
Judicature. Governor Plumer says : "This office required so much time and 
travel that it fatigued him, and in the spring of 1796 he resigned it." The 
roads were hard to travel in those days and the means of conveyance were 
very wearisome. But he was ijermitted to be idle. May 12, 1796, he was 
judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Strafford, the duties 
of which did not require wearisome travel, and he held that office until his 
death in 1802. Altogether, he was a judge for more than fifteen years. 

Judge Thompson had the honor of belonging to the college of Presi- 
dential Electors of New Hampshire when George Washington was first 
chosen President of the United States, and was likewise appointed to that 
trust at the three following elections, 1792, 1796, and 1800, giving his first 
vote for Washington and Adams, and afterwards for Adams and Pinckney. 
He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention held in Concord, 
1 791- 1 792, and as Governor Plumer says, "took an active and efficient part 
in that business." 

Judge Thompson in Strafford county, in 1794 received 845 votes for 
Governor in opposition to John Taylor Gilman ; in his own town of Durham 
he received 178 votes to 10 for Gilman. 

Governor Plumer of Epping who was personally acquainted with Judge 
Thompson, wrote a biographical sketch of him which is now in possession 
of the New Hampshire Historical Society. In it he speaks of the judge in 
very complimentary terms. He says : "From a long and intimate acquaintance 
with him I know he was a man of much reading and general information. 
His manners were simple, plain and unassuming. He had a strong aversion 
to extravagance and parade of e\'ery kind. Usefulness was the object 
of all his pursuits, both in relation to himself and the public. 

"As a legislator he was industrious, efficient and useful. Though he was 
not an eloquent or graceful speaker, his arguments were clear and logical, 
concise, and confined to the subject, and his influence in popular assemblies 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 323 

was great. In party politics he was a steady and undeviating Federalist. 
As Secretary of State, he was attentive and faithful to his trust. Though 
he was not a lawyer, yet he appeared to advantage." 

Judge Thompson died suddenly Aug. 14, 1802, in the si.xty-fifth year 
of his age. After dining at home with a gentleman from a neighboring 
town, he withdrew with his client to the so-called "hall room," and soon after 
while sitting there, book in hand, he fell from his chair and instantly expired' 



19 



CHAPTER XXXII 
HISTORY OF DURHAM (V) 

AS A BUSINESS CENTER AND A COLLEGE TOWN 

Durham, as long as it was the parish of Oyster river in Dover, had a very 
intelhgent and active class of citizens. The men were kept busy lumbering 
and fishing. They had to be lumbermen first of all to get ground cleared 
on which to plant crops on which to subsist. They were fishermen because 
the rivers and bays were full of fish of various kinds at different seasons of the 
year, and it was profitable to catch and cure them for the English and other 
markets. Their farming was confined to enough cleared land to raise crops 
for home use, and to provide grazing for their cattle and other animals. 
Salt marshes were esteemed of great \'alue because no trees grew there but 
plenty of grass. 

The river was called "Oyster ri\er" by the English settlers liecause they 
found in the mud beds along the channel a great supply of excellent oysters, 
and the households had all they wanted for family use by simply going to 
the oyster beds and digging up the bivalves. The Indians, for ages ]>efore 
the white men came, had known of these oyster beds and came there in the 
season for them and had feasts and dancing and a general good time. 
Descendants of this ancient "first settlers" in the oyster beds in the river 
and Little Bay are still living there, although not much used in the later century. 

Just when and where the first ship was built is not on record, but it was 
at a -very early period. The first inhabitants did most of their travel by 
water and they built their own boats in which to make the journeys. They 
had plenty of good lumber for the purpose, and ship carpenters, who had 
learned their trade in the old country, and could build boats or sliips as the 
market demanded. The ships were not very large, but they had sufficient 
capacity to carry lumber to all parts of the civilized world; and there were 
sailors who could and did sail them to all points. Everybody was busy, 
and prospered, as prosperity was then rated. The fishing business gave 
employment to quite a lot of men in the season for catching fish, and later 
carried their cargoes to foreign ports. 

324 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 325 

In 1794 the bridge was built across the Pascataqua river, and soon after 
the turnpike road was built from its terminus at Franklin City through 
Durham to Concord. This largely increased business at Durham village and 
all sorts of trades flourished there for half a century — lawyers, doctors, 
store keepers, tavern keepers, cabinet makers, clock makers, house carpenters 
(they called them joiners), tailors, boots and shoe makers, ship builders, 
school masters and school mistress. The writer of this has an eight-day 
clock, in a tall mahogany case, that was made at Durham in 18 16, for his 
grandfather; the brass works were made in England and the case was made 
at Durham and the works fitted into it by an expert in the Inisiness. His 
name is not known now, but he was there for a numl>er of years and did a 
thriving business, "^'oung lawyers found Durham tillage a good place to 
"hang out their shingle" and make a good l>eginning record in their pro- 
fession. Some of New Hampshire's greatest lawyers made their beginning 
in Durham \illage. It was a good place for general trade ; the store keepers 
waxed rich and some of their descendants are enjoying the benefits of the 
fruit of their labor. When the turnpike road was in full swing the tavern 
keepers were kept busy in supplying the wants of the teamsters, and in caring 
for their teams that had come to market from the up-country towns. Most 
of these teams were oxen, three or four yoke to a team — big, strong, hand- 
some animals. No dull times then ; everybody was busy, and Durham by 
men grew rich. 

They had schools and school masters and one school mistress, at least, 
Mary Sullivan, sister of Gen. John Sullivan, and the only daughter of 
Master John Sullivan, the famous teacher who educated about all the boys of 
Dover, Somersworth, Durham, Berwick, who became distinguished in the 
Revolutionary period. In that family were five sons, all of whom were great 
men, and one daughter. She was born in Somersworth in 1752; she grew 
to be tall and handsome, like her father, and inherited his fondness for 
books ; he gave her a first-class education at a time when girls were supposed 
to be well educated if they could write their names. Her brother John was 
twelve years older than she was. When he opened his law office in Durham, 
his sister Mary came there and lived with the family more or less and in due 
time she made the acquaintance of Theophilus Hardy, a business man. a 
resident of Durham, and married him. But for several years before mar- 
riage she was a school teacher in the village and won marked success. She 
was brilliant and attractive, mentally and socially. So far as is known she 
was the first woman who kept a school in Durham. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy 
resided in Durham village and had a fine family of children. One daughter 
married Edward Wells. Esq. She was like her mother and grandfather, 



326 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



Master John Sullivan. Her sons won distinction, and manifested those 
strong traits of intellectual power of their Sullivan ancestors. One son, 
Samuel Wells, was governor of Maine two years, 1855- 1856: another son, 
John Sullivan Wells, was the Democratic candidate for governor of Xew 
Hampshire in 1858, and lacked only fifty votes of an election by the people, 
a majority being required; he was Attorney-General several years; United 
States Senator a short temi ; Speaker of the House of the New Hampshire 
Legislature, and also President of the Senate. He was a great lawyer and 
a brilliant and fascinating public speaker, and one of the most popular men 
of his (democratic) party. Another brother, Joseph Bartlett Wells, was a 
distinguished lawyer in Illinois, where he was attorney general several years, 
and was lieutenant governor at the time of his death ; had he lived he would 
probablv have l>een promoted to governor of the state. They were great 
grandsons of Master John and Margery (Brown) Sullivan. It is the tradi- 
tion that Margery Brown, when she was coming to New England in 1723, a 
girl of about ten years, some one asked her what she expected to do when she 
got over here; her answer was "become the mother of governors!" Her 
prophecy turned out to be true: two of her sons were governors, John in 
New Hampshire and James in Massachusetts, and a great-grandson was 
governor of Maine, and two other great-grandsons came very near being 
governors of states. Edward and Mary (Sullivan) Wells resided in Dur- 
ham, and that town has the credit of having been the birthplace of their four 
distingviished sons; Samuel was bom in 1801 and John S. in 1803; the latter 
died in Exeter when he was fifty-seven years old; the fomier died in 
Boston when he was sixty-seven. They were born when Durham was in the 
height of its prosperity. 

June 24, 1840, the Boston & Maine Railroad was opened to Exeter; not 
long after that it reached Durham, and great business changes followed, 
consequent upon the opening of the new avenue for transportation of mer- 
chandise. Gradually Durham village became a quiet place; delightful for 
residence, but not for business. The old families lived on their accumulated 
wealth and took life easy. The gundalows that used to convey big loads of 
cord wood from Oyster Ri\er landing to Portsmouth, made voyages less fre- 
quent, till finally the business ceased. It paid the farmers better to sell 
their wood to the railroad. So Durham led a quiet, delightful, dreamy life 
from 1841 to iSgi, an e\en half centurv, when the New Hampshire College 
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was removed from Hanover, where it had 
been an annex of Dartmouth College, to Durham, and planted on Benjamin 
Thompson's "Warner Farm," which he gave to the college in his will, with 
a large fund of invested money, on certain conditions, which were complied 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 327 

witli. Tlie chang^e that has followed in the score of years since then, would 
seem marvelous to the old teamsters who used to drive their ox teams over 
the turnpike road, along which now stand the beautiful and commodious 
college buildings, could the old fellows but return and take a look at them 
and the broad, green lawns, and the broad fields, under modern cultivation 
such as the "Warner" fanners never dreamed of. Who is the author of 
all this man-elous change in Durham village'' Benjamin Thompson. 

Benjamin Thompson was born in Durham village in 1806 and died in 
1890. He was son of Benjamin and Mary (Pickering) Thompson, and 
grandson of Judge Ebenezer Thompson, of whom notice is given elsewhere. 
This grandson was educated in the common schools of Durham and the 
academy there, and in the business activity of the village, which was at its 
height during his school-boy days. He was a farmer and inherited his 
father's residence in Durham village with neighboring land, a part of which 
was the so-called "Warner Farm," on which the college buildings are now 
located, and which was a part of the original grant by the town of Dover, of 
500 acres to Valentine ?Iill in 1652. at Oyster River. His father was an 
extensive fanner and kept a store in the village: he owned several farms 
which he rented. Benjamin was his youngest and favorite son. When the 
son was not attending school he worke<l on the farm, "Warner Fann," and 
clerked in his father's store. In this way he learned the prices and value 
of things and acquired a correct knowledge of keeping accounts; when he 
became a man of twenty-two and his father gave him the Warner Farm, he 
had a thorough knowledge of fanning, as then conducted and of bookkeeping. 
His account books, now in existence, show how he did the work. Durmg 
a few winters, when he was a young man, he kept district schools and was 
said to be a good school-master. None of the big lioys ever got the better 
of him on occasions of discipline. When he was a young man every able- 
bodied man under fifty had to "train" in some militia company. Training 
days were great events ; ever\dx)dy turned out to see the soldiers. Benjamin 
Thompson was a first, or orderly sergeant and clerk in a Durham company 
company of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Second Brigade and Second Division 
of New Hampshire Militia. It does not appear that he attained any higher 
rank. Mr. Thompson did not aspire to military honors or seek to hold 
public ofiice, and none of any account was given him; his mind was made 
up in another direction. 

Benjamin Thompson commenced farming on his own account m 1828, 
when he \\as twenty-two years old. His cash book and first ledger, from 
1828 to 1835. show that his fanning operations were quite extensive, much 
help employed, at least three pairs of oxen kept, besides, cows, sheep, horses 



328 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

and s\\ ine, etc. He also had an interest in a sawmill in which he not onl} 
sawed what hinilicr he wanted tor his own use. hut also used this mill for 
making cider and pressing hay. His ledger shows that among the sales 
from the farm were hay, wood, lumber, butter, cheese, apples, cider, vinegar, 
beef, pork, grain, etc. In fact all the fami hands he employed and there 
was quite a crew of them, were kept supplied with the necessaries of life, 
from rum and tobacco, to clothing, food, etc. He paid very little if any cash. 

Benjamin Thompson was the pioneer in raising fruit for the Boston 
market. .As early as 1837 he began to set out apple trees, which he budded 
or grafted himself. He claimetl to Ije and no duubt was the first farmer 
in Durham who commenced to raise the Baldwin apple: for many years in 
succession he raised at least a hundred barrels a year, and he so managed 
as not to have any "off years" in the product. He knew how to do it. He 
personally attended to setting out the trees, and did the budding, grafting 
and trimming of them just when it was the proper time to do it. He was 
an expert rider on horseback and did a great deal of traveling about his farm 
that way, overseeing the work: in fact he would trim apple trees sitting on 
his faithful horse, who knew the wishes of his master thoroughly. His tall 
spare form was a familiar sight in Durham village and about the farm prior 
to his becoming an octogenarian. Benjamin Thompson was a successful 
farmer, none better in Durham, which abounded in good farmers, until his 
health became so poor that he could not attend to the cares of active farm 
supervision. Being a bachelor his household expenses were not very large. 
Being a careful and far-seeing manager in farming and other business affairs 
his property constantly increased. His father, Benjamin Thompson, Sr., 
was a wealthy man ; w hen he died in 1838 he made his son Benjamin residuary 
legatee and executor : there were nine heirs : Benjamin was careful that the 
"residuary" part of the estate was not impaired by the settlements with the 
other eight heirs. Benjamin's mother died in October, 1849, leaving an 
estate valued at $8,000. There were six heirs, and some of them thought 
Benjamin claimed more than his share. Whether true or not considerable 
feeling ensued, and from remarks made at the time, the family understood 
that they never would receive a cent of Benjamin Thompson's property, when 
he had "passed on." And they did not. They did not know then what 
"Uncle Ben" was planning in his mind. Their judgment of him is different 
now. 

Just when Benjamin Thompson began to plan to lay the foundation for 
an agricultural college on his farm is not known: he never told any one: 
but in 1S58 he made his first will in which he provided for such a college 
and appointed executors. He was then fifty years old: in the providence of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 329 

God he was to live thirty-four years more; he knew it not, of course, but he 
set liis mind at work for tiiat one oijject, be his own hfe long, or short of old 
age. He made codicils at different times slightly modifying the conditions 
of the trust. Daniel M. Christie, Esq., drew the will as Mr. Thompson 
directed, but its contents were not disclosed until his death, January 30, 1S90. 
There were many surmises as to what "Uncle Ben" was going to do with 
his property; but no one surmised he was to convert Durham into a college 

town. 

Mr. Thompson kept quietly on his way; cared for his farm; raised big 
crops; sold at good prices, when the market was best for selling, and made 
good investments of his income. In this investment business he was a good 
judge himself, and he had an extra good helper in the person of Hon. James 
F. Joy of Detroit, Mkh.. who had been born and brought up in Durham, 
and had been a school fellow with Mr. Thompson. Mr. Joy made many 
investments for Mr. Thompson, in the West, and they all paid him good 
income. In fact Mr. Thompson, so far as know n, made only one bad invest- 
ment; that was in $30,000 in South Carolina state bonds, which the state 
afterward defaulted, and declined several times since then to pay. But the 
State of New Hamphire has this year ( 1913) made a new attempt to collect 
the debt; the result will be known after this writing is published. 

A public hearing was held at Concord, Feb. 11, 1901, before a special 
committee of the Legislature on the will of Benjamin. Mr. Joy, one of the 
executors of this will, and a cousin of the testator, addressed the meeting. 
He said Mr. Thompson was a careful, economical and prudent man. Some 
years before that he formed the idea of giving his fortune to the State of 
New Hampshire to establish an agricultural college. Probably he was the 
f^rst New Hampshire man who conceived such a college for the state. He 
felt that this state needed such a college. Mr. Joy suggested to him that his 
money might do good in some other way, but his reply was that there was 
no other purpose for which he could devote his money, which was earned 
by hard work, so well as by establishing an agricultural school to be located on 
his "Wamer Farm" wherein should be thoroughly taught, both in the school- 
room and in the field, the theory and practice of that most useful and honor- 
able calling— fanning. He asked Mr. Joy to become an executor of his will 
and do all' he could to ha\-e it carried out. Mr. Thompson told Mr. Joy he 
wanted the college located in Durham because that was his birthplace. He 
had two objects in view in his will— one that the state should have a perpetual 
fund for the support of the college and the other that the state should furnish 
funds for construction of the college buildings. .\t the time Mr. Hiompson 



330 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

made his will he valued his property at $64,305. When the will was probated 
the property was rated at about $500,000. 

Benjamin Thompson was generous in other ways than in giving money 
to found an agricultural college. Wiien the college was moved from Hanover 
to Durham in 189 1, the citizens of the town had one of the best town libraries 
in New Hampshire, owned by a library association. Mr. Thompson was one 
of the founders and from year to year gave liberally for its support. He 
gave liberally to the church, and showed his generosity and helpfulness where 
help was needed. But he did not let others decide to what and in what way 
he should give. Benjamin Thompson's career stands in strong contrast with 
that of his illustrious grandfather. Judge Ebenezer Thompson, but if great- 
ness depends on doing things that produce beneficent and far-reaching results, 
tlien Benjamin Thompson certainly was a great man. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

HISTOID' OF LEE ( I) 

Origin of the Name; Parish of Lee IxM Durham 

Localities in what is now the town of Lee l:>egan to be settled at a very 
early date. First the immigrants built their village on Dover Neck ; soon 
they branched out along the rivers and Little Bay; they went up Oyster river; 
soon after up "I^mperele" river, as they spelled it. and then across country 
between the two rivers, Dover claiming all the territory up to that river, Exeter 
having what was beyond. One of the chief points the enterprising men looked 
out to secure grants of were the water falls, for mill sites, and this section of 
old Dover, now Lee, had then and has now several excellent falls for use 
in generating power for mills. The lumber business was soon one of the 
most important and profitable. So Wadleigh's Falls, on Lamprey river, in 
that part of old Dover, now Lee, were granted by Massachusetts authorities 
to Samuel Symond of Ipswich, Mass., together with 640 acres of land (one 
square mile) of which he took possession June 3, 1657, in the presence and 
with tlie consent of Moharimet, the Indian sagamore of this region. But he 
did not hold it, as appears from the following in Dover Town Records. 

May 3, 1669, Robert Wadleigh was received as an inhabitant in Dover 
"according to ye tenure of the last inhabitant received." At the same time 
he received this grant of what has ever since been known as Wadleigh's Falls: 

-At a general tnwn meeting held at Doxer INIanli 3. u'>(:'). r,i\en and 
granted tinto Robert Wadleigh as accommodations for the erection and setting 
of a sawmill or mills at the u]>permost falls upon Lamperele river, commonly 
called by ye name of ye Cleland falls; with an acconimodatiim of timber there- 
unto belonging, ye bounds of ye timber are as follows : A't is to sa\-. all ye 
timber on ye south side above sd falls as farr as ye towns bounds doth goe, 
and on ye north side all ye timber yt is within of the River above ye sd falls 
as far as the Town bounds doth goe. with one hundred acres of land on ve 
south side of ye sd River and tw^eiTty acres of land on ye north side of ve 
river afljacent unto the sd falls on both sides: all which falls, timl)er and land 
is granted unto ye sd Wadleigh and his heires. executors, administ. and 
assigns, provided it doth not intrench upon any former grant either in pt. or 
whole. In consideration of sd grant of falls, timber and land, the sd. Robt. 
^^'adleigh dothe engage himself heires. executors and administr. to pay or 

331 



332 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

cause to lie paid unti.) the Towne (if Dover tlie sunini of tenn [Kjunds per an. 
in merchanta. pine bords at priee currant at the ordinary landing place on 
Laniperele i\iver lower falls, as long as he or tliey do keepe possession there 
of well ])ayn]nt is to l>egin the last of .August next insueing this instant, to 
l)e niatle unto ye Selectmen of Dover or their order, and further it is agreed 
and ordered that if any pt. thereof Ije taken away by any former grant tlien 
the town is to abate of the rate proportionally. And alsoe ye towne doth 
reserve free eagresse and Regresse for ye transportation of timber, citlier liy 
land or water; and ye Inhabitance have ye same Lilierty in this grant as they 
have in ntlier Mill grants. 

Hatevil Nutter, who had an interest in a former grant at or near the same 
place, entered his dissent to this grant, but Mr. Wadleigh held the title. He 
had a sawmill ninning there as early as April 21, 1668, and in 1669 his 
right was confirmed by Massachusetts. They are called the upper falls in 
Lamprey River in a survey of Dover bounds in 1701. Ezekiel Oilman of 
Exeter conveyed to Samuel Doe, Nov. 9, 1730, "one sixteenth part of a 640- 
acre grant in Dover, at a place commonly called W'adley Falls upon Lamperell 
river lying on both sides of the river, formerly granted by the General Court 
of Boston to Samuel Symonds of Ipswich, deceased, which sixteenth part 
said Oilman had by deed from Robert Wadley Sept. i, 1730. Also one 
sixteenth part of the sawmill and dam upon Laperell river, at JVadley's Falls, 
w-itli all privileges." These falls are in the southeast part of Lee. When a 
century had passed beyond this date the farm holdings had become quite 
numerous, and the farmers began to complain about having to travel to Dur- 
ham village to attend town meetings and especially religious services on the 
Lord's Day; they did not call it Sunday. After discussion a year or two, 
the following is the record of what was done in town meeting, as a result 
of neighborhood discussions : 

Province of Newhamp at a Publick Town meeting, (Legally Notified) 
held at the Meeting house at The Falls in Durham, on monday The Third 
dav cif September .\. D. 1764 — Joseph Atkinson Esc| was Chosen Moderator, 
for the well Regulating Said Meeting— Voted That There Should be a Com- 
mittee Chosen To Run a L.ine across Said Town of Durham, From Paul 
Chessley honse, near madbury Line; to the house of John Smart upon New- 
market Line being according to The Request of Sundry of The Inhabitants 
of Said Town, Requesting That ; all the upper or western end of Said Town, 
above the afores Line, may be voted, to be Sat of as a Parish — Voted That 
Leiu Joseph Sias. mr Miles Randel, and, mr Nicholas Duda of The Petitioners 
and Capt Benjamin Smith, Capt Stephen Jones, and Mr Thomas Chesley, 
of The T,ower Part of The Town, be The persons, to be Employed as a 
Committee for The aforsd purpose — Voted, Likewise, That if the Said Com- 
mittee, Dont Think The Line petitioned for to be Suitable to fix any other 
Line Tb.at They niav Unanimously agree upon and make Report Thereof 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 333 

accordingly to The town on Tlie 24 Inst. The meeting adjourned To The 
24 day of September Instant, to 2 of the Clock in The afternoon. Met 
according to adjournment, Sept 24th and The Committee made The Fol- 
lowing Report in writing, under tiicir hands, To tlie Town. 

Whereas, we The Subscribers, were Chosen, at a Publick Town meeting, 
of The Inhabitants of Durham, the 3d Inst To Run a Line, across Said 
Town, agreeable to a Petition, Exliibited to Said Town, by Sundry of the 
Inhabitants Requesting, the western part thereof, to be Sat of into a Parish, 
it was Likewise voted — That if we Tlie Subscribers, Dont Think the Line 
Petitioned for proper, to fix Some Other Line, that we might agree ujion, 
and make Report to tlie Town accordingly. Pursuant Thereto, we have Run 
the Line petitioned for, and indeavored to Veiw, and Infomi ourselves, into 
the Circumstances of Said town, and Do Lhianimously agree. That a Strait 
Line; Beginning one hundred and Twenty four Rods, above the Dwelling 
house, of paul Chesley, on madl3ury Line, and So to Run a Strait point across 
to Newmarket Line, to one mile and a half, above the Dwelling house, of 
John Smart may be a Suitable Line. 

N B it is the intent of the above Resolve, that the Line Fi.xed upon. 
Run from the house of paul Chesley, North 6 degrees East, to Madbury 
Line & then to Measure up 124 rods, by Said madbury Line. 
Stephen Jones Miles Randel ] 

Benjamin Smith Joseph Sias ]■ Committee 

Nicholas Dudea Thomas Chesley ] 

The meeting adjourned, to the 8th flay of October next, to 2 of the 
Clock in the afternoon. October Stii met according to adjournment, and 
Voted That Capt lienjaniin Smith .\nd Leiut Joseph Sias, be appointed, a 
Committee, to draw a Vote in writing for the western part of the Town to 
Be Sat of as a parish and Bring it to the Town, at Some publick townmeet- 
ing — the Town meetting Dissolved. 

November i8th [765 — at a Publick Town meeting. (Legally Notified) 
of the Inhabitants of Durham, held this day at the falls in Durham — Joseph 
Atkinson Esqr Chosen moderator, for Said meeting — Capt Benjm Smith 
Esqr and Capt Joseph Sias Brought the following Vote to the Town in 
writing — That The Avestern End of Said Town ni Durham, be voted, to 
be Sat of as a parish, Agreable to the Result or a Report of a Committee. 
(Chosen and appointed for that purpose) and Brought into Publick Town 
meeting, the 24th day of Septr 17^1. — with tliis addition, thereto, that the 
Said parish, (when an act may be Obtained for that Purpose), Shall take 
Their proportionable Part of tlie poor now Supported by the whole town, 
and Likewise That the Said parish Shall not in any Respect Interfere with 
any Lands belonging to the proprietors in Said Town — Voted, that the 
above vote, Brought by Capts Smitli and Sias, is agreeable to the Sense of 
the Town, and that it be Recorded accorrlingly. 

The above, & within, are True Coppyes, as on Durham Town Records. 

attest — Ebenr Thompson T Cler 



334 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



As a result of tliat meeting a petition for a division of tlie town was pre- 
sented as follows : 

Province of New Hamp'r To his Excellency Benning W'entworth Esqr 
Governor and Commander in Ciiief in and over his majesty's Province of 
New Hampshire to the Honourable his majestys Counsel and the House 
of Representatives in General assembly Convened — The Petition of Sundry 
of the Inliabitants of Durham most humbly Sheweth That in said Town of 
Durham there are Inhabitants Sufficient for two Parishes and to maintain 
and sup])ort the Charge thereof That many of the Inhabitants live more 
then Eight miles from the Place of Publick \\'orship and where all Town 
meetings and the Publick of Affairs are holden and Transacted which Ren- 
ders it \ery Difficult for them to Attend there at any time but more Espe- 
cially in the winter Season that the Consecpience thereof it is Probable will 
be that many of the Youth in said Town will be brought up in great Igno- 
rance unless the Difficulties be removed and the Petitioners are in a great 
measure prevented the use of their Privilidges in their present Situation — 
Wherefore vour Petitioners most humbly pray your, Excellency and Honours, 
that there may be two Parishes in said Town and that the Dividing Line 
between the Two Parishes Beginning at Paul Chesles house at Beech Hill 
so (Called) then North Six Degrees East to the line Between said Durham 
and Medbury then running westerly on said line one hundred and twenty 
four rods then Beginning and Running from thence to New Market line 
to one mile and half aliove the Dwelling House of John Smart which Line 
was agreed upon by a Committee Chosen by the Said Town of Durham in 
the year one thousand Seven hundred and Sixty four and Voted in Publick 
Town meeting and so to Include the whole of said Durham above this line 
We therefore humbly i)ray your Excellency and your Honours to take our 
Case into your wise Considerations and Set said Parish off by said Line 
with the Powers and Privilidges of Other Towns or Parishes in this Prov- 
ince and your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall Ever pray 

Dated at Durham November i8th 1765 



Hercules Alooney 
(Gideon Mathes 
\\'intrhop Durgin 
Elijah Denbo 
Samuel Jackson 
Joseph Thomson 
James Hall 
Jonathan runnels 
Samuel pitman 
John follett 
Benjamin Bradly 
Joseph Jackson 
Josiah Johnson 
Timothy Davis 
thomas Yourk 



stoten tutle 
Miles Randal 
Samuel Langley 
Moses Davis Junr 
^\'illm Waymoth 
James Davis 
Hanary tufts 
nathanel Watson 
Andew^ watson 
Isaac Small 
Joseph Hicks 
John Sanborn 
Edward Hill 
Thomas Snell 
Eli Clark Juner 



Eben Randel 
Micab Emerson 
Joseph Clark 
Joseph Sias 
John Elliot 
Josua Woodman 

Jun 
John Giles 
Joseph meder 
Thomas Huckins 
Nicholas Duda 
Eben Lethers 
William Renely 
francis Eliot 
Benjamin Bickford 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



335 



mason Renclel 
Joseph Clay 
Nathaniel Stevens 

Jun. 
Bartholomew Smart 
Nichole Tuttel 
Samuel Burley 
Nathaniel Randal 
Reubin Hill 
Clement Davis 
James Watson 
Nathaniel frost 
Samuel watson 
Josiah Durfjin 
John Durgin 
John Shaw 
Benjamin Woodman 
Samuel Sias 
David munsey 
Benja Clark 



Moses Dam 
joseh doe 
Benja Durgin 
Ebn Jones Juner 
Isarel Randel 
Francis Durgin 
Joshua ]3urnam 
Samuel Carter 
Thomas huckins jr 
Solomon Sias 
frances Allen 
William Cashey 
Edweard Scales 
Samuel hick ford 
william Rendel 
Job Runels 
John Clark 
Da\id Davis 
Gorge tutle 
Jonathan Stevens 



Zaccheus Clough 
Jolui Davis 
James Giles Bunker 
Robert York 
Jonathan Stevens 
Ebenezer Dow jun 
Nathaniel Watson Jur 
Josei)h Huckins 
John Shaw Junr 
Ichabod Denbow 
Thomas Wille 
John Snell 
"Eli Clark 
hunkin Dam 
Thomas Noble 
Ebenezer Jones 
Nathel Sias 
Nathaniel Stevens 



In the above petition for a parish no mention is anywhere made of a 
name for it; the petitioners simply say they wish to be set off from Durham 
as a parish, and Durham had given its consent. Plow then did the parish get 
the name of Lcc? Governor Benning Wentworth gave it the name, just as 
he did the name of many other towns that were granted under his adminis- 
tration. And he selected the names from places in England, where he had 
friends, or with which he was acquainted. He selected Lcc, on the River Lee, 
in London. There was no particular reason for it ; he simply so named the 
parish, which in fact was a town. 

The Journal of the House (New Hampshire Provincial Assembly) 
Wednesday Jan. 15, 1766, A. M., has the following: 

A message was sent to the Council by the Clerk of the House to Enquire 
what Acts had passed the Council and were consented to by the Governour. 

P. M. In answer to the message to the Council by the Clerk in the 
forenoon, Mr. Secretary (Theodore Atkinson) came down and infonned 
that the following Acts were consented to by the Governour (Benning Went- 
worth) viz: 

For a new Parish in Durham. 

To enable the Treasurer to recover debts. 

To revive the Proprietary Act. 

To enable the Selectmen to exchange Roads. 

To enable inhabitants to call town-meetings. 

To make void fraudulent deed. 

To enable Peabody & Shepard to sell land. 

To dissolve the marriage of Saml Smallcom. 



336 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

The records from Jan. 15 to Jan. 23, 1766, are missing, but on January 
1 6th the act for a new parish of Lee became law, as on Friday, Jan. 10, 1766, 
the House had passed an "Act for incorporating a new Parish in Durliam," 
according to the Journal for that day. In that act the parish is called "Lee." 
The petitioners did not ask to have it named Lee ; they did not mention any 
name for it. So Governor Benning Wentworth gave it a name; he called it 
Lee, as has been previously explained. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 
HISTOID' OF LEE (II) 

BUSINESS AND OCCUPATIOxMS 

The first business after obtaining the charter from Gov. Benning Went- 
worth was organizing the parish, or town machinery. The chief settlement 
in the new town was at Lcc Hill, as it has been called since Governor Went- 
worth named the town; before that it was The Hill, where fi\-e roads center, 
since they had roads leading to different sections of the town, (^uite a 
hamlet was gathered there before Durham became a town in 1732, and 
farms began to be settled around it. Who built the first house there the 
writer cannot say. But they had a meeting house there and a minister ready 
for establishing the new parish in 1766. Lee Parish was incorporated Jan. 
i(). \j()(<. which act of incorixjration autli(_)ri2ed Juseiih Sias to call the first 
parish or town meeting; he issued the call for March i8th, and they organ- 
ized by choosing Miles Randall for moderator and clerk ; Robet Thompson, 
Ely Clark and Nicholas Dudy, selectmen. Among other business it was 
voted "that Zacheus Clough inspect into the affairs of Rev. Samuel Hutchins." 
Mr. Hutchins was the minister when the town was incorporated. Mr. Clough 
attended to the duty assigned him and reported Mr. Hutchins' "affairs" 
satisfactory, and it was voted to continue him as minister for the town. He 
so continued until about 1800. His successor was the Rev. John Osborne. 

The town lines are straight, but at their meeting form a variety of angles; 
it has one pond and three rivers. Wheelwright's pond is near the center 
of the west side of the town and is the source of Oyster river freshet — that 
is, the fresh water part of Oyster river. On it is one fall where a sawmill 
was located at a very early period. As the county w as one vast forest the first 
thing to do was to build a sawmill at every waterfall and begin sawing lumber. 
The territory about these falls near the pond was covered with very tall, white 
pine trees, and many of them were cut for masts for the King's navy and 
merchant ships. More than two hundred and twenty-five years ago (1913) 
it had the local name A^ezvtozvn, which it has retained to the present time. 
The Dover records speak of a highway laid out in 1688 from the head of 

337 



338 HISTORY UF STRAFFORD COLXTY 

Beard's creek, near the \\'oodinan garrison, to Nezv Tozt.ii. The name itself 
iniphes settlement there at that time, and they had a sawmill at the falls 
called A'CZV Town Mill. Belknap states in his history, in 171J, this mill was 
burned by the Indians, and with the mill they burned a large lot of boards. 
But it was soon rebuilt and iiu frontiersmen kept on sawing boards, regardless 
of the Indians. 

Who received the first grant of land there the writer does not know ; nor 
why the locality was called A't-zi.' Toivn; prolialily it was some freak notion 
or fancy of the first hunberanan, who was under the necessity of giving 
the locality some name in order to locate his timber grant, in a particular part 
of old ])o\er. On Oct. 17, 1663, 230 years ago (1913), Patrick Jemifon 
received a grant of 120 acres about a mile and a half from Wheelwright's 
pond, down the river on both sides; that included the falls. May 31, 1721, 
sixty acres of this grant were laid out to Capt. Samuel Emerson, and in 
describing the bounds it says "beginning below Xcwtowii Orchard, at a 
red oak on the south side of Oyster River." That shows tlie ])lace had 
been settled a long time and had an orchard. Captain Emerson bought 
it of John \\'el>ster and wife Bridget, of Salisbury, Mass. Webster sold 
the other half (of the Jemison or Jameson grant) to Nathaniel Randall 
Jan. 2/. 1719-20. .\nd this was alongside of the Mast Path leading through 
Madbury to Do\er at Wingate's slip, on Back river. 

The XczvtoT^'ii Mill was owned by several persons who owned shares at 
the same time, and the owners took turns in using the mill in the flood season 
of the year in sawing each his quota of time there would be a good supply of 
water to run the saw. For example, when an inventory of the estate of 
Robert Huckins of Oyster River was taken April 23, 1720, it is noted that 
he owned "half a quarter" of the nu'll at Newtown. Nathaniel Lamos had 
forty acres of land laid out to him May 17, 1729, "beginning on Oyster's 
River, a little abo\e the mill called Nezi' Tozvn iiiill." A highway "from 
Nczv Tozi.m mill up into the woods" is mentioned Oct. 20, 1735, when twenty- 
five acres were laid out for Robert Huckins on the south side of this road 
"at a ])Iace called Maple Brook." A highway was laid out from New Town 
sawmill on the south side of Oyster river June 9, 1738, extending from the 
road that leads from Little river. 

William Clay conveyed to his sons Samuel and Joseph Oct. 23, 1742, 
"one full quarter part of a sawmill situated in Durham, upon ye stream, 
or river called Nezv Tozvn River, being ye uppermost mill standing upon 
ye sd. stream, and is next to ye pond called W^heelwright's Pond out of which 
sd. stream issues" with a quarter part of "ye running geer." dam, stream 
and all privileges thereunto belonging. "Nezv Tozvn River" is, of course. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 339 

that part of the river Howing through New Town. WiUiani Clay, "cord- 
wainer,"' and Samuel Clay, husbandman, conveyed to Daniel Rogers and 
Benjamin Mathes, July 20, 1754, eighty acres of land at or near Nezv Town 
Saw Mill m the town of Durham, beginning at the southeast comer of 
said Clay's land, next to Eli Clark's, thence running by the highway to 
said sawmill and o\-er the freshet by sd highway to the end of Clay's fence, 
thence northerly to the land of widow Joanna Snell and John' Jenkens 
then easterly I)y the highway to the first Ijound with all buildings, (irchards, 
etc. Edward Leathers, Jr., uf Durham, conxeyed to David Munsey, Sept. 
I-', 1761, one sixteenth part oi Xcw Tozvii Sawmill, so-called in sd Durham, 
also one sixteenth of the falls and pri\ileges belonging to sd mill, and a 
sixteenth part of all the inm work in partnership belonging thereunto. 
Edward Leathers con\-eyed to John Leathers, March 5, 1790, forty acres 
of land in Lee, beginning at the southwest corner of John Snell's land and 
running on the road that leads to Ncivtozm sawmill, until it comes to Clark's 
pond, so-called, etc., excepting, however, the land lately sold to his daughter 
Hannah (afterwards the wife of Lemuel Chesley). Also a sixth part of 
Nczvtown sazmnill and gristmill, so-called, in said Lee, together with one 
sixth part of the dam and privilege of said mill. Edward Leathers, April 7, 
1801, conveyed to David ^Monsey one sixteenth part of a sawmill in Lee 
known by the name of Nczvtozvn sazvmill. 

So it appears the mill was known and called Nczv Tozm sazmiill from 
1688 to A. D. 1800, and perhaps later; since then it has been called Layu's 
mill the larger part of the time. The man from whom it derived this name 
was Capt. John Layn, who was in Durham as early as March 8, 1760, when, 
as a young man, he enlisted in Capt. Samuel Gerrish's company. Col. John 
Goff's regiment, for the Canada expedition. "John Layn of Durham, gun- 
smith," in a petition of May 26, 1761, states that he was employed as amiorer 
for that regiment, and furnished his own tools, but had received no extra 
pay for this service, hence he petitioned for it. He was allowed £4 sterling. 
He was appointed captain in Col. John Waldron's regiment, March 6, 1776, 
for six weeks' ser\dce at Winter Hill. He acquired land at Newtown in 
1763 and again in 1766, when Thomas Leathers conveyed to him ten acres 
of land where said Thomas then lived at the corner of the roads that led 
to Durham Falls, Madbury and Newtown. He established an inn in this 
vicinity, probably the f^rst in Newtown. In 1790 John Layn calls himself 
"of Lee" but in 1804 he was living in Rarrington where he had acquired 
several tracts of land — among others forty-two acres at Bumfaggin. and 
lots No. 41 and No. 42 in the half mile range, near Bow Pond, in that part 
of Barrington now Strafford. He had a sawmill there, but probably lived 



20 



340 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

tlicre only during the spring season, when the sawing was done. At that 
time he owned the whole of the gristmill at Ncwfozcn, but only four days' 
right in the sawmill, both of which he conveyed July 17, 1804, to Paul Giles, 
who reconveyed them to Layn Nov. 22, 1805. These mills were then, no 
doubt, operated by his son Edmund, who continued to run them till his death 
at the age of seventy-six years, Aug. 27, 1843. There is now a saw and 
shingle mill owned by his descendants in the Layn family. 

Nczi'tozini Plains have a unii|ue history in Lee and Durham. They are 
a sandy and not \ery prolific region and rather monotonous for travelers 
who have occasion to pass through there from Lee to Barrington, and 
certain parts of Aladbury. Frequent mention is made of the Plains in the 
Durham and Lee town records. \\'hy the pioneer settlers or lumbermen 
came to call it Nc7V Town is a mystery. 

As Patrick Jemison (or Jamison) received a grant of land there in 1063, 
six years before Robert Wadleigh received his grant at W'adleigh's Falls, 
the sawmill at Ncic Tozvn was probably the first mill built in Lee, about 
two hundred and fifty years ago, and there has been a mill in use there 
ever since. 

Wadleigh's falls are in the southwest part of Lee at the north end of 
the "Hook" in Lamprey river. The river, below the falls, turns and runs 
south about half a mile, then strikes the foot of a high hill of gravel and 
hardpan; then turns almost at right angle and flows in an easterly direction 
a half mile, where it strikes the foot of amither and is diverted almost at right 
angle, in a northerly direction and flows for a mile through a fertile valley 
until it strikes the foot of Lcc Hill, and is diverted in a large circle and flows 
south out of Lee into Durham. This valley through which it flows and 
forms the "hook" between the hills has some of the best farms in Strafford 
county. 

This remarkable bend or "hook" in Lamprey river has no duplicate in 
any other river in New Hampshire. A sawmill was built at a fall near where 
it bows around and runs direct into Durham. The date of the first mill is 
not known, but probably aljout 1700. The inventory of Tieorge Chesley's 
estate of Durham .\ug. 2/. 1724. mentions part of the mill "at yc hook of 
Lauiprccl Rizrr." It is called "//;r Hook mill" in a deed of 1726. Ephraim 
Foulsham. Dec. 4, 1742, conveyed to his son John sixty acres of land in 
Durham, bought of Maj. Peter Oilman Dec. 8, 1739, lying next ye highway 
below ye Hook mill, beginning twenty rods above ye second brook from 
ye house fomierly Capt. John Oilman's, towards ye Hook mill. Peter, 
John, Samuel and Noah Oilman, May 2, 1749, conveyed to Joseph Smith 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 341 

190 acres at a place commonly called the Hook, beginning by the side of 
Lampereel ri\er, in the turn below the falls where the Hook mill stood. 

John Thompson of Durham, "one of ye proprietors of ye Hook land, 
and ye proper owner of one whole share," conveyed his share, Aug. 30, 174S. 
to Abner Clough of Salisbury, Mass. 

The Durham grants of land at the Hook conflicting with the Oilman 
claims, Samuel Smith and Capt. Jonathan Thompson were appointed agents 
of the land proprietors in Durham Nov. 28, 1748, to agree with Col. Peter 
Oilman and others about "the parcel of land in Durham on the south side 
of Lampreel river, commonly called and known by the name of the Hook 
land. In a deed of Aug. 30, 1748, this district is called Durham Hook, 
Lee being at that time a part of Durham. The Rev. John Adams of Durham 
records, June 10, 1750, the baptism of "Nicholas, son of Nat Frost, in 
Ye Hook." 

The "Hook road to Northwood" is mentioned on the state map of 1803. 
It runs from Newmarket through the Hook, and crosses Lamprey river at 
Hill's bridge, near the falls where now stands Dame's mill. This IliU's 
bridge obtained its name from Capt. Reuben Hill, who settled near there 
about 1750 and owned a sawmill and gri.stmill at the falls. He was one 
of the selectmen of Lee in 1769. His mills are mentioned in the records 
of the town; and the neighboring bridge across Lamprey river is frequently 
mentioned in the town accounts from 1771 till 1800 and later. For example, 
£5 IS. were paid "Ensign Reuben Hill on his bridge" in 1771. His name 
is still retained, though Reuben Hill died about 1794, and his heirs sold the 
water privilege here in the first decade of the nineteenth century. John 
Mathes owned and operated the mills for many years in the middle of 
that century. He had a sawmill, shingle mill and gristmill. 

Little river runs into Lamprey ri\er about a quarter of a mile abo\-e 
Hill's bridge, and on it, in Lee, are two falls that have been used much in 
the former centuries, and is frequently mentioned in the early records of 
Dover and Durham. It rises at Mendum's pond, in Barrington. For 
example, three score acres of land were granted to Jethro Furber, June 2t„ 
1 701, "adjacent to Lampereal Little River" laid out Feb. 2, 1726-7, "begin- 
ning on the northeast side of said Little River above the old mast u-av" 
This "mast imy" is the road that now leads from Lee Hill to the State College 
at Durham, and was so called because over it were hauled the big pine trees 
to Durham falls, where they were put into Oyster river and floated to 
Portsmouth. This grant of land to Furber has remained in possession of 
the Furlier family to the present time. The roail from Lee hill by Furber's 
place to Wadleigh's falls was laid out July 31, 1753, but communication 



342 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

with Little River, at a point above Furber's, was opened more than two 
Inmdred twenty-five years ago, from there to Oyster river by cutting tlie 
mast road through the forests over Lace hill, ending a short distance al)ove 
the \illage, at the falls, where, at an early period, "Litlc River sazvuiil!" 
was luiilt: John Thompson, Sr., had a grant of land there April _>. i'.y4: 
Mr. Thompson mentions the sawmill in his will April u, 1733. A mill 
was kept in running order there for more than a centurj- and a half, being 
owned by several of the farmers in the neighborhood. This mill was at 
the foot of a high antl steep hill, on the summit of which for many genera- 
tions the Thompsons lu'ed. .\ l^eauliful ])lace. The road up over this 
hill is called the North River road. A short distance west of the Thompson 
farm is the Cartland farm, now owned by Mr. Charles S. Cartland, of 
Dover, cashier of the Strafiford National Bank. This farm has been in 
possession of the Cartland family since 1737. 175 years. The land was 
granted to Joseph Meader soon after John Thompson received his grant 
above mentioned. Meader sold to Joseph Cartland, a native of Durham, 
in 1737, who built a house in 1740, where the present house stands. He 
was baptized by the Rev. Hugh .Adams and was brought up in the Congre- 
gational faith, but in later years, after he settled in Lee, he became a member 
of the Society of Friends, and the Cartlands have remained in the Quaker 
faith, most of them, to the present time. The Cartland farm is beautifully 
located and excellent in quality of land. The ]\tathes famil}' came up from 
Durham and settled in the same neighborhood about the same time. 

A short distance below Little River Falls are what were called Thomp- 
son's falls, where Jonathan Thompson had a gristmill and fulling mill. 
In his will Sept. 10, 1756, he gave these and an acre of land to his son 
Joseph, who, !May 3, 1774. sold them to Josiah Bartlett of Haverhill, Mass.; 
the sale included his dwelling house and one acre of adjoining land, and 
four acres between the fulling mill and Little River sawmill. This Josiah 
Bartlett was brother of Col. Thomas Bartlett of Nottingham, who has a 
distinguished record in the Re\olution. The brother Josiah also has a pa- 
triotic record. Since the Revolution these falls have been known as Bart- 
lett's falls. Col. Thomas Bartlett had a son Josiah who settled in Lee, in 
1815, on a fami which is now owned by his son, Hon. John C. Bartlett; 
it is alx)ut half a mile below the Hook sawmill, on the road to Newmarket. 
Mr. Bartlett has a farm of 300 acres there, one of the best in Strafford county. 

The hamlet at Lee Hill has been the center of business in the town from 
the beginning of its settlement by lumbermen. After 1800. when stage- 
coach routes began to be introduced "The Hill" was a busy place as a 
coach center, and two or three stores were there and did a thriving business. 



AND REPRESEXTATR'E CITIZENS 343 

W hen the Xew Hampshire turnpike was completed from Pascataqua Bridge 
to Concord, about 1802, they commenced to run stage coaches from New- 
market to connect with the turnpike coaches to Concord, and Lee Hill was 
the place where a stable of horses was kept for use. There was also another 
coadi line that ran from Dover through Lee, Nottingham Square, Chester, 
Derry. W in.lham. to Lowell, after the cotton mills began to be built there. 
Gen. P,radl)ury Partlett. son of Colonel Thomas, was agent for this route 
a number of years. He was known in his later j^ears as Judge Bartlett. 
General Bartlett's brother-in-law, lion. Kdwanl B. Nealley, became a resident 
at Lee Hill about 1810 and resided there until his death in 1837. During 
his residence there he was a prominent citizen of the town and had a store 
by the side of w hat later was the residence of Simon Otis. He was engaged 
with his brother-in-law. General Bartlett, in the stage coach line from Dover 
to Lowell. Of course when the ]]oston & Maine Railroad reached New- 
market the stage coach business began to wane, and finally cea.sed to pay, 
and stopped, but not until after Mr. Nealley's death, in 18:57. 

Lee Hill from being a hustling village became the quiet hamlet it is today, 
having the meeting house, town house, postoffice and town cemetery, grange 
hall and a few farm residences. In connection w ith the postoffice is a country 
store. From being lumbermen and millmen the citizens devote their time to 
farming, with marked success. It has first cla.ss schools, no doctors or law- 
yers ; it has too small a population to support more tlian one religious society: 
so all combine, regardless of private opinions, in support of a Congregational 
Church, in the altruistic sense of the word. In the interim between the stage- 
coach period and the present long continued period of prosperity, there was 
a prevalence of intemperance, but vigorous Christian heroism in a few year.* 
wrought for the better and Lee, for many years past, has held the rank, in 
respect to temperance and sobriety, "the banner town of Strafford county." 



CHAPTER XXXV 

HISTORY OF LEE (HI) 

MEN OF LEE IN THE WARS AND IN PEACE 

The men of Lee have a patriotic record in the French and Indian wars; 
later in the Revolution from 1775 to 1783; and especially in the war for the 
suppression of the Southern Confederacy. During the Indian war period, 
1675 to 1725, the inhabitants had to keep constant guard lest they be attacked 
by a secret Indian foe, but the only great Ijattle with the Indians in Lee was 
at Wheelwright's pond in July, 1690. On March i8th, previous, the Indians 
had attacked and destroyed the settlement at Salmon falls (now Rollins- 
ford). The inhabitants made a brave defense, but were outnumbered, and 
after thirty of their fighting men had been killed, the rest surrendered. After 
plundering, the enemy burned the houses, mills and barns, with the stock of 
cattle in them. In May following this same party of French and Indians, 
with some additions, attacked and destroyed Casco. The Indians then came 
up to Fo.x Point, in what is now Xewington, where they burned some houses, 
killed about fourteen, and carried away six as prisoners. On the fourth 
day of July eight persons were killed as they were mowing in a field (in Lee) 
near Lamprey river, and a lad was carried away captive. The next ilay they 
attacked Captain Hilton's garri.son at Exeter, failed to capture it, as the 
garrison was relieved by a company under Lieutenant Bancroft, with the 
loss of a few of his men. The Indians retreated up through Lee. 

Two companies under Captains Flo)-d and Wiswall were out scouting 
on the sixth day of July and discovered the tracks of the Indians ; they pur- 
sued and came up with the enemy at the west end of Wheelwright's pond. 
where they were engaged fishing. The Indians immediately changed work 
from fishing to fighting, and a bloody engagement ensued for several hours. 
Of course, there was no cleared ground around the pond, so the fighting 
was done in dodging from tree to tree, without hand-to-hand contests. 
Captain Wiswall's company suffered worst; he was killed, also his lieutenant. 
Flagg, and Sergeant Walker; twelve men of the companies were killed, and 
several were wounded. Captain Floyd kept up the fight for a while after his 

344 



& 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 345 

companion officer was killed, but his men became so fatigued, it being an 
exceedingly hot day, and so many were wounded, that he drew off, and at 
the same time the Indians began to retreat in the opposite direction, carrying 
their dead and wounded with them, to a safe place where they could bury 
their dead warriors. It is not known how many Indians were killed, but it 
was a drawn battle. After the battle was over, and the Indians had started 
on a retreat westward. Captain Conners went to look after the wounded 
white men, and found seven alive, whom he brought in about sunrise the 
next morning. He then returned and buried the dead, among the number 
Captain Wiswall, Lieutenant Flagg and Sergeant Walker. Where their 
graves are no man knows ; not even a common field stone was placed at their 
heads. The Indians, on their way westward, in the course of a week, killed, 
between Lamprey river in Lee and Amesbury, Mass., not less than forty 
people, according to the chronicles of the day. They did not carry away 
any prisoners. 

Of course, when the news reached Oyster river settlement that a battle 
was going on at Wheelwright's pond all the fighting men made haste to get 
there and assist Captains Floyd and Wiswall. It is recorded that some of 
the men ran so fast that they were completely overcome with heat, and it 
was exceedingly hot that 6th of July. One man died of surfeit. Init the rest 
got there and rendered valuable assistance. 

GARRISONS IN LEE 

Only three garrisons are mentioned within the present town of Lee. 
There was one at South Lee, on the North River road, which was built by 
Joseph Doe, who bought land there June 23, 1737, of John Bickford, which 
had been assigned Bickford as his share of the common lands in Durham in 
1734. After the death of Mr. and Mrs. Doe, the garrison became the property 
of his daughter, who had married Elijah Fox. Up to that time it had been 
called the "Doe garrison." From Mr. Fox it came to be called the "Fox gar- 
rison." At the death of Mr. and Mrs. Fox it passed to the ownership of their 
grand-daughter, wife of Daniel Cartland. but still retained the name. Fox 
garrison. After the death of Mrs, Cartland, Mr. Samuel French bought it and 
resided there until his death, about 1880. Soon after that it was taken down. 

At New Town was the Jones f/arrison. which was probably one of the first 
garrisoned houses that was built in this section of Old Dover. It stood on the 
Nehemiah Snell farm and served as a place of resort for safety when the 
Indians were roaming around, hunting for scalps of white men. It was taken 
down many years ago. 



346 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

The Randall garrison stood on tlie Mast road between Lee hill ami where 
now is the State College. It stood on the south side of the road near the 
A. D. Wiggin house. It was built of logs with the upper story projecting over 
the lower, with loopholes in the thick walls for the discharge of guns. This 
was a center of safety in Indian a\ ar times for all the neighborhood around. 
The builder was Capt. Nathaniel Randall, son of Richard and Elizabeth 
(Tozer) Randall. Captain Randall's grandfather was Richard Tozer, who 
married Judith Smith in Boston. Gov. Richard Bellingham performed the 
marriage ceremony. They came to live at Salmon Falls, Berwick side, where 
the Indians killed him, Oct. i6, 1775. Capt. Nathaniel Randall married Mary 
Hodgdon of Dover. Having received several grants of land from the town of 
Dover, in what is now Lee. he went there and Ijuilt the garrison and was one 
of the big men of the town ; big in ability and property. He died on March 9, 
1748-9, in his fifty-fourth year. His grave may be seen in the Lee cemetery, 
about half way from there to Lee hill. It does not appear on record or in tradi- 
tion that the Indians e\er attempted to play pranks with anv of these gar- 
risons, but the neighborhoods tell much safer in li\ing in sight and hearing 
of safe houses of retreat in time of danger. 

IN THE REVOLUTION 

Lee is a small town, jet in the spring of 1776 there were 14J men who 
signed the Association Test, which reads as follows : 

"We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we 
will, to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with 
amis, oppose the hostile proceedings, of the British fleets and armies against 
the United American Colonies." 

This "Test" was sent out by the New Hampshire Committee of Safety in 
April to the selectmen of e\ery town to find out who were Tories, or sup- 
porters of the British force measures, and who were willing to fight for the 
rights which the United Colonies demanded should be guaranteed to them bv 
the Crown. The signers in Lee are given below, and the names are interest- 
ing as showing who were living in the town at that time. 

NAMES OF SIGNERS 

Elijah Dinsmore, Samuel Jackson, Bennan Jackson. John Emerson. 
Samuel Emerson, Joshua Burnham, Joshua Burnham, Jr., Steven Willie, 
Joseph Seas, William French. Joshua \\'oodmarch. Eleson Watson. Philbrok 
Barker, Moses Runnales, Samuel Hill, Ruel Giles, Cornilus Dinsmore, Job 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 347 

Ruiials. E. Jones. Jr., Jonathan Dow, Isaac Small, I'eter P'olsom. Jusiah 
Dura:ien. Aliles Randel. Benjamin Durgin, John Sanhonn, Jonatlian Rnnales, 
Zacheus Clough, Job Runels, Jr., Enoch Runels, William Goen, Ephm. Sher- 
burne, Dimond Fernald, Richard Hull. Samuel Langmaid, Ebenezcr Jones, 
Lemuel Chesley, John Jones, Benj. C'lark. George Jones. Benj. Jones, Smith 
Emerson, Isaac Clark, Simon Kindel, Janies Brackett. Stephen Stevens, 
Gideon Mathes, Daniel Chesle. George Chash. Thomas Arlen, Zehelen Wiley 
Timothy Muncy, Micajah Bickford, David Shaw, .\nios Fernald. Edward 
Scales, Robert Parker, John Mcndum, Ilunking Dam, Jnhn h'ollctt. I^lienezer 
Randel, Eli Inirber. Ebenezer Burnum, Joseph Brackett, Joseph Eollitt, 
Samuel Stevens, Samuel Bickford, Jonathan Fisk. Williaui Waymouth, 
George Tuttle, George Duch, James Watson. Samuel Watson, Timothy 
Moses, Dennet Waymouth, John Kinnison. Jusiah Kinnison. William Gliden, 
John Putnam, Anthony Fling, John Davis. Clement Davis. Andrew Watson, 
Thoinas Tuttle, Thomas Tufts, Samuel Burley. James Davis. Jeremiah 
Hutchins, John Davis, Nathaniel Frost. Henry Tufts, Jonathan Stevens, 
Henry Tufts, Jr., Thomas York, Nicholas Tuttle, Ri)i)ert \'(irk, hdiphalet 
York, David Davis, Nathaniel Stevens. \\'illiam Stevens. Samuel Durgin, 
Josepli Watson, Reuben Hill. S;ini llulcliin. Jnsiali I'.artlett. .Moses Dam. 
Jonathan Thompson, Samuel Mathes. William Bly. Samuel Fangley. Samuel 
Smith, Nicholas Meder. Mathias Jones, Benj. Jones. Joseph Jones, Tolman 
Thompson, Zekiel W^ille, Edward Leathers. John Leathers. Joseiih Doe. John 
Williams, John Layn, Benjamin Briley. Thomas Huckins. Jr.. Elijah lYi.x. 
John Wiggin, James Clemens, John Sias, Benjamin Bodge, Mark Weder, 
Mr. Samuel Bodge, John Glover, Edward Hill, Thomas Wille, Ezekiel Wille, 
Thomas Noble, Samuel Woodman, Edward Woodman, Thomas Hunt, Josiah 
Burley, Samuel Wille. Joseph Pitman. Samuel Snell. Jr., and Thomas 
Langley. 

Those men were not all of military age, but one-half of the whole number 
of signers actually served in the army, perhaps more. There were others 
who did important service for the cause, although they did not shoulder their 
guns and go to the front. The following names liave been found in the 
Revolutionary war rolls of New Hampshire : 

Elijah Dinsmore, Samuel Jackson. John Emerson. Joshua Bumham, 
Samuel Willie, Ezekiel Wille, John Sias, William French, Moses Runales, 
Job Runels, Enoch Runels, Samuel Hill, Reuben Hill, Ebenezer Jones, John 
Jones, Benjamin Jones, Joseph Jones, Jonathan Dow, Isaac Small, Benjamin 
Durgin, Samuel Durgin, Ebenezer Randall, Edward Hill, John Sanborn, 
Zaccheus Clough, Stephen Stevens, Jonathan Stevens. Samuel Ste\ens. Wil- 
liam Stevens, Nathaniel Stevens, Micajah Bickford, Samuel Bickford, Daniel 



348 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Shaw, Robert Parker, Eli Furber, Elienezer Burnhani, Jonathan Fisk, John 
Kennison, Anthony Fhng, John Davis, Clement Davis, James Davis, David 
Davis, Thomas Tuttle, Henry Tufts. Samuel Burley, Jeremiah Hutchins, 
Samuel Hutchins, Xathaniel Frost. Eliphlet York, Josiah Bartlett. Jonathan 
Thompson, Edward Leathers. John Leathers, John Williams, John Layn, 
Thomas Huckins. John ^^'iggin, John Sias. Samuel Bodge, John Glover, 
Samuel Woodman, Edward Woodman, Thomas Hunt, Josiah Burley, Joseph 
Pitman, Col. Hercules Mooney, Benjamin Mooney, and John Mooney. 

This is a remarkably good showing of patriotism in a small town. Those 
men fought to form the Union of the United States of America. Four score 
years later this small town of Lee sent the following men to the battlefields 
to preserve the Union whicli their ancestors formed. Very nearly the same 
number, in both wars, are on record in various departments of the service. 

SOLDIERS OF LEE IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION 

Charles R. Clay, Co, D. 3d Regt. ; enl. Aug. 23. 1861 ; re-enl. Jan. 23, 1864; 

disch. Aug. 24. 1865. 
Joseph T. Cummings, Co. D, 3d Regt.; enl. Aug. 21,. 1861 ; re-enl. Feb. 16, 

1864; disch. June 19. 1863. 
Moses Lovering, Co. D, 3d Regt.; enl. Aug. 2t,. 1861 ; re-enl. Feb. 14, 1864; 

disch. July 20, 1865. 
Frank Bidges, Co. H, 3th Regt.; enl. Aug. 18, 1864; died ^^lay 3, 1865. 
Francis Lovell, Co. G, 3th Regt.; enl. Dec. 28, i8<:)3; missing April 7, 1865. 
Clonin Jean, 3th Regt.; enl. Dec. 17, 1864. 

John a". Randall, Co. A, 3th Regt.; enl. Feb. 6, 1865; disch. June 28, 1865. 
Miron B. McAllister, Co. A. 3th Regt.; enl. Feb. 4. 1865; disch. June 2, 1865. 
Erastus C. Davis, corp. Co. C, 6th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch. June 

24, 1862. 
John F. Jones, Co. C, 6th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 27, 1864. 
Washington Davis, Co. H. 6th Regt.; enl. Nov. 28, 1861 ; re-enl. Dec. 31, 

1863; killed Tune 23. 1864. 
William Hardv.'Co. K^ 6th Regt.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864. 
William Johnson. Co. E, 6th Regt. ; enl. Jan. 5, 1864. 
Andrew }. Lawrence, 6th Regt.; enl. May 18, 1864. 
Hollis S.'Peavy, Co. C, 6th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1864; died Sept. 7, 1864. 
Andrew W. Locke, Co. D, 8th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 28, 1861 ; disch. April 10, 1862. 
Nathaniel Glover, Co. L 8th Regt.; enl. Dec. 20, 1861 ; re-enl. Jan. 4, 1864, 

Yet. Bat.; di.sch. Oct. 28, 1863. 
John S. Harvey, Co. H, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; trans, to Co. C, 

Vet. Bat.; d'^isch. Oct. 28, 1865. 
Edwin Lamondan, Co. L loth Regt.; enl. Jan, 5, 1864; trans, to 2d Regt. 

Jan. 21, 1865; no discharge furnished. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 349 

Joseph VVhite Co D loth Regt. ; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to 2d Regt. Jan. 

21, 1865; disch. June 19, 1865 
Dana M^Dicy, Co. G, loth Regt.'; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; killed June 27, 1864. 
Charles E. Linscott, musician. Co. I. loth Regt. : enl. Jan. s, 1864- trans to 

2d Regt. June 21, 1865; disch. Dec. 19. i86^ ^ 

Enoch Glover, Co. I. loth Regt.; enl. Sept. 4, ^1862; disch. June 21, 1865. 
Addison Osborne, Co. I, loth Regt. ; enl. Sept. 4, 186- trans to U S Cav 

Oct. 25, 1862. 

Alonzo E. Langmaid, Co. A, nth Regt.; enl. Aug. 28, 1862- disch lune 
4. 1865. ' ^ ■ J 

True \V^ Langmaid, Co. A, nth Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28. 1862 ; died May 30, 1863. 
?r xf^.V''"!' ?■ \ ^'th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28. 1862; missing Sept 30, 1864. 
John R Marsh. Co. A, nth Regt.; enl. Aug. 28. 1862; disch. June 4, 1865. 
Albra Plummer, Co. A, nth Regt.; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; pro. to corp. ; disch 
June 4, 1865. 

Lawrence a Otis Co E, 13th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 19. 1862; disch. May 14, 1864 
Darnel S. Randall. Co. E, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; trans, to Inv 
Corps reb. 15, 1864. 

Charles A. Fernald, Co. E, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. May 16 

1865. ^ 

George W. Hanson, Co. E. 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; trans to U S 

Navy April 2'&, 1864. 
Joseph A. Jones, Co. E, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; died Feb x 186- 
Richard Randall, Co. E, 13th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. Sept 29 186:; 
Bradbury C. Davis, Co. E. 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19. 1862; disch June 10 

1865. 

Orrin Dow. corp. Co. E, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; pro. to serrt • 

disch. May 12, 1865. ' 

John W. Emerson, Co. F, 13th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 19. 1862; disch, June 6 1863 
True Emerson. Co. F, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19. 1862; disch. April 2 186-, 
Joseph G. Clay, Co. F, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19. 1862; disch. June 21 1865 
Israel G. York. corp. Co. D, 15th Regt.; enl. Oct. 8, 1862; disch Au"- i-. 

1863. *'■ ■'' 

Stephen Hilton. Co. D. 15th Regt.; enl. Oct. 14. 1862; disch. Aug. n, 1863 
Josiah D. Thompson. Co. D, 15th Regt.; enl. Oct. 8, 1862; disch. Aug 13 

1863. 
George W. Demerritt. corp. Co. I. i8th Regt.; enl. Feb. fi. 186:; • pro to 

sergt. May 18. 1865; disch. July 29. 1S65. 
Samuel Durgin, Vet. Res. Corps; enl. Jan. 5,^864; date of disch. unknown. 
Frank G. Wentworth, 2d lieut. Co. A. Heavy Art. ; pro. to first lieut Sept 

19, 1864; disch. Sept. n, 1865. 
Josiah D. Thompson. Co. P., H. A."; enl. Sept. 4. 1864; disch. Sept. n, 1865 
David S. Bennett, Co. D, H. A.; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. Tune 15. 1865. 
Albert S. Cummings, Co. D, H. A.; enl. Sept. 4. 1864; discli. Sept. 15. i86q 
Joseph B. Davis. Co. D, H. A.; enl. Sept. 4. 1864; disch. June 15. 1865 ' 
Albert W. Davis. Co. D. H. A.; enl. Sept. 4. 1864; disch. June 15. 1865 
George B. Haley, Co. D. H. A.; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June i ^"^ 1865' 



350 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Charles A. Rollins, Co. D, H. A.: eiil. Sept. 4. 1864; discli. May 31. 1865. 
Nehemiah Randall, Co. D, H. .\. ; enl. Sei)t. 4, i8C)4: disch. Sept. 11, 1865. 
Jonathan B. Thompson, Co. 1), II. A.; enl. Sept. 4. 1864: |)ro. to corp. ; 

disch. June 23, 1865. 
Josiah D. Thompson, Co. D, H. A.; enl. Sept. 4, 1864: disch. Sept. 11. 1865. 
Rohert McKee, Co. M, H. A.; enl. Aug 14, 18(13: disch. June 9, 1865. 
Dennis Lahay, Co. S. 12th Regt. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; trans, to 2d Regt. 
Lawrence Keough, Co. H, 14th Regt.; enl. Aug. 14, 18G3; disch. July r, 18O5. 
William E. Smith, enl. Aug. 19, 1864. 
James F'itzgerald, enl. Aug. 19, 1864. 
James JMcPhenson, enl. Aug. 17, 1864. 
John Powers, enl. Sept. 17, 1863. 
James McClay, enl. Sept. 17, 1863. 
John Mullen,' enl. Sept. 17, 1863. 
Edward Dalton, enl. Sept. 17, 1863. 
G. Singer, enl. Oct. i, 1863. 



THE MINISTRY IN LEE 

Lee has not only furnished valiant and patriotic men for war, Init has also 
furnished men who were valiant in peace. The first minister was the Rev. 
Samuel Hutchins, who preached the gospel and led his people in ways of 
peace from 1766 to 1800, and during the Revolution he was a sturdy sup- 
porter of the cause for which his people were contending on the fields of 
battle; his semions were ali\e with his patriotic spirit which enthused his 
hearers. Mr. Hutchins' successor was the Rev. John Osborn, who began 
about 1800 and served as minister more than a third of a century. He was 
very popular and his memory is held in high esteem to the present day. The 
first century of the ministry in Lee was completed hy the Rev. Israel Chesley, 
who succeeded Mr. Osborne. 

The following persons were natives of Lee and became ministers who did 
good service in other towns: Rev. Jesse Burham, Free Baptist, was born in 
1778. Moved to Sebec, Me., 1806. Began U> preach there with success. 
He was ordained at Charlestown, Me., June, 1808. Residence there, 1808-15. 
Jointly with Rev. Ebenezer Scales and Rev. Mr. Libby organized a church 
there. Baptized many hundreds in the region where now are the towns of 
Atkinson, Charlestown, Corrinth, Dexter, Exeter, Bradford, and other places. 
Moved to Maxfield, Me., in 181 5, and Howland, Me., 1818, and organized 
a church there; also in neighboring towns. Moved to Janesville, Wis., fall 
of 1840, and did circuit riding, preaching the gospel to scattered settlements 
in Illinois and Wisconsin. With the assistance of Rev. Mr. Cheney he organ- 
ized the first Free Will Baptist Quarterly Meeting in Wisconsin. Instru- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 351 

mental in gathering a church at Janesville; organizing the Honey Creek 
Quarterly Meeting and the First Home Missionary Society in Wisconsin. 
Preached until within four weeks of his death. Died at Janesville Wis 
Dec. 3, 1863. 

Daniel Elkins, Free Baptist, was born in 1760. Moved to Gilmanton in 
1797- Began to preach about 179S. Ordained at Sandwich, X. H., June 21, 
1804. Organized church in Jackson in 1809. Spent most of his ministerial 
life there. Died at Jackson on June _m, 1845, 

^ Joseph Foss, Free Baptist, was born in 1765. Began to preach about 
1802. Moved to Brighton. Me., about 181J. Preached there and in the 
towns arouml until near his death; died at Brighton, Me., Dec. 29, 1852. 

Thomas Huckins, Free Baptist, born 1795. When a child his father 
removed from Lee to Parsonsfield, Me., and later to Canada East. Returned 
to New Hampshire and served at Portsmouth, as a soldier, 1812; afterwards 
as a marine on board a privateer. At the close of the war returned to 
Canada East. Organized churches in se\eral towns there. He was licensed 
to preach in 1827 and was ordained in 1828, being the first Free Baptist 
minister in the province. Later he organized Free Baptist churches in 
Canada West. Resided at Lexington. Mich., 1839 to 1853. having organized 
a church there. Died there May 2t,. 185^. 

^ Christopher William Martin, Christian, son of Rev. Richard and Flannah 
(Faxon) Martin. Born 1790. Began to preach in 1S16, in Vermont. Did 
evangelistic work in New ^'ork. In later years uas preacher in Vermont. 
Died in Salem, Alass., April 5, iK^c). 

Robert Mathes, Christian. l>orn 1772; commenced preaching at iMilton, 
N. H., 183 1, where he was ordained. Died there in 1840. 

Levi Moulton, Free Baptist, born 1813. Removed from Lee to Maine, 
1835: licensed to preach, 1838; ordained that year and did itinerant work.' 
He was drowned by the capsizing of a boat in crossing Lake Cicilidibicis 
May 10, 1846. 

Charles Frost Osborne, Free Baptist, son of Rev. John and Mary (Frost) 
Osborne, born March 12, 1800. In early life lived at Alton. There in 181S. 
Afterwards settled in Scarborough, Me. Licensed to preach tliere in May, 
1838. Ordained there in 1840, and pastor till 1845. Later he was pastor 
in several towns. Died at Gorhaiu, Me., Jan. 2t„ i8sr,. 

WilHam W. Smith, Christian, son of Samuel Smith, born iSrr. Licensed 
to preach in 1840. ^^^ent to California, 1849, via Cape Horn, and was a 
farmer, gold prospector and miller for fifty years, meanwhile doing evan- 
gelistic work among the miners and settlements. Served in the navy^'during 
the Civil war. and then perfecte.l draxNings f,,r rapid fire guns, armored 



352 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

trains, etc., but before he took out patents his drawings were stolen, and 
others got the benefit of his inventions. Died at Antioch, Cal., Oct. i6, 1899 
He was a Christian hero. 

John G. Tuttle, Free Baptist, born 1802. His parents moved to Effing- 
ham about 1812. Licensed to preach, 1833. Ordained at ^^'olfborough, 
1837. Pastor of churches of Gilmenton, Danville and South Weare. Moved 
to Lowell, Mass., 1845: died there June 23, 1846. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 
HISTORY OF MADULRV (I) 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME MADBURY 

The name Madbury antedates the parish and the town by more than a 
century. It was made a separate parish, with town privileges, by the Provin- 
cial Assembly, May 31, 1755, and was incorporated a township May 26, 
1768. An attempt was made in 1743 to secure parish privileges, but the tuwn 
of Dover and the Provincial Assembly both refused to grant the petition that 
year, and the petitioners did not obtain this wish until 1755, when the terri- 
tory was made a parish for ministerial purposes. The town is in the shape 
of a wedge, in between Dover on the east, Durham and Lee on the west, Bar- 
rington on the north; on the south it comes to a point with the lines of 
Dover and Durham, at a ledge called Cedar Point, where one can put his feet 
in three towns and stand, facing south, and look down the Pascataqua river 
to the Hilton Point bridge. The distance along the Barrington line is a 
little less than three miles. The line between Dover and Madbury is seven 
miles long; the westerly line is about the same. The name Madbury was first 
applied to the territory west of Barbado pond, in the vicinity of the ancient 
Gerrish mill, on the Bellamy river. Just when it began to be used there is no 
record, but on March 19, 1693-4, it appears on Dover records when forty 
acres of land were granted to Francis Pitman "on the X. W. side of Logg 
hill, on the N. E. side of the path going to Alatlhcrry, where he had all Reddy 
begun to improve." 

The "Logg hill" referred to is at the Gerrish sawmill, down which the 
lumbermen rolled the logs into the pond, ready to be used in sawing. At that 
date the name Madbury had become well established in use among the lum- 
bermen, so they knew where to locate Pitman's grant. Probably the name 
had then been in use among lumbermen thirty or forty years. The "path to 
Madberry" referred to above is the [iresent road over the Bellamy river at the 
mill site. The reader will obseve that the record does not say Pitman's grant 
is in Madbury l>ut on the side of the path going to Madbury; so the fair infer- 
ence is that the locality (a lumber lot) called Madbury, was somewhere 

353 



354 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

between Gerrish's sawmill and Ncu- Tozoi in Lee. There is no other town in 
the United States of the same shape or the same name as Madbury; in the old 
records it is sometimes spelled Aledberry, or IMedbury. but generally Mad- 
Iniry. A funny name: whence its origin? 

The late John El win of Portsmouth, who was thoroughly versed in 
everything relating to the early history of the Pascatacpia region and was 
the grandson of Gov. John Langdon, and a descendant of Ambrose Gibbons, 
the early pioneer, who died at Oyster River, July ii, iC^s6. made a study of 
that word and came to the conclusion that is was derived from IModbury in 
Devonshire, England, the seat for centuries of the Champemowne family, to 
which belonged Capt. Francis Champernowne of the Dover combination of 
1640. He received various grants of land, chief of which was on the east- 
ern side of Great Bay, which is now a part of Greenland but was then in the 
territory of Old Dover. He married the widow of Robert Cutt, brother of 
President John Cutt, and was one of the most influential men of the Prov- 
ince. He was a meml>er of the Provincial Council in 1686. and held that 
office until his death in 1687. Captain Champernowne was of royal descent, 
and nephew of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, his mother being sister to the wife 
of Gorges. His great-grandfather, Sir .Arthur Champernowne, of Modbury, 
took part in the battle of Bosworth Field, and was vice-admiral in the English 
navy. 

At Modburv was born Katherine Champernowne (great-aunt of Captain 
Francis), who by different marriages was the mother of Sir Humphrey Gil- 
bert and Sir Walter Raleigh. The Champernowne house at Modbury, where 
the royalists had entrenched themselves under Sir Edmund Fortescen, was 
taken and devastated by the parliamentary troops in 1642. 

Modbury is midway between Dartmouth and Plymouth. Some ruins are 
still left of the ancient manor house, where, according to the expressions of 
the old chronicler, "the clarions family of Champernon" once lived in dig- 
nitv and splendor. But, alas, as John Elw }ii laments, 

"No crusader's war-horse. i>lunie(l and steeled. 
Paws the grass now at Modbury's blazoned door." 

Well, supposing ]\Ir. Elwyn is correct, as I think he is, as to the origin, 
how did it ever get applied to a piece of land in Old Dover, a mile or so west 
of the Gerrish sawmill ? There seems to be but one explanation ; it is that Cap- 
tain Champernowne at some date several years before 1693 had a grant of 
timber land up there, west of Bellamy river; he ga\-e it a name, in order to 
locate it : he called it Modburv for the old home of the Champernownes. It 
was a common practice then to name the localities, in which were specially 



AND REPRESEXTATIVE CITIZENS 



355 



fine mast trees, for historic localities in England. The common people here 
corrupted the word and pronounced it Madbury, and so it is to this day. 

Miss Mary P. Thompson well says in her excellent book. "Landmarks in 
Ancient Dover" : "It is to be deplored that this historic name should have 
been corrupted mto Madbury by our early settlers. The original name should 
be restored. Modbury is more agreeable to the ear and its association with 
the Champernownes would give it a significance not to be regarded without 
pride." It is to be hoped that some Representative from Madbury in the 
New Hampshire General Court, may win honor for himself and his toun 
by having the letter o substituted for a in the name of the town, by the 
Legislature. 



21 



s 



CHAPTER XXXVII 
HISTORY OF MADBURY (II) 

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN 

Madbury was incorporated as a parish (for ministerial purposes) May 31, 
1755, and as a town May 25, 1768, but the petition for a parish was pre- 
sented to Gov. Benning Wentworth, the Council and the House of Repre- 
sentatives May 13, 1743, as follows: 

PETITION FOR A PARISH 

To His Excellency Benning \\'entworth. Es(|., Covernor and Commander- 
in-chief in & over His Majesty's Council & House of Representatives for said 
Province and General Assembly convened the loth day of May, 1743. 

The petition of Sundry Persons Inhabitants of the Westerly part of the 
town of Dover & the Xortherly part of Durham in said Province Humbly shows 
that your Petitioners live at such a distance from the meeting houses in their 
respective Towns as makes it difficult for them & their Families to attend the 
Publick Worship there, especially in the winter & spring seasons of the year, 
which induced a number of your petitioners some years since at their own cost 
to build a Meeting House situated more conveniently for them where they have 
some times had preaching in those seasons of the year at their own expense 
though they were not exempted from paying their proportion at the same 
time to the standing Minister of the Town. 

That the Towns aforesaid are well able as your Petitioners apprehend to 
bear their annual charges without the assistance of yr Petitioners and that they 
might be Incorporated into a new Parish whereby they might be accommodated 
their children & servants (as well as themselves) have more Frequent oppor- 
tunities of attending Publick Worship and all of them Reep the advantages of 
such an Incorporation which considering their present circumstances they think 
would not be a few. and the Towns not Injured. 

That your Petitioners conceive a parish might be erected with out prejudice 
to the other part of the Town of Dover by the Following lioundaries viz. 
Beginning at the Bridge over Johnsons Creek so called, where the dividing Line 
between Dover & Durham Cross the Country Road & from thence running as 
the said Road runs unt'l it comes even with Joseph Jenkins his house & ff'Dm 

356 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



357 



thence to run on a North \\'est & by North course until it comes to the head of 
said Township which boundaries would comprehend the estates & habitations 
of yr Petitioners living in Dover & the making a parish there will greatly con- 
tribute to the settling the lands within said Boundaries & those that Lay con- 
tiguous as well as be \-ery convenient for yr Petitioners. Wherefore they most 
humbly pray that a parish may be erected & Incorporated by the Boundaries 
aforesaid with the usual powers & Priviledges & that such of yr Petitionrs as 
live within the Town of Durham may have liberty to Poll off into the same, or 
that such a part of the said Township may be annexed thereunto w hich would 
be the better way as will accommodate the Remote settlers in said Township 
near the said Boundaries as well as your petitioners or that they may be Relieved 
In such other way & method as this Honble Court shall see fit. & vor petitioners 
as in duty bound shall ever pray &c 



Thomas W'ille 
John Roberts 
Samuel Davis 
Samuel Chesley 
Thomas Bickford 
Daniel McHame 
James Huckins 
Ralph Hall 
William Bussell 
Azariah Boody 
Timothy Moses 
John Demeret 
Zachariah Edgerly 
Joseph Daniel 
Francis Drew 
Daniel Young 
William Twombly 
Isaac Twombly 
Joseph Evans junr. 
John Evens 
Plenry Bickford 
Henary Bussell 
Joseph Hicks 
Joseph Tasker 
Derry Pitman 
Paul Gerrish. Jr 
John Bussell 
Job Demeret 
David Daniel 
James Chesle 
Reuben Chesle 
Henery Tibbetes 



John Huckins 
James Jackson 
Zachariah Pitman 
Ely Demerit 
John Foay, Jr 
Solomon Emerson 
Jacob Daniel 
Joseph Rines 
Benjamin Hall 
William Demeret 
William Allen 

his 
Xathiel O Davis 

mark 
Samuel Davis Jr 
Jonathan Hanson 
Robert Evens 
Jonathan Daniel 
William Hill 
Stephen Pinkham 
Benjamin Wille 
John Rowe 
Hercules Moony 
Joseph Twombly 
Abraham Clark 
Joseph Jackson 
James Clemens 
William Dam Jr 
JMorres Fowler 
Robart \X\\\e 
Abel T,eathers 



358 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

In the House of Representatives May 13th 1743. 

The within Petition Read and Voted That the petitioners at their own 
cost serve the select men of the Town of Dover and also the select men of the 
Town of Durham with a coppy of this petition and the Vote thereon. That 
the selectmen of the Respective Towns aforesaid may Notihe the said Touns 
to appoint persons to appear the third day of the sitting of the Generall 
Assembly at their next session of Genii Assembly to shew cause if an}' why the 
prayer of the petition may not be Granted. 

James Jeffry Cler. Assm 
Province of / ,, . 

New Hamp \ ^^^^ -7'^ '743- 

The abo\ e Vote read & concurr'd 

Theodr Atkinson, Secry 
Eodem Die Assented to. 

B. Wentwortii. 

Pursuent to the foregoing Notification a publicke Toun meeting was holden 
at the Meeting House at Cochecho in Dover July 19. 1742. And Capt Thos 
Willet Esq. was chosen Moderator of the sd meeting &c 

And the Request of the ^^'■esterly part of the Tow n for Raising money for 
the support of ye Ministry in that part of the Town for six months as men- 
tioned in the above notification was then heard considered & put to Vote & 
it Passed in the Negative. 

A true copy attested. 

Pr. Paul Gerrish, 

Town Clerk. 

Dover May 5tli 1743. 

The Petitioners for a Parish in Madbury & what they paid in the year 1743. 

£ s. d. £ 

Thomas \\'illey o 17 3 Daniel Meserve i 

John Roberts ' 16 2 Francis Drew 

Samuel Davis 16 2 Thomas Bickford 

Paul Gerrish 10 11 Ralph Hall 

Samuel Chesley 18 3 John Foy, Jr 

James Chesley 16 2 Henry Tebbets 

James Jackson 13 6 Dery Pitman i 

John Huckins i 5 2 John Bussell 

Job Demerett i 2 4 \\illiam Bussell 

John Tasker i 3 2 \\'illiam Demerett 

David Daniel 16 11 Eli Demerett. Jr i 

Zachariah Pitman 15 n Jose]>h Rines 

Solomon Emerson i o S Jacob Daniel 

Joseph Hicks i 17 6 Timothy Moses 

James Huckins 10 1 1 Benjamin Flail 

Azariah Boodv 10 2 John Demerett 



.?. 


d. 


7 


9 


15 


9 


U 


3 


16 


1 1 


9 


9 


17 


6 


13 


9 


14 


3 


10 


1 1 


13 


1 1 


2 


6 


8 


3 


13 


1 1 


1 1 


3 


13 


2 


i.S 






AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 359 

£ ^. (/. £ ,s-. d. 

Zachariah Edgerly 19 11 William Hill 18 9 

William Allen 9 9 Stephen Pinkham 10 11 

Joseph Daniel ij q Henry Bussell u o 

Nathl Davis 12 5 Benjamin Willey 7 6 

Daniel Young 15 o John Row ....'. 7 6 

Samuel Davis, Jr 13 2 Herkules Mooney 8 3 

Jonathan Hanson o o o Joseph Twomhlv 11 3 



,f. 


</. 


19 


II 


9 


9 


IJ 


9 


12 


5 


15 





13 


2 








1 1 


3 


1 1 


8 


13 


II 


9 


9 


18 





II 


8 


12 


9 



Robert Evans 11 3 Abraham Clark ' o o o 

William Twombly 3rd. . 11 8 Joseph Jackson 12 9 

Isaac Twombly 13 11 James Clements 7 6 

Joseph Evens. Jr 9 9 Peulien Chesley 12 5 

John Evens 

Henery Bickford 

Jonathan Daniel 



40 10 



In the House of Representatives Aug. 24th 1744. The within petition 
read and the Parties on both sides heard, And the Return of the Committee 
appointed by the Genl Assm for the viewing of the Town of Dover, Read, 
and the House having considered thereon. Voted provided the petitioners pro- 
cure an Orthodox minister or ministers to preach to them at that part of the 
Town of Dover called Madbury, Six months or more in a yeare during ye 
space of three years to commence from the first of ye next. That then there 
be Raised by the town of Dover & paid by the select men or Town Treasurer 
of the said Town of Dover annually to the said Minister or Ministers the sum 
of one hundred & twenty pounds (Old Tenor) after the Rate of twenty pounds 
p month as the preaching is Performed annually for the said three years and 
that the petitioners have liberty to bring in a Bill accordingly. 

James Jeffry Clr. Assm. 
In Council Decemb. 21, 1744. 

The parties heard on the within Petition & the Vote of the Houses above 
Considered & non concur'd. Nemine contradicente. 

Theod. Atkinson Secy 

THE FIRST PARISH MEETING 

The first parish meeting was held June 23, 1755, when the following 
officers were chosen : Moderator, Solomon Emerson ; clerk, Ebenezer De- 
merit; selectmen, John Wingate, Paul Gerrish, and James Davis; assessors, 
Daniel Hayes and John Roberts; commissioners. Daniel Young and James 
Tasker, Jr. John Demerit was chosen the first rc]>resentative to the Gen- 
eral Assembly, held at Exeter in Deccmlier, 1776. Rev. Samuel Hyde was 
settled as minister of the parish soon after it was incorporated, and was 
succeeded by Rev. William Hooper, who was the last settled minister in the 
town. A meeting-house was erected soon after Mr. Hvde came into the 
parish, but it has long since been torn down. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 
HISTORY OI- MADBURY (IIIj 

MADBURV IX WAR TIMES 

During the French and Indian wars the Madbury part of Old Dover suf- 
fered its share of the "brunt of the battle" during the half century of those 
conflicts with the enemy. It does not appear that the inhabitants began to 
build garrisoned houses until about 1694. Following are the names of the 
owners as gi\-en by Miss Mary P. Thompson in her "Landmarks in Ancient 
Dover" : 

Clark's Garrismi. This garrison stood on Clark's plains, on the hill, west 
of Knox's Marsh road, which the Boston & Maine Railroad now uses for 
a gravel bank, and near the boundary line between Dover and Madbury. It 
was built by Abram Clark, who owned a farm on the hill there. March 19, 
1693-4, Richard Pinkham had a "grant of 30 acres drie pines and Abraham 
Clark's garrison." It was taken down aljuut the year 1836. 

Daniels' Garrison stood near the summer residence of Mr. Charles W. 
Hayes. David's Lane, so named for David Daniels who built the garrison, 
extends from Nute's Comer past where the garrison stood to Mr. Hayes' 
house. The house was turn dnwn many }-ears ago. 

Demerit's Garrison was built by Eli Demerit, Jr., about 1720. It stood on 
the road between the Clark garrison and the present I'oston iS: Elaine Rail- 
road station. It was taken down about the same time the Clark garris(3n 
was, in the spring of 1S36. 

Gcrrish Garrison stood on the first hill west of Gerrish's mill, which was 
at the falls in the Bellamy river west of Barbado's pond. That mill was 
built by Paul Gerrish, who also built the garrison; he was son of Capt. John 
Gerrish and grandson of Major Richard ^^'alderne, his mother being a daugh- 
ter of the major who owned a part of the mill privilege which, at his death, 
came into possession of his daughter and long remained in possession of tlie 
Gerrish family. Her sons. Paul and Timothy, had sawmills and grist mills 
and fulling mills at about every falls on the Bellamy river anil the tide 
water at Back river. 

:i60 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 361 

Alcscrz'c's Garrison stood on the summit of Harvey's hill, which fonned 
a part of the old Meserve lands, on the road north of Gerrish's mill. The 
land of Daniel Misharvey, Jr. (Meservey, Meserve or Harvey), at a place 
called Freetozvii, is mentioned Dec. 19, 1745, in a deed of land to Eli De- 
merit. This "place called Frcetozcii" is in the northwest corner of Madbury, 
adjoining the locality in Lee called Ncziiozvii. The name first appears in 
Dover records about 1700, in connection with land grants, and, of course, 
was brought into use for convenience in locating grants, so that the owners 
might know in what direction to go from some known place to an unknown lot 
of land in a pathless forest. No one has ever given an explanation why that 
particular name was given to that particular locality. Probably it was the 
outgrowth of the fertile imagination of some lumberman. But it has been 
in use for more than two hundred years, and manifests no sign of decay. Eor 
example, it is mentioned February, 1730, when twenty acres of land were 
laid out to Derry Pitman "a little above the west end of Mehemiett's Hill," 
beginning at the corner of Wm. Demerit's land and running north by sixty 
rods, then east by the common, then south "on a road leading to the road com- 
monly called Frcctozvu road." Derry Pitman and wife Dorothy con\'eyed to 
Wm. Powder, June 25, 1748, one acre of land in Madbury, part of a thirty- 
acre grant to his father, Nathaniel, June 23, 1701, beginning at Zachariah 
Pitman's fence, near said Fowler's house, on the same side of "the road lead- 
ing from Madbur\! to the place commonly called Freetozvn." This seems 
to locate the Champernowne timber lot "Modbiiry" on the road about a mile 
north of the present town house, near where the branch road runs easterly 
to Gerrish's mill. The reader will bear in mind this was seven years before 
the present town w'as made a parish, and bounded as now, and the name 
Madbury applied to the whole parish. In 1748 it meant simply that locality 
a mile above the town house, as it now- stands at the foot of Moharimet's hill. 

Tarkc/s Garrison was at the foot of Moharimet's, commonly called 
Hick's hill, near where Maj. John Demerritt's house now stands. The laml 
here originally belonged to Charles Adams of Oyster River, who had a grant 
of one hundred acres, laid out November i, 1672, at the foot of "Mahermett's 
Hill" half of which he conveyed March 11, 1673-4, to his daughter, Mary, 
wife of William Tasker. Mr. Tasker had built his house there before the 
deed of conveyance was made and they were living there when the awful 
massacre occurred at Oyster in the summer of 1694. As it was not gar- 
risoned the family made their escape to the Woodmen garrison before a party 
of Indians reached the house, about daylight, and commenced an attack on 
it. Mr. Tasker was inside and succeeded in keeping them out until they 
felt obliged to leave to join the rest of their party, which had given up the 



362 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

fight at Woodman's garrison and had started on the route to Lake \\'innii)e- 
saukee. on their return to Canada. Mr. Tasker soon after converted his 
house into a strong garrison. It was taken down about 1S20 when the Taskers 
sold the farm to Ebenezer T. Demerritt, ancestor of the present owner, Maj. 
John De Alerritt. 

T-a'oinbly's Garrison stood a few rods above the residence of the late 
Judge Jacob D. Young. It was probably built by William Twombly, who 
acquired land there before April, 1734. It was taken down in the spring of 
1842 by JMr. Nathaniel Twombly, a great-grandson of the builder, and used 
by him in construction of a barn in Dover. 

Ma-dbury Mccting-House. In this connection it may be well to make rec- 
ord of the fact that the Aladbury meeting-house stood near the present brick 
schoolhouse, not far from Alaj. John Demerritt's residence. It is on record 
that John Tasker and Judah, his wife, September 23, 1735. conveyed one 
acre of land to the inhabitants of the western side of Dover township for 
a meeting-house, "beginning at ye turn of ye way that leads from Madbcrry 
road to Beach Hill;" there is where they built the first meeting-house, twenty 
years before the parish was incori>orated, and Parson Cushing of the First 
Church went out there occasionally and preached to his people instead of 
having them come over to Cochecho to hear him preach. Another bigger 
and better meeting-house was built there later, a plan of which, with its 
interior galleries around three sides, is to be found in the Madbury town rec- 
ords. This larger and last house was taken down about 1850. It is to be 
noted in passing that this first meeting-house was on the "western side of 
Dover township." and the description of the location shows that the locality 
then called Madbnry was above the turn in the road that now leads to Lee 
Hill. 

Mohanmct's Hill, or Hicks' s Hill, as known in later years, is a noted land- 
mark, directly north of the site of the old meeting-house. It is a beautiful 
elevation and has many historical associations. Its original name, which 
should be preserved, was derived from ^Moharimet. an Indian sagamore of 
the seventeenth century. It is mentioned by that name in 1656 when Charles 
Adams had a grant of one hundred acres of land "at the foot of Mohanmct's 
hill." This was the Tasker farm for more than a century and a quarter, 
and is now owned by Maj. John Demerritt and his sister. Miss Jennie M. 
Demerritt. and has been in possession of the Demerritt family nearly a 
century. Many old deeds refer to it as Mohanmct's hill. In 1761 Joseph 
Hicks obtained ownership of land on the north side of the hill and later 
got possession of nearly all of it, and as his faiuily and those that followed 
him in owner.ship were wealthy and influential people, the name Hicks came 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 363 

into use in place of the old Indian sagamore. It is time now to restore the 
old Indian name. 

This Indian sat^amore was a big Indian and ruler over all the small 
Indians, and the territory from the big hill, which bears his name, in ]\Iad- 
bury, to Exeter. He had his "planting grounds" for raising corn in the 
village of Lamprey River. One of these was on the south side of that river 
froin a point where the Pascassick empties into it, easterly to the run of 
water called "The Moat," in which is Doe's island. That there was such a 
man, and that he owned the land (until the Dover authorities stole it), is 
shown by a deed which he signed and consented to, by which the Massachu- 
setts Bay authorities granted to Samuel S\aiionds of Ipswich, Mass., a tract 
of land, and what is known as Wadligh Falls, in Lee, which Symonds took 
possession of June 3, 1657. 

Many noted Madbury people have lived near Moharimet's hill. Col. James 
Davis, one of the influential men of Oyster River, at an early period owned a 
large part of it. His sons, James and Samuel, received portions of it from 
their father by will in 1748; also his daughter Sarah, wdio married Capt. Jo- 
seph Hicks, received another portion, and the Hicks family later came into 
possession of nearly all the hill and much land around it, and from Joseph 
came the name now used, "Hicks hill." Mrs. Hicks lived to be ninety-one 
years old. outliving her husband many years. She was vigorous and acti\e 
down to her last year, and was noted for her business capacity, and her work, 
quite as much as any men of that period. She left a large estate, on which 
letters of administration were granted January 14, 1794. 

The Demerritt family along the west side of the hill has been there 
many generations and has produced men who were among the most noted 
in the town. One of these was Maj. John Demerritt, who has a conspicu- 
ously patriotic record in the Revolutionary war. He helped Maj. John Sulli- 
van bring the powder up from Forts William and ]\Iary in December, 1774. 
After the powder was landed at the falls he took a number of barrels of it 
to his residence, on the "Madbury Road," a short distance west of tlie hill. 
Then, to make sure the British should not capture it by sending an army 
up from Portsmouth, he dug a cellar under his barn in which he placed the 
barrels of powder, twenty or more. He covered over this cavity, so no sign 
of it could be discovered in the barn. Then he dug a passage to the cellar of 
his house (now standing), a few rods off, by which the barrels could be 
rolled out when wanted. The entrance to that passage was carefully con- 
cealed in his house cellar. If the enemy had been able to reach Major De- 
merritt's house thev could not have found the powder. No enemy came hunt- 
ing for it. The Major kept quiet until mid-winter; then he rolled out sev- 



364 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

eral barrels from the hiding place : loaded them into his ox-cart ; yoked up 
his best pair oxen, fine, sturdy, fast-stepping animals, who understood every 
motion of their master's goad and promptly obeyed it; hitched them to the 
cart, and earlv one morning started for Boston. In due time he reached Med- 
ford, where he unloaded it, the officials in whose charge he placed it judging 
thai to Ik; the safest place to deposit it. Major Demerritt returned home and 
soon after completed the work of transportation of the remaining barrels. 
Some of that powder was used by the patriots at the battle of Bunker Hill, 
and more of it in the siege of Boston. 

It has been stated that the last settled minister in the town was the 
Rev. William Hooper, who closed his pastorate in the first half of the nine- 
teenth century. That is correct, but for several years during the latter part 
of the second half of the nineteenth century the citizens employed the minis- 
ter of the church at Lee to conduct services in the town house, on the after- 
noon of each Sabbath, except in w inter. 

Madbury has furnished four men for the ministry, as follows : 

Jonathan Broi^'ii, Presbyterian, was born in 1737. Graduated from Dart- 
mouth College in 1789. Studied for the ministry with Rev. John Murray of 
Newburyport, Mass. Ordained pastor of third church East Londonderry, 
1796; dismissed September. 1804. Without charge there 1804- 1838. Died 
there January 9. 1838. 

Joseph Dai'is. Free Baptist, son of David Davis, was born in 1792. Re- 
moved to Effingham in 181 4. where he engaged in farming. Having been 
converted to the Free Will Baptist belief he joined that church and began to 
preacli when he was about thirty years old. He was ordained to the min- 
istry July 4, 1824, and was pastor of the church in that town until 1843, being 
a very successful minister. He died there December 14. 1843. 

Daniel Pinkham, Free Baptist, was born in December. 1776. When he 
was eleven years old his parents removed to Jackson where he was edu- 
cated in the common schools and brought up to do farm work. Becoming 
converted to the Free Will Baptist faith, he began exhorting in pul>lic meet- 
ing. Being a fluent and interesting speaker, he was licensed to preach in 
181 5. and became a circuit preacher in the towns of Bartlett, Randolph, Jeft'er- 
son. Jackson, Pinkham, Grant and Lancaster. His residence was at Jackson 
from 1787 to 1828: at Pinkham Grant from 1828 to 1835; at Lancaster from 
1835 to 1855. where he died June 25th of that year. 

Edgar Blaisdell U'vlie. Congregationalist, son of Samuel Smith and 
Eliza ( Burnham ) Wylie, was born February 24, i860. Graduated from 
Wheaton College. Wheaton. 111.. 1889; and Chicago Seminary, 1892. Or- 
dained pastor of Summerdale church, Chicago, April 27, 1893, having pre- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 365 

viously supplied from April, 1891, and continued pastor until April, 1901. 
He died in Chicago July 6, 1901. 

In the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812-15, the Civil war, 18S1-1865, 
and the Spanish war of 1898, Madbury furnished its quota of brave men for 
the service. In 1898 Maj. John Demerritt served in the PhiHpi)ines, he 
being a great-great-grandson of Maj. John Demerritt of the Revolution; he 
is the fourth John Demerritt in succession who has won, by service, the 
title of major. 

SOLDIERS OF M.MJBURY IN THE W,\K OF THE REBELLION 

William H. Miles, 2d lieut. Co, K. 3d Regt. ; enl. Aug. 22. 1861 ; resigned Feb. 

5, 1862. 
Samuel Willey, Jr.. Co. K, 3d Regt. ; enl. Aug. 24, 1861 ; died Aug. 9, 1S62. 
George W. Russell, Co. K, sth Regt.; enl. Feb. 19, 1864; pro. to ist sergt. ; 

killed June 18, 1864. 
Eben Munsey, Co. H, Tith Regt. ; enl. Xow 28, 1861 ; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps. 
Andrew J. Cross. Co. D, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 17, 1862; disch. June 26, 1865. 
Benjamin S. Hemenway. Co. I. 7th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 17, 1862 ; trans, to Invalid 

Corps, Feb. 3. 1864. 
Daniel Clifford, Co. C, 7th Regt.; enl. Feb. i, 1S63; pro. to Corp., June xi, 

18(15; disch. July 20, 1865. 
William H. Miles. Co. H, 7th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Mav n, 1865. 
Allen Dicks, Co. K. 7th Regt. ; enl. Feb. i, 1865. 

George W. Hough, Co. I, loth Regt. ; enl. Sept. 16, 18^12; disch. Mav 18. 1865. 
Andrew W. Henderson, Co. K, iitli Regt.; enl, Sept. 2, 1862- disch Oct 26, 

1864. 
Ira Locke, Co. K, nth Regt.; enl. Sept, 2, 1862. 

Asa Young. Co. K, nth Regt.; enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. June 4, 1865. 
Samuel N. Robinson, corp. Co. K, nth Regt.; enl. Sept. 2, i8r>2; disch. Jan. 

20, 1863. 
George E. Bodge, Co. B, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 18, 1S62; disch. Nov. 12, 1S64. 
Charles H. Bodge, Co. B, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. t8, 1862; died Jan. 14, 1863. 
Llewylln D, Lothrop, Co, F, i ;^th Regt,; enl. Sept, 10. 1862; trans, to navy, 

April 28, 1864. 
Stephen H. Richardson, Co. F, i ^th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. June 21 

i8ri5, 
John O'. Langley, Co, D, 15th Regt,; cnl, Oct, 8, 1862; killed July i, 1863, 
Samuel N. Robinson, corp,, Co. K, i8th Regt.; enl, March 21, 1865; disch. 

May 6, 1865, 
Charles A. Osgood, Co. I, ist Cav. ; enl, March 29, 1864; killed Tnne 13, 1864, 
Daniel W. Furber, Co. K. ist Cav.; enl. Sept, 6, 1862; disch, tune 28. 1S65, 
John Crystal, Co, K. ist Cav.; enl. Sept. 8. 1862; disch, June 5, 1865. 
Charles Webster, i.st Cav. ; enl. Sept. 15, 1862. 
William H. Babb. Co. D, H. Art. ; enl. Sept, 4. 1864; disch, June 15, 1865. 



366 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

lanics H. P. Batchelder, Co. D, H. Art.; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June 15, 

1865. 
John W. Cheswell, Co. D, H. Art.; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; discli. June 15, i8()5. 
Plummer Fall, Co. D, H. Art.; enl. Sept. 4, 1864; disch. June 15, 1865. 
Trueman W. McLatchay, Co. D, H. Art.; enl. Sept. 4, 1864. 
George \V. Young, Co. D, H. Art. ; enl. Sept. 4. 1864; disch June 15. 1865. 
Julius Hawkins, U. S. C. T. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1865 ; date of discharge unknown. 
Charles Foss, V. R. C. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1863: date of discharge unknown. 
W'm. H. Foss, V. R. C. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1863; date of discharge unknown. 
John Vallelly, V. R. C. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1863; date of discharge unknown. 
Charles Bedill; enl. Dec. 22, 1863; date of discharge unknown. 
Samuel V. Davis, Strafford Guards; enl. May 5, 1864; disch. July -'8, 1864. 
Wm. Galbraith; enl. Feb. 2, 1865; date of disch. unknown. 
Tichnor Miles, Strafford Guards; enl. May 5. 1864; disch. July 28, 1864. 
Wm. H. H. Tuvenbly, Strafford Guards; enl. Alay 5, 1864; disch. July 28, 

1 864. 
Wm. Haines; enl. Sept. 11, 1863; date of disch. unknown. 
Almon Stacy; enl. Sept. 17, 1863; date of disch. unknown. 
James Thompson; enl. Sept. 17, 1863; date of disch. unknown, 
"tohn Smith; enl. Sept. 17, 1863; date of disch. unknown. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 
HISTORY OF BARRINGTON (l) 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME AND LIST OF THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS 

Previous to 17 19 considerable quantities of iron ore had been discovered 
in several places in New Hampshire, hence in that year a number of opulent 
merchants in Portsmouth formed a company for manufacturing iron by erect- 
ing works on Lamprey river. Adams's "Annals of Portsmouth" says they 
determined to procure workmen from Europe, but tiiey wanted to obtain a 
tract of land in the neighborhood which would furnish a sufficiency of fuel, 
and on which they might settle their laborers. In 1669 the town of Ports- 
mouth gave sixty pounds to Harvard College to erect a new building for the 
accommodation of students, and engaged to pay that sum annually for seven 
years. In 1672 the General Court of Massachusetts, in return for this dona- 
tion to the college, voted to grant to the town of Portsmouth a quantity of 
land for that village, "when they should declare to the court the place 
where they desired it." The town neglected to apply for the grant until 
the 25th of March. 1719, when they chose a committee "to address the 
General Assembly (of New Hampshire), at their next session to oiitain order 
for laying out "six miles square of land at the head of Oyster river, formerly 
granted by Massachusetts to the town of P'ortsmouth." The petition was 
referred to tlie Governor and Council, who granted a "number of opulent 
merchants of Portsmouth," proprietors of tlie proposed iron works at Lamprey 
river, a slip of land at the head of the Dover line, two miles in breadth ( six 
miles long) for the use of the iron works. This was called the "Two-mile- 
slip." The "opulent merchants" never developed the iron works, but they held 
onto the land grant as much as possible. It was called New Portsmouth by tlie 
grantees. As nothing had been done about the iron works, a town meeting 
was held in Portsmouth, March 26, 1722, and it was "voted that the village 
of New Portsmouth be divided amongst the inhabitants of the town of 
Portsmouth according to their town rate in the year 1721 ; and that no man be 
accounted an inhabitant but those persons who have been rated for four years 
last past." 

367 



368 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

A sliort while before tliis action of tlie Gox'ernor and Conncil anil the 
Assembly the town of Portsnionth had generously paid the expense of making 
repairs on the King's warship Barrington. while in port there ; in this year, 
1722, the taxpayers of that town were kindly remembered by the Provin- 
cial authorities who presented them with a tract of land, west of Dover line, 
six miles wide and thirteen miles long, and they named it Barrington in honor 
of the ship the taxpayers had paid the expense of repairing. 

The Journal of the General Assembly has the following, May 10. 1722: 
"Several Charters being prepared l)y order of His Excellency the Gov. and 
Council for granting sundry tracts of land in this province and incorporat- 
ing the Grantees was this day laid before the board, and being read were 
signed and sealed (namely) : 

1st. Chester, Charter dated ye 8th inst. 

2. Nottingham 1 

3. Barrington Y dated this day. 

4. Rochester j 

Copies of which Charters are on file." 
The following is the Charter as given in Vol. XXIV, page 423, of the State 
Papers : 

George, and by the Grace of God and n\ Great Britain, France & Ireland, 
King, Defender of the faith &c. 

To all people to whom these presents shall come Greeting : Know ye that 
We of our Especial Knowledge & mere Motion for the Due Encouragement of 
settling a New Plantation by & with the advice and consent of our Council 
have given & Granted and by these Presents ( as far as in us lyes) do gi\e and 
grant unto all our Loving Subjects as are at present Inhabitants of our Town 
of Portsmo within our Province of New Hampshire and have paid Rates in 
the Said Town for four years last past to be dixided among them in proportion 
to their Respective Town Rates which they paid the year last past anrl the 
record of which is to be found in their Town i*>ook and is agreeable to their 
Petition preferred for that Purpose: 

All that tract of land contained within the fallowing Bounds (viz) — to 
begin at the End of two miles upon a line Run Upon a Northwest ]ioint, half 
a ix)int more northerly from Dover head line at the end of four miles and a 
half westward from Dover ; North East Corner Bounds and run upon the 
aforesaid point of Norwest half A Point more northerly eleven miles into the 
Country and from thence Six miles uix)n a straight line to Nottingham northerly 
Comer bound; then to l>egin again at the end of the two miles aforesaid and 
to run upon a parallel line with Dover headline six miles to Nottingham Side 
line and from thence Eleven miles along Nottingham side line to Nottingham 
Northerly Comer bounds. And also we give and grant in manner as afore- 
said all that tract of land Iving between Dover headline & the aforesaid granted 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 369 

tract of Land, it being in breadtli six miles upon Dover head Line aforesaid 
and two miles in depth from the said Dover head line to the aforesaid granted 
tract of land, to our Loving Subjects the present Proprietors of the Iron 
Works lately set up at Lamprey River (viz) The Hon'ble John W'entworth, 
Esq., George Jeffrey, Esq.. Archibald Macphaedrie Es(|. & Mr. Robert Wilson, 
for their encouragement & Accomodation to carry on & maintain the aforesaid 
Iron Works, the aforesaid two tracts of land, to be a Town Corporate by the 
name of Barrington, to the persons aforesaid forever — to have and to hold the 
said two tracts of land to the Grantees & their heirs & assigns fore\er upnn the 
following conditions : — 

1st That they build fifty dwelling houses and settle a family in each 
within seven years and break up three Acres of Ground for each Settlement 
& plant or sow the Same within Seven Years. 

2dly That a Meeting-House he built for the Publick Worship of God 
within the term of Seven Years. 

3tlly That two hundred Acres of Land be reserved for a Parsonage, two 
hundred Acres for the Minister of the Gospel & one hundred Acres for the 
Benefit of a School. 

Provided nevertheless that the peace withe Indians continue during the 
aforesaid term of Seven Years, But if it should happen that a war with the 
Indians should commence before the expiration of the term of seven vears, 
aforesaid, there shall be allowed to the aforesaid Proprietors the term of Seven 
Years after the ex[)iration of the War for the performance of the aforesaid 
conditions. 

Rendering and paying therefore to us, our heirs & Successors, or such other 
officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same, the Annual Quit 
Rent or acknowledgement of one pound of good, merchantable hemp in the 
said town on the first day of December, yearly, forever, if demanded, Reserv- 
ing also unto us, our heirs & Successors all Mast-trees growing on said land, 
According to the Acts of Parliament in that case provided. And for the better 
order, rule & Government of the Said Town we do by these Presents Grant 
for us, our heirs & Successors unto said Men & Inhabitants, or thos that .shall 
inhabit Said Town, yearly & every year, upon the last Wednesday in March, 
they shall meet to Elect & Chuse by the Major Part of them. Constables, Select- 
men and all other Town Officers according to the Laws & Usage of our afore- 
said Province, for the Ensueing, with such Powers, Privileges & Authoritys 
as other Town Officers within our Aforesaid Province, have & enjoy. 

In Testimony whereof we have Caused the Seal of our said Province to be 
hereunto Annexed. Witness Samuel Shute, Esq, our Governor & Com- 
mander-in-Chieff of our Said Province at our Town of Portsmo, the tenth 
day of May in the Eighth year of our reign Anno. Domini 1722, 

Sanniel Shute. 

By his Excellencys Command 
with advice of the Council, 

Richard Waldron, Clerk — Com — 



370 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



The first meeting of the proprietors was held in Portsmouth May 28, 
17J2, with Richard W'ibert as moderator, and Clement Hughs clerk. They 
then drew lots for selecting the place where they would take their number 
of acres. In Vol. IX of the Provincial Papers, page 41, is found the 
following: 

"A List of the original Proprietors of the Town of Barrington with the 
Rate\vhich each man Paid & by which the Quantity of Acres each man had is 
ascertained at the rate of two Pence pr acre & also the number of Each Lot as 
the Same was drawn by each Propr or his Constituent" 



Names. Acres. 

Henry Keese 270 

Thos Hammett ... 60 

John Moor 7-2 

Francis Rand .... 60 

Benja Gamblin . . . 330 

Eleazr Russell .... 96 

Widow Hatch .... 60 

Edward Cater 120 

W'm White f)0 

Revd Rogers ^(>o 

James Libby i-'O 

Saml Allcock 210 

Jno Roberts 210 

Saml Hart 180 

Jno Shack ford ... 210 

Joseph Holmes ... 150 

Wm Warren 60 

Jno Shores 60 

Doctr Baley 96 

Wm Bridgham ... 96 

Agnis Russell .... 30 

Thos Phips 300 

Richd Wibird 660 

Thos Westbrook 300 

Wm Cotten Junr. . 120 

Peter Greeley .... 120 

Eplim Dennet .... 3''>o 

Widow' Hunking . . 108 

Hen Sherburn Jun. 90 

Wm Lowde 192 

Jno Plaisted 414 

Joseph Moses .... 72 

Benja T.angley .... q6 

Jno Savage ~2 



Names Acres. 

Richd Cutt . . . 
Widow Walker 
Widow Jackson 
Wm Bradden . 
\\'idow Tapley 
Benja Akerman 
Saml Hinks . . . 
Henry Slooper 
Thomas Sibson 
Thos Main .... 
Thos Crocket . . 
James Spinney . 
Edward Cate . . 
Richd Waterhouse 
Richd Cross .... 
Thomas Ayre . . 
Reuben Al)I)ott . 
Capt Wm Cotten 
Jno Brewster . . . 
Jno. Hooper . . . 
Josiah Clark . . . 
Wm .\moss .... 
Jno Hill 



Edward Toogood 
Saml Hewett . . . 
Alex Dennett . . 
Mathew Nelson 
Natlil Tuckerman 
Tim Davis .... 
Jonathan Stoodl 
Geo. Banfill . . . 
Ed Phillips . . . 
Jno Deverson . 
Joseph Fannin . 



/- 
48 
90 
72 
120 
120 

7^ 

2J(, 
180 

7-i 

78 
120 
120 
180 
120 
150 

7-2 
150 
150 

60 
120 

72 
96 

144 
108 
180 
150 
132 
96 
120 

84 

S4 

7-' 
90 



Names. Acres. 

Geo \Valker 72 

Edward Cate Jun . . 1 50 

Joseph Miller .... 90 

Richd Waldron ... 216 

Thos Harxey .... 1 50 

Saml Sherburn ... 120 

Walter Warren ... 1 20 

Wm Cross J2 

Jos Allcock 168 

Thos Beck 90 

Jacob Lavis /2 

Caleb Grafton ... 30 

Jno Churchill .... 60 

Doctor Pike 240 

Ambs Slooper .... 180 

Jos Moulton 138 

Al)rm Jones 150 

14ios Beck Junr. . 78 

Abrm Bartlett 72 

■\Iich Wliidden ... 210 

James Moses 90 

Jno Abbot 84 

Thos Moore 72 

Wm Frost 72 

Wm Lewis 90 

Jno Savage 150 

Jno Peverly Jun . . 96 

Solomon Cotten . . 72 

William Hunking.. 30 

Saml Shackford . . 210 

Jno Cotton 144 

Doctor Ross 96 

Tno Ham 48 

Michl Whidden Jr 84 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



371 



Names. Acres. 

Robert Armstrong . 240 

Bishop. . 

Joseph Pitman 

Thos Gotten . 

Thos Barns . . 

Michl Kennard 

Wm Knight . . 

Jno Clark . . . 

Thos Landell . 

Ed Pendexter 

Jno Lear .... 

Jethro Furber 

Stephen Greenleaf 

Stephen Lang 

Jno Jones . . . 

Jno Grindal . . 

Nathl Peverly 

Thos Packer . 

James Jaffrey 

Jer Neal 

David Gardiner 

Nathl Lang ... 

Philip Gammon 

Peter Ball 

Joshua Pierce . 

Jno Hooker ... 

Thos Sherljurn 

Zac Leach 

Richd Pashley . 

Richd Tobey . . 

A\'ido\v Marshall 

Jno Ciitt 

Moses Caverly 

Jno Mardin ... 

Jno Hardeson . 

Saml Penhallow 

Richd Jose ... 

Wm Fainveather 

Ephm Jackson . 

Colo Hunking . 

^^'ido\v Martin 

Wm Pe\'erly . . 

Benja. Lucv . . 

Robert Almary . 

Go^^ Wentworth 
22 



7« 

90 

96 

180 

330 
84 

120 
96 

108 

/ - 
120 
120 
132 

7-' 
90 

648 
240 
90 
120 
120 

3><> 
120 

720 

96 

96 

90 

144 

144 

90 

LSo 

120 

66 

180 

720 

120 

7-' 
168 
210 
120 
120 
96 
98 
720 



Names. Acres. 

Abraham Libby ... /2 
Saml Banfield .... 180 
Charles Brown ... 54 

Thos Greely JJ 

A\'m Parker 240 

Sampson Babb .... 240 

Jno Lang 126 

Tim Waterhouse . . 150 

Henry Beck yj 

Saml Ham 1 56 

Abraham Barns ... 60 

Widow Almary ... 30 

Jno Rolx^rson .... 144 

Anthony Row Junr J2 

Jno Bradford .... 96 ] 

Nehemiah Partridge 7 

Peter Moore 

Thos Wilkinson 

Philip Babb . . 

Benja Cotton 

Jos Buss .... 

Saml Winkley 

Benja Miller . 

James I'itman 

"Christr Noble 

Thos W^right . 

Robert Ward 

Widow Pitma 

Son Jabez . 
Jno Ford .... 
George Pierce 
Colo Vaughan 
^^'m Gotten . . 
Wm Bams . . . 
Richd Swain . 
Jno Cowel . . . 
\\'m Ross . . . 
Tames Sherburn 
Natid Mclcher 
Jno Sherburn 
Thos Peirce . 
Peter Abbot . . 
Jno Edmonds 
Thos Walden 
Hen Sherburn 



Ac 



/- 
84 
60 

7- 

90 

96 

240 

120 

60 

96 

i^o 

96 

30 

7- 
210 
240 
210 

7-' 

72 
84 

7-' 
90 

7^ 
120 
210 
60 
84 
^50 
192 



Names. 
Saml Brewster 
Jno Davis .... 
Jno Libby .... 
Roger Swain . . 
\\'idow Brianl 
Jno Almary . . . 
Tobias Langdon 
Richd Elliot . . 
Hen Bickford . 
Obacliah Morse 
Nathl Odiorne 
Geo Jaffre}- . . . 
Mathew James 
Jos Sherburn . 

Jno Pray 

Capt. Hen Sherburn 
Jno Pe\'erly . . . 
Wm Terret . . . 
Jno Skillings . . 
Richd Saulridge 

Ed Ayers 

Saml Monson . 
Daniel Jackson 
Nath Robertson 
Moses Ingraham 
James Leach . . 
Jona Partridge 
Jno S h e r b u r 

widow 

Ed Wells 

Stepn Noble . . 
Steph Noble . . 
Wm I'ennet . . 
Hen SeaAvard . 
Thos Larraby . 
Nathl Fellows . 
Mary Moore 

Leach 

Geo Ayers . . . 
Arch Hunking 
Hugh Banfill '. 
Amos Furnell 
Abraham Dent 
Saml Rhymes 
Saml Clark . . 



Alis 



res. 

90 

120 

144 

84 

3'J 

120 

240 

96 

96 

48 

108 

600 

120 

354 

138 

55^ 
96 

^4 

96 

108 

210 

120 

72 

60 

120 

90 

7-' 

24 
120 

f)o 

60 
120 
120 
120 

7-' 

30 
96 

72 

108 

L50 

6 

96 
132 



372 ■ HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Names. Acres. Names. Acres. Names. Acres. 

Cha Banfill 60 Alex Miller 180 Widow Nelson & 

Ale.x Roberts .... 180 Anthony Roe .... 60 Son 150 

Capt. Geo Walker. 300 Capt. Tobias Lang- Francis Ditty .... 60 

Saml Pitman 90 don 300 Jos Mead 108 

Geo Townsend . . . 108 Ezek Pitman 120 Jno Collings 60 

Saml Snell 36 James Stootly .... 30 Joseph Sibson .... 120 

Saml Waterhouse . 24 Clemt Hughs 180 Laz Noble 60 

Jno Sparks jj Jno Drew 120 Laz Holmes 42 

Jno Davis 90 Jos Berry (h Abraham Center . . 06 

Jno Cross 30 Jacob Tash 90 Not drawn 

Benja Cross 210 Daniel Quick .... 96 Not drawn 

Nathl Mendam . . . 240 Jer Libby iSo Not drawn 

Robert Pickering. . jj Jno Preston 120 Not drawn 

Arch Macphadris . 600 Wm Fellows 240 Not drawn 

Moses Paul 210 Saml Brown J2 Jer Calf 72 

At a meeting held June 14, 1722. it was \-oted to give forty-two lots of 
forty acres each, as near the centre of the town as the land would admit, to 
such persons as would fulfill the conditions of the charter. Considerable dififi- 
culty was found in getting settlers to take up the land on those conditions. 
After sundry meetings a number of persons were found who agreed to take 
the forty-acre lots and settle upon them, when a committee was chosen to 
proceed to Barrington with the proposed settlers and lay out their lots. 

This committee reported. June 27, 1727, that after having been upon the 
land, and having with them certain persons who had agreed to settle, "the 
land proving to be so extraordinary bad by reason of its being so extremely 
rocky and stony that none of those present would accept it," and they thought 
it "impracticable to settle upon it." 



CHAPTER XL 
HISTORY OF BARRINGTON ^H) 

DIFFICULTY OF SECURING THE FIRST SETTLERS. GARRISON HOUSES. THE 

HISTORIC TWO-MILE-STRE.\K 

During the first thirty years, 1732 to 1753, all the meetings of the pro- 
prietors were held in Portsmouth, and quite a number were held at ditterent 
times. At the one held January 29, 1732, it was voted "that 100 acres of land 
out of the town commons be given to each proprietor that shall appear in 15 
days and give bond with good security to the value of one hundred pounds 
each, that each of them shall build a house, and perform every other article 
that the charter obliges a settler to do (within one year), provided the num- 
ber exceed not forty-two, and the same give in their names to the dark." 

It was also voted, August 7, 1732, to give to each settler of the forty-two 
forty-acre lots, one forty-second part of all surplus and undivided lands in 
town. 

It appears that these last liberal offers were sufficient to secure the re- 
quired number of settlers, and the proprietors came in possession of the town. 
In 1 741 the proprietors asked for and received of the General A.ssembly 
power to raise and collect rates upon themselves the same as possessed by 
towns. 

"The following is a list of Rates on the Poles and Estates of Township 
of Barrington in the Province in the year 1742." 

(The figures denote shillings and pence.) 

Joseph Ellis. 1 1 ; John Mackmatle, 1 1 ; Robert Macdaniel. 1 1 ; James 
Gray, 10; Sampson Babb, 10 6: Charles Felker. 10; Samuel Frost, Jr., 10 6 
Paul Hayes, 10; Jonathan Church, lo; William Howard, 10: Richard Swain 
ID; William Cate, 12; John Ellis, 6 6: Thomas Ellis. 6; b.ihn Sliepard, 6 6 
Samuel Dillay, 9; Robert Bamford, 5; George Gear, 6; Charles Bamford, 6 
Robert Macdaniel, 6; John Macdaniel, 6: Nehemiah Macdaniel, 6; John Rand 
6 : Arthur Caverley, 6 ; Thomas Dock, 5 ; John Leighton, 6 6 ; Peter Morse, 6 6 
Solomon Snell, 6 6 : Joshua Frost, 6 ; George Gray, 5 ; Joshua Foss. 6 6 ; James 
Shute, 6; Richard Babb, 6; Michael Felker, 6; Samuel Fost. 6 6; Richard 
Knight, 4: Timothy Tibbetts, 4: Josei)b Johnson. 4; Thomas Johnson, 4; 
Richard Eliot, 2; John Waterhouse, 4. Thomas Shippard, 10. 

373 



374 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

There appear to have been Hving on the Two-mile Streak in tlie year 
1747 sixteen famihes and upwards of ninety inliabitants, who petitioned 
the Provincial Governor and General Assembly for protection against the 
Indians. 

THE PETITION 

May it please yr Excellence wee make bould To Truble yr Excellence & 
yr honourable Council taking into Consideration our Dangerous Condition of 
our Eniinys. the want of what luen you shall think proper to Steate One the 
two Garresons at Two-Mile-Streik In Harrington, being obliged to leave our 
W'emen & Children Exposed in said houses. Otherwise our Cropes must suffer. 
Our dependence is on yr Excellence & that }-ou w ill nut let us be any longer 
in Such a Condition, being the Xeedfull, and are ever yr Excellence's humbl 
Servants. 

J. W. Macmath, 
Tnos. Sheephard. 

Two-Mile-Strcak in Barrington, Jan. the 15, 1747. 

Governor \\'entworth and his council did not appear to pay any attention 
ti> this petition, so the following was sent to them in the next month : 

To His Excellency Benning \\ entworth, Esqr., Governor and Commander-in- 
Chief in and over the Province of New Hampshire, The Honorable His 
Majesty's Council! and House of Representatives in General Assembly 
convened. 

The petition of Thomas Shepherd in behalf of him.self and the otlier Inhabi- 
tants of the Two-Mile-Streak ( so called ) in the Township of Barrington in 
said Province most humbly shew that there are sixteen families settled within 
the said Two-Mile-Streak, containing upwards of ninety Persons, in all, That 
the Situation of the same is such that the Inhabitants are very much exposed 
unto the Indian Enemy. 

That the Summer past the laboring People there were obliged to leave their 
wives and children at home unarmed & defenceless whilst they went out about 
their business of husbandry, having no soldiers there to guard and protect them. 
That they are in great fear that the Indians will destroy some of them the 
approaching Spring and Summer, if they tarry there, unless the Government 
Allows them Some Protection. That in Case the said Indians move in, it will 
give the Enemy an advantage, besides that thereby your Petitioners' Planta- 
tion, where they raise Considerable Provision, will lay unimproved. 

Wherefore, your Petitioners most humbly Pray your Excellency and Hon- 
ours to take their Case under Consideration and to allow them such a number of 
Soldiers & for such time as you shall judge reasonable, and your Petitioners 
as in duty Bound shall ever prav. 

l-'ebry. 23d, 1747. Tiiom.\s .SiiEPHERn. 

In Council ]\Iarch 8th, 1747. read and ordered to be sent Down the Honbl. 
House. 

Theodore Atki.xsox, Secy. 



i 





SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. RO( IlESTEi;, X. II. 



GAKNEV HOMK. ROl'HESTEK. X. H. 





SCHOOL ST. SCHOOL, ROCHESTER, N. II. 




PUBLIC LIHl;.\l;V (CARXEGFE). ROCHESTER, 
N. H. 




i^^^^m 




CJTY HALL. ROCHESTER, N. H. 



MASONIC TEMPLK. ROCHESTER, N. H. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 377 

Ihe result of tliat petition and otiiers like it from other towns was tiiat 
a company of soldiers was kept on patrol duty, under command of Captain 
Jonathan Longfellow of Nottingham, all summer along the northern bound- 
ary line of the towns frnm Chester to Rochester, those towns included, to keep 
watch and guard to announce the approach of the enemy at any point. It 
does not appear that any families were attacked in Barrington. 

It appears from these petitions that the first settlements in Barrington 
were made in the Twn-mile Streak, between 173J and 1740. The Lamprey 
River Iron Works proprietors did not settle any of their workmen there, 
as they did not manufacture any iron or have any workmen to settle in their 
"New Portsmouth." The north boundary line of the "Streak" runs parallel 
with the Dover, Mudbury and Lee headlines and two miles from it. This 
line crosses the carriage road north of ( ireen Hill near where the Nashua and 
Rochester railroad bridge is; it is one quarter of a mile north of the Con- 
gregational church at "Hard Scrabble:" about one-third of a mile north of the 
outlet of Swain's Pond; and one-third of a mile north of the True William 
McDaniel residence, near the line between Barrington and Nottingham. The 
first settlement was begun in the \icinity of where the Congregational church 
now is, and among the first men there was Captain William Cate, who Iniilt 
the first garrison house, in town, there and it stood there until 1870, more 
than one hundred and thirty years. It is known that one other garrison 
was built a little later, in the Two-.Mile Streak, by Captain Mark Hunking 
of Portsmouth. It stood north o1 Winkley's Pond, and a short distance 
north of where the Nashua and Rochester railroad crosses the carriage road 
at that point. So far as known these were the only garrisoned houses in 
Barrington. Captain Cate was one of the leading men for many years. 
He was a commander of a company of provincial militia. When the settlers 
on the Two-Mile Streak wanted any public business to be transacted they 
had him placed at the head of the committee to see that it was done. He 
was chairman of the first board of Selectmen elected in 1753. His son 
William Cate' Jr., also was acti\e in public affairs during the Revolution, as 
also was his son John Cate. 

Captain Mark Hunking, son of Col. Mark Hunking of Portsmouth, was 
a famous sea captain. He was born in Portsmouth about 1700: he died in 
Barrington in 1775; his family resided in Portsmouth until after 1750. He 
was one of the Selectmen of Barrington in 1762, 1763 and 1764, and was a 
prominent citizen in town for many years. In his business as sea captain he 
sailed his ship to all parts of the world, and acquired much wealth. In one 
of his later voyages to the W'est Indies, about 1750, he brought home a jet 
black negro girl ele\en years old. She lived to be more than a huntlred years, 



378 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

dying in Barrington about 1840. She was a slave in the Hunking and the 
Winkley famihes all her life, and was the last slave who died in New Hamp- 
shire. During the last few years of his life Captain Hunking was afflicted 
witii rheumatism ; as he could not get around very well he had an ami 
chair made with trucks under it, and in this his colored slave, Agnes, used 
to wheel him about the house and the dooryard as he might wish to go. In 
her old age she lived with the Winkley family, one of Captain Hunking's 
daughters married Francis Winkley of Portsmouth and li\ed a near neighbor 
to the Hunking garrison. A grandson of this daughter of the Captain, 
Henry Winkley, who was born there, became a very wealthy merchant in 
Philadelphia; he was born in 1803 and died in the Quaker City in 1S88; in 
1879 he gave to Dartmouth College several thousand dollars to endow a 
professorship in Anglo Saxon and English Language, which is known as the 
Winkley Professorsliip. 

Captain Hunking owned another negro slave, named Richard, as appears 
in Rev. Dr. Jeremy Belknap's record of marriages ; his record says : Married, 
"Dec. 26, 1774, Richard, negro servant of Alark Hunking, Esq., of Barring- 
ton, and Julia, negro servant to Stephen E\ans, Esq., of Do\er, by consent 
of their respective Masters." Col. Steven Evans was Dover's most distin- 
guished military officer in the Revolutionary War. At that period there were 
reported to be three negro slaves in Barrington. Probably the third one was 
the servant of Captain John Drew, a distinguished officer in the Ixevolution. 
That may have been the last wedding of negro slaves in New Hampshire, 
but probably not as there was quite a colony of slaves in Portsmouth until 
after the Revolution. In 1790 the census does not report any slaves in the 
town. On account of disagreement among the owners the Hunking garri- 
son was allowed to go to ruin, but a part of it was standing in 1899, when 
the writer visited the spot, and found the grave of Captain Hunking and 
members of his family. The burial ground is on the south side of the rail- 
road and not far from where the carriage road crosses the railroad. The 
garrison was on an elevation a few rods north of where the raiload crosses 
between it and Winkle3''s pond. In 1832, when the house was in good con- 
dition, one of Barrington's most distinguished sons was born in it — Col. 
Daniel Hall now of Dover, a biographical sketch of whom can be found else- 
where in this book. 

The Two-Mile Streak is the historic part of Barrington. In it are Green 
Hill, on and around which, amung the early settlers, were the families of 
Hayes, Wiggin, Young, Horn, Tibbetts, later. Gray, Hall and Waterhouse. 
Beauty Hill at the east of Swain's Pond and north of the Hunking Garrison 
is for the most part in this Streak ; it was here that Richard Swain was one of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 379 

the earliest settlers. Some of its descendants live there now. Francis Winkly 
was another of the early immigrants from Portsmouth who settled in the 
neighborhood of the pond which bears that family's name. Other families 
in the Streak were Bumford, Watson, Young, Daniels, Woodman, Locke, 
Church, Oilman, Whitehouse, Chesley, Hall, McDaniels, Waldron, Foss, 
Peirce, Kendall, Ellis, Brown and Evans. All these names can be found in 
the families there now. From these families many sons have won distinc- 
tion in various parts of the country. 



CHAPTER XLI 
HISTORY OF BARRIXGTOX (HI) 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY MEETIXG-TIOUSES 

At a meeting of the proprietors of narringtoii held in Portsmouth 
Mareii 31. 1731, it was voted to build a meeting-house for the worship of 
God, and to locate it as near the center of the town as the land would admit, 
and fifty pounds were appropriated for that purpose. Nothing was done 
under that vote, but eleven years later, 1742, at a meeting of the proprietors 
it was voted "that a meeting-house be Ijuilt at the charge of the proprietors, 
and they appropriated 200 pounds for that purpose, and stated the dimensions 
to be forty- four feet long and thirty-six feet w ide. ' 

The following were appointed a committee to locate and superintend the 
construction of the house: Thomas \\"riglit, Timothy W'aterhouse and Capt. 
WilHam Gate. At a meeting held June 2, 1742. it was voted that "one 
hundred and twenty pounds be apijropriated fi)r shingling, lluuring and inider- 
pinning the meeting-house." 

This house \vas located and hrst stood at the foot of W'aldron's Hill, on 
or near land now owned by Mrs. William C. Buzzell. This location proved 
to be very inconvenient for the settlers, as the most of them lived near the 
Gate Garrison and around Green Hill. At a meeting of the proprietors, 
held June 14, 1752, they "voted to grant liberty to the present inhabitants of 
Barrington to move the meeting-house from the present lot to land uf Samuel 
and Xathan I'oss." 

The house was taken down and mo\ed to this lot, where it stood as late 
as 1854, after which it was removed and converted into a dwelling. 

A town meeting was held Xov. 18, 1754, to consider the ]iropriety of 
settling Rev. Joseph F'rince as minister of the town. .\ committee was 
chosen to in(|uire into his character and (jualifications. Fa\oral)le reports of 
him being received from ministers of the Piscataqua Association, it was 
voted, Feb. 22, 1755, to give him a call. 

The Gongregational Church of Barrington was organized June 18. 1755, 
at which time Re\-. Mr. Prince was installed. ?ilr. Prince was a blind man, 
and ser\ed the church as ])astor thirteen years. 

380 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 381 

To show that tlie men of that time were prompt in paying tlie nmiister's 
salary, and careful in doing business, the following receipt, bearing Mr. 
Prince's autograph, is copied from the town records : 

"Received of ye Selectmen of ye town of Barrmgtun this nth Day of 
April, 1757. two hundred & fifty I'oumls. old tenor, m full, for my salary irom 
ye Beginning of ye world to this Present Day. I say Received In' me, 

"JdSKPii Pkixce." 

In the year 1770, John Uarlantl and Samuel Drewster, in behalf of the 
church and parish, asked the General Assembly for authority to conduct the 
affairs independent of the town meeting, setting forth as a reason that certain 
inhabitants who called themselves Quakers, and other separators from any 
religious body, and members of the Church of England, cause great con- 
fusion whenever a town meeting is held to settle a mini.stcr according to the 
laws of the province. Their request was granted. 

Rev. David Tenney was pastor from Sept. i<S, 1771, to Oct. jd, 1778; 
Benjamin Balch was pastor from Aug. 25, 1784, till 1815, when he died, 
aged seventy- four years; Cephas H. Kent was pastcir from Oct. _•_>, i<S_>,S. 
till May 3, 1830; Samuel H. Merrill from b\'b. 23, 1831, to Aug. 10, 1835; 
Samuel Nichols from Sept. 20. 1837, to Oct. 2<>. 1847. The present house 
of worship was built in 1840. Theodore Wells was pastor from [une 9, 
1845, to May 10, 1859. After this the church was served liv non-installed 
pastors, as follows: For five years and seven months by Rev. Charles W'illey, 
to March. 18^)5; from June, 1865, by Rev. Josiah S. Amies; from May, 
1869, liy Rev. Ezra Haskell; from September, 1875, to September, 1877, 
by Rev. Albert Watson and James De Buchanan. From 1877 to 1S87 the 
Rev. E. F. Borchers was minister for the church. Since, there have have 
been several pastors, all worthy and able men, and the church organization 
is in a fl(nirishing condition. 

Baptists. — In the year 1779 a Baptist Church was formed in the north- 
westerly part of Barrington. Its membership soon extended over a large 
part of what is now Strafford. Several active members lived in that part of 
Barrington called Canaan, where regular meetings of worship were held. 

The first record of a church organization in that neighborhood began in 
18 1 8. At a conference meeting held Feb. 8. 181 9, those present expressed 
their wish to become a Church of Christ,- taking the New Testament as 
their rule of faith and practice, and to become connected with the New 
Durham Quarterly ^Meetings, and chose George Seaward ruling elder and 
Pomphret Pearey deacon. In 1851 the church was reorganized as the Straf- 
ford and Barrington South Free Baptist Church. In 1861 a large part of 



382 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

its nieiiibers witlidrew and formed a cluirch in Strafford. Since then its 
members have, for tiie most part, lived in Barrington, where its meetings 
of worship have been held, and has been known as the Canaan Free Baptist 
Church. Six Free Baptist ministers and one Congregational minister have 
grown up under tiie influence of this church. In 1881 a house of worship 
was built. Present membership, 65: A. E. Boyerton. pastor. 

Through the labors of Rev. S. B. Dyer, of Nottingham, a Free Baptist 
Church was formed in the year 1820, in the south part of Barrington, known 
as the First Barrington Free Baptist Church. In 1830, Samuel Sherburne 
was ordained pastor, which relation was continued till his 'death in 1861. 
In addition to preaching Mr. Sherburne taught school much of his time, and 
exerted a wide influence in this and adjoining towns. Their meeting-house 
was built in 1847. The church has since been supplied by different men, 
among whom were Revs. P. Chesley, U. Chase, L. jMalvern and A. C. Peaslee. 

In 1821 another I'>ee Baptist Church was formed in Barrington near 
Nottingham line. It kept up its organization for a few years without a 
pastor or house of worship. 

About the vear 1834 a Free Baptist Church was formed in the north- 
westerly part of the town, known as the Third Church. It enjoyed consid- 
erable prosperity for a few years, when it was disbanded, and its members 
generally joined the churches in Strafford. 

Alethodism. — Methodist meetings were commenced in this town about 
the year 1S33, by Rev. Mr. W'alcot. in what was then known as tlie Blake 
schoolhouse, and a church was organized soon after. In 1835, a meeting- 
house was built, and the pulpit was supplied by appointments from the Con- 
ference some ten or twelve years. During this time the attendance w as large 
antl much prosperity was enjoyed. Afterwards the number of members was 
greatly reduced by death and removal from town. The Conference with- 
drew its appointments, and no meetings have been held since. The meeting 
house was taken down about 1885. 

Friends. — A few Quaker families settled on Waldron's Hill, and built a 
meeting-house. It stood on land now owned by George S. Tuttle. What 
its dimensions were or how long it was used are not known, as it was taken 
awav before the days of the oldest inhabitants living. 



CHAPTER XLII 
HISTORY OF BARRIXGTOX (IV) 

BARRINGTON MEN IN THE REVOLUTION, I775-I783, AND THE CIVIL WAR, 

1861-1865 

When the Association Test was presented to each man in Barrington by the 
selectmen, Wilhani Cate, Jr., Silas Drew and John Kingman, 200 signed 
it and twelve refused to sign, Ijeing Quakers and opposed to war or bearing 
amis as the "Test" rcijuired ; those men of conscience were: David Drew, 
Samuel Williams, William Durgen, Jonathan Swain, Jonathan Clark, Elijah 
Tuttle, Jeremiah Tibets, Daniel Clark, John Buzzel, Thomas Caverly, Richard 
Swain and Jolni Evens. 

Of the 200 signers nearly two-thirds of them served in the army, more 
or less. Capt. John Drew had the longest and most conspicuous service. 
Several of the citizens were active and efficient in official positions of quite 
as much importance as being soldiers in the army. 

At a town meeting called Feb. 7, 1774, to consider the infrmgement of 
the rights of the American colonies by the British government, the following 
resolutions were unanimously ]>assed : 

1. That liberty is the birthright of every Engli.shman, an essential part 
of which is a power, vested only in themselves or their representatives, to 
dispose of their property, and the inhabitants of this town are a part of his 
British majesty's liege subjects, and have a right to all the privileges of such 
suiijects and of Englishmen, so we apprehend we cannot be legally taxed by 
any power on earth but w hat is delegated 1)}' oursehes. 

2. That the laying a duty on teas by the British Parliament, to be paid 
upon their being landed here, is an infringement upon the natural rights of 
Englishmen, and is calculated to carry into execution the plan of despotism 
adopted by the British ministry, has a direct tendency to subvert our happy 
Constitution, and to reduce us to a state a little short of African slavery. 

3. That it is the duty of every honest man to e.xert his utmost ability 
in opposing every effort of the enemies of our liberties to enslave us, that 
by this means we may be instrumental of transmitting unimpaired (through 
the ravages of time) our liberties down to the latest posterity. 

383 



384 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

4. That we will nut directly or indirectly purcliase any of the teas sent 
here bv the East India Company or suffer it to be used in our families, and 
those who dissent from this resolve we shall esteem as enemies to their 
country, i>ests to society, and as friends to slavery, and that they ought to be 
treated with neglect by ex'ery true-hearted Briton. 

5. That the thanks of this town be given to every community and indi- 
vidual that have exerted themselves in this noble and glorious cause of freedom. 

The selectment took a census of the inhabitants Sept. 14, 1773. and reported 
twenty-fi\'e men in the amiy. 

At a town meeting held in April. 1777. "A'oted to make a bounty to 
enlisted men, including what the .state pays, fifty pounds." 

Sept. 15, 1777. 'A'oted that the men who enlist join General Siark at 
Birmington." 

April 13. 1778. "Voted twenty pounds lawful money to nine months" 
men in addition to the State and Continental bounties." 

The population of the town by census of 1790 was 2,478. In 1800 it 
was 2.JJ2,\ in 1810 the number was 3.504. exceeding the pre.sent population 
of Harrington and Strafford (Old Barrington). 

According to the census of 1810, Portsmouth was the largest town in 
the state, Gilmanton second, and Barrington third. Like many other farm- 
ing towns, the population has not increased. 

The town records do not show that any action was taken h\ the town in 
regard to the War of 1812. 

The men who were required were drafted. 

When there was a threatened invasion at Portsmouth an entire regiment 
was called out from Barrington, Dover, and some of the adjoining towns. 

Cai)t. John W. Hayes" company, of this town, was called out in full. 
This regiment marched to Portsmouth under the command of Col. Isaac 
Waldron, of Barrington, and remained there fourteen days. 

It is sufificient to say of Barrington in the War of the Rebellion that its 
citizens volunteered promptly at the call of the President, and the \oters with 
great unanimity appropriated money and instructed its officers to iurnish 
the men to fill the several quotas of the town, that no citizen be compelled to 
go to the war against his will. 

Nearly all of its soldiers were to be found in the ranks, three only going 
out as commissioned officers, and their record in tiie field will compare fa- 
vorably with that of other towns, and is one of which the town has no reason 
to be ashamed. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 385 

SOLDIERS IN THE LATE WAR OF THE REBELLION 

Daniel W. Allen, Joseph F. Avers. Isaac Allen, Charles E. Arlin, George 
\V. Arlin, Albert Brown, Charles H. Brown, John I. Burnham, James Brown, 
Leonard Brown, Andrew E. Buzzell, Matthew Brown, Albert H. Berrv, 
Alonzo F. Berry, John Brown, Jr., Ira Braydon, Lewis 11. lUizzell, James \V'. 
Buzzell, Charles O. Buzzell, Daniel R. Berry, Daniel Brown, John A. Buzzell, 
Alden B. Cook, Darius E. Coverly, Oscar F. Corson, Isaac \V. Cater, Alason 
Caverly, George W. Caverly, Albert W. Corson, Thomas Curran, Kichartl 
Callahan, Nathaniel Caverly, Samuel E. Caswell, James Clark, Joseph G. Clay, 
Harrison Capen, Thomas H. Colton, \\'illiam H. Dearborn, James M. Davis, 
Asa C. Dame, Jonathan Dustin, George F. Demeritt. Lorenzo D. Drew, George 
W. Dame, Wright T. Ellison. John W. Emerson. \\'illiam H. Ellison, William 
Earl, James P. Prescott. Duane T. Perkins, Benjamin E. Palmer, Richard 
Perry, George W. Rowe, Washington Rowe, Alfred Rowe, Auguste Roberts, 
James Ryan, Curtis Stimpson, Dennis Sullivan, John Smart, James B. Spinner, 
Daniel Smith, Joseph W. Smith. Nathaniel H. Sea\'ey. Albert F. Seavey. Aus- 
tin I'". Sea\ey, Joseph Seely, Galen Sherebate, George Scales, George W. 
Seavey, Samuel A. Foss. Oliver Fremont. William Faemancht. \Villiam A. 
Foss. Benjamin Fox. Henry Garmon. William H. Gray. Jacob Hall. Jeremiah 
Hall. Charles H. Hall, George Hoyt, Charles W. Hanson, John O. Hayes, 
George W. Hall. Franklin M. Howard. Levi F. Hall. Joseph Haynes. Jr., 
Charles F. Hall, Gilman Hall, Jr., Benjamin Hall, Richard Jackson, George \V. 
Jackson, Charles H. Jackson, Henry Johnson, I'cter Kenney, Thcjmas E. Kil- 
roy. John Kelley. Ste[)lien Leathers. Lyman Locke. John W. Locke, Henry 
Lord. Elisha E. Locke. Jolin W. Locke, Daniel A. Lea. Irving C. Locke. Wain- 
wright M. Locke, George F. Locke, Hiram Morse, Joseph F. Mix, John J. 
Martin. Samuel S. Morrison. Joel H. Morrison, Patrick McGrath, John P. 
Mulligan. James McKay, George A. Nach, John P. Neal, Riester Ottis, George 
Scales. John Sullivan. Nelson Shepard. Alfred Stevenson. Wilhelm State. 
Charles E. Smith, George Thomps(jn, George W. Thompson, FJijah Tuttle. 
John H. Twombly, Miles B. Tibbets, Jonathan D. Thompson, Nathan Von- 
camp, Moses Wil'ley. Jr.. Joseph W. Wade. Charles J. Woods, James H. 
Witham. Samuel S. Willey. George Whitfield. Samuel Wood, Jeremiah White- 
house. William H. H. Young, George W. ^'oung. 



CHAPTER XLIII 
HISTORY OF BARRIXGTON (V) 

CONCERNING TOWN MEETINGS, REPRESENTATION IN LEGISLATURE, TOWN 
CLERKS AND SELECTMEN OF THE FIRST CENTURY 

The first town meeting of the settlers held in the town was called by Capt. 
William Gate and held at his house, known in the nineteenth century as the 
"Old Garrison.'" That house was taken down in 1870 by Thomas Wright 
Hale, who owned it. It had been in a dilapidated condition for some years. It 
stood on "Hard-Scrabble Hill" on the east side of the road, a short distance 
north of the present church. Mr. Hale made a mistake, which he regretted 
too late, when he ordered the historic house to be taken down. 

The meeting was called by authority of the General Assembly of the 
province, which authorized the settlers to organize in regular town fashion. 
The meeting was held Aug. 30, 1753, m the meeting-house, and the following 
were chosen : Moderator, Arthur Daniellson ; clerk, Hugh Montgomery : 
selectmen, William Gate, Sampson Babb, Phederece Macutchen. 

At the next annual town meeting, held March 2-j, 1754, chose Gapt. 
William Gate and Timothy Emerson a committee to petition the General 
Assembly for an act to "subject non-resident proprietors of land to bear [lart 
of expense of building meeting-house." Also for authority to lay out roads. 

In 1762 the following petition was presented to the General Assembly 
and granted : 

"Pdition of Selectmen of Barriiiijton. etc. 

"To his Excellency, Benning Wentworth. Esfjr, Governor & Commander 
in Chief of his Majestys Province of New Hampshire, &c., &c. 

"Sir, — ^Whereas the town of Harrington has for some years past paid a 
Consideral)le Province Ta.\, and has upwards of 120 Poles in it, which we 
humbly hoi^ie Intitles us to ask the fa\our That we may Chuse one Assembly 
man to Represent said Town in ye General Assembly. 

"Therefore pray your Excellency would Vouchsafe to grant the Town of 
Harrington a Liberty to Chuse such a Representative to, appear for us in ye 

386 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 387 

General Assembly of this Province, Which favor we siiall so duly esteeni, and 
as in Duty Bound e\'er pray for the Su|>|)orter of mir Pri\ileses. 

"Pal'l Haves. 

"John Hayes. 

"HeZEKIAH H.W'ES. 

■']\1.\rk hunking. 
"Francis \\'i.\kle,v, Jr. 
"John Garland, 
"Eleazer Young, 
"Wm. Gate, 

"Selectmen." 

Portsmouth, Feb. 19th, 176.2. 
Upon the above petition I ha\e thought it for His Majesty's Service to 
Incert in the King's writ the Town of Barrington which ]>lease to fill up that 
they may send a precept to the Selectmen in time to make Choice of a pro|)er 
person to represent them in the next General Assembly. 

I am Sir Your hum Ser\'t. 

B. Wentwortii. 
To Hon. Theodore Atkinson, Esq. 

The town of Barrington elected its first representation that year, 1762. 
and continued to so elect annually until the change was made to biennial elec- 
tions. 

At a town meeting held the first day of March, 1770, Deacon John (iarlan<l 
and Lieut. Samuel Brewster were elected a committee to secure from the 
General Assembly parish powers "to transact our affairs relating to a minister 
separate from other afl^airs of the town and from other societies now suli- 
sisting in the town." 

Deacon Garland and Lieutenant Brewster attended to the business assigned 
them; in doing so they stated that there were in the town "a number of 
inhabitants who call themselves Quakers, a number who are separatists from 
all denominations of Christians, and also a number nf members of the Church 
of England, besides the common denomination called Congregationalists. 
That there is no settled minister of that order nor any other in said town at 
present, but frequently lay teachers come there and encourage separations 
and divisions, as they all belong to the town, whenc\er there is a town meet- 
ing to consider of settling a minister as the law of the province directs ; they 
all attend and sometimes outvote the others, or introduce the greatest dis- 
order and confusion. 

The General Assembly considered the (luestion and granted the prayer of 
the petitioners, March 30, 1770. 

Barrington town meetings in the nineteenth century were noted for many 
years for their large attendance of voters and the vigorous discussions that 
took place in regard to various town matters, till after the close of the Civil 



388 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

War. One of tlie most discussed topics was that of l)iiilding- new roads: 
some parties were always asking for a new road by their farms ; others 
vigorously opposed these petitions, arguing tliat the present roads were suf- 
ficient ; and also making a great protest against increasing the town taxes. 
Following are the town officers for the first hundred years, 1753 ^ 1854: 

town' clerks and selectmen from 1753 'f" '854 
[the first name ls clerk] 

1753. — Hugh Montgoiuer)-, William Cate, Samson Babb, Phederece 

Alacutchen. 
1754. — Hugh Montgomer}', Samuel Brewster, Benjamin Hayes, Joseph Cox. 
1755. — Hugh RIontgomery, Benjamin Hayes, Phederece Alacutchen, Paul 

Hayes. 
1756. — Arthur Danielson, Benjamin Hayes, John Sherburne, Paul Hayes. 
1757. — Arthur Danielson, John Waterhouse, John Rennals, Benjamin Young. 
1758. — Arthur Danielson, John Garland, Phederece Macutchen, Paul Hayes. 
1759. — Arthur Danielson, Benjamin Hayes, John Rennals. Ephraim Holmes. 
1760. — Arthur Danielson, Elizer Young, John Shepard, John Garland. 
1 761. — Arthur Danielson, Elizer Young, John Shepard, John Garland. 
1762. — Arthur Danielson, Benjamin Hayes, Capt. Mark Hunking, Elizer 

Young. 
1763. — Arthur Danielson, Benjamin Hayes, Capt. Mark Hunking, Elizer 

Young. 
1764. — Arthur Danielson, Benjamin Hayes, Cajit. Alark Hunking, Elizer 

Young. 
1765. — Arthur Danielson, Samuel Brewster, Benjamin Hall, Joseph Young. 
1766. — James Marden, Samuel Brewster, Joseph Young, Benjamin Hayes. 
1767. — James Marden, Samuel Brewster, Richard Swain, Benjamin Hayes. 
1768. — James Marden, Samuel Brewster, Richard Swain, Benjamin Hayes. 
i/Ciq. — James Marden, Samuel Brewster, Richard Swain, Benjamin Hayes. 
1770. — James Marden, Samuel Brewster, Richard Swain, Benjamin Hayes. 
1 77 1. — James Marden, John Cate, Aliijah Pinkham, Joshua Foss, Jeremiah 

Tibbetts, Samuel Hayes. 
1772. — lames Marden, John Cate, Abijah Pinkham, Joshua Foss. 
1773. — James Marden, Samuel Brewster, Abijah Pinkham, Thomas Tuttle. 
1774. — James Marden, Benjamin Flayes, Richard Swain, John Cate. 
1775. — John Cate, James Hayes, Richard Swain, William Cate, Jr. 
177^. — John Cate, William Cate, Jr., Silas Drew. James Hayes. 
1777. — John Cate, William Cate, jr., Silas Drew, John Kingman. 
1778. — John Cate, William Cate. Jr., I'hilip Caverly, Ephraim Holmes, Jr. 
1779. — John Cate, Isaac Waldron, Philip Caverly, Joshua Foss. 
1780. — John Cate, Benjamin Hayes, Jacob Shepard, John Kingman. 
1 78 1. — lohn Cate, Thomas Fi.sher, Joseph Jackson, Paul Hayes. 
1782. — Tohn Cate. Benjamin Hayes, Samuel Brewster, William Cate, Jr. 
1783. — John Cate, Peter Young, Eli];halet Cloutman. George Waterhouse. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 389 

1784. — Jolm Gate, Peter Vuiing, Eliphalet Cloutman, George W'aterhouse. 

1780 
1787 



1788, 
1789 
1790 
1791 
1792 

1793 
1794 

1795 
1796 

1797 
1798 
1799 
1800 
1 80 1 
1802 
1803 
1804 
180=; 
1806 
1807 



— "lohn Gate, Peter Young. Eliphalet Gloutnian, George W'aterhouse. 
— "John Gate, Peter Young, Eliphalet Gloutnian, George Waterhouse. 
— "John Gate, Peter Young, Eliphalet Gloutnian. George Waterhouse. 
—"John Gate. Elii)halet Gloutnian. Si'as Galdwell, William McDaniel. 
— "lohn Gate, Samuel Hale. Eliphalet Gloutnian, John Kingman. 

— John Gate, Samuel Hayes, Eliphalet Gloutnian, Paul Hayes. 
— "John Gate, Samuel Hal'e. Joseph Hayes, Joshua Foss. 

— John Gate, Samuel Hale. Eliphalet Gloutman, Paul Hayes. 

John Gate, Samuel Hale. John Kingman. Paul Hayes. 

— "folin Gate. Samuel Hale. Eliphalet Gloutman. John Kingman. 

— lohn Gate, Samuel Hale. Eliphalet Gloutman. John Kingman. 
— Tohn Gate, Thomas W. Hale. Peter Young. John Kingman. 

John Gate. John Pearl. Samuel Burnani. William Foss. 

John Gate. John Pearl. Levi Buzel, Samuel Hayes. 

— John Gate, Samuel Hayes. Levi Buzel. John Pearl. 

, John Gate, John Pearl, Levi Buzel, Samuel Hayes. 

.— John Gate. John Pearl, Levi Buzel. Samuel Hayes. 

"John Gate. Ephraini Foss. Stephen Otis. Jonathan Roberts. 

John Gate. John I'earl. Samuel Hayes. Levi Buzel. 

-John Gate, John Pearl, Levi Buzel. Samuel Hayes. 

—Richard Gate. Samuel Haves, Levi Buzel, George Foss (3d). 

—Richard Gate. Levi Buzel.' .■Xzeriah Waldron, Andrew Leighton. 
io^ —Eliphalet Gloutman, Levi Buzel, Azeriah W^aldron, .Vndrew Leighton. 
igo8-9 —Eliphalet Gloutman. Azeriah Waldron. Job Otis. John McDamel. 
1810-1811 —Eliphalet Gloutman. Levi Buzel. Azeriah \\ aldron. Job Otis. 
1812 —Eliphalet Gloutman, William Jones, James Foss. Jr., Azeriah W aldron. 
181 ^ —Thomas Hussey, Azeriah Waldron. Levi Buzel, John I-Cmgman. 
181; —Thomas Hussey, Levi Buzel, John Kingman. Edmund Ga^•erly ^ 
1815.— Thomas Hussey, Gapt. Azeriah Waldron. John Kingman. Edmund 

1816— Thomas Hussey, Azeriah Waldron, Tobias Roberts, Edmund Gaverly. 
181 7.— Thomas Hussey, Tobias Roberts, John Kingman. Samuel Shacktord, 

1818— Thomas Hussey. Tobias Roberts. Azeriah Waldron. John McDaniel. 
i8iq'.— Thomas Hussey, Tobias Roberts, John Gaverly Job \\ aldron 
18,0 -Thomas Hussey. Joshua Otis. John Gaverly (4th). ohn W aldron. 
18.1 -Thomas Hussey. Samuel Shackford, Jr.. John ^^ aldron Isaac Daniels. 
iS;. -Thomas Hussey, John Waldron. Jeremiah Buzzell. E isha \\ oodbury. 
iS;; -Thomas Hussey. John Waldron. Isaac Danie s. David \\ inkley. 
1804 -Thomas Hussey, John Waldron. Isaac Daniels. Jacd>D. Foss. 
i8:4.-Thomas Hussey, Elias Varney, Henry Hi , Jacob D. Foss. 
i826.-Thomas Hussey, Elias Varney, Henry Hih, Ebenezer Buzzell. 

8.7 -Thomas Hussey. Ebenezer Buzzell. Isaac Daniels. Jeremiah Buzzell. 

8^^' Thomas Hussey Elias Varney. Samuel Sherburne. James Hanson. 

8'q ~t5o a H s y, Samuel Sherburne. Samuel E. Buzzell. Aaron Young. 
;830.-ScS f Clough, Aaron Young, Samuel E. Buzzell, Jonathan Dre^y. 

23 



390 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

l83i.' — Thomas T. Hall, Jonathan Drew, Jonathan Young, Benjamin Odiorne. 
1832. — Thomas T. Hall, Jonathan Young, Benjamin Odiorne, Aaron Young. 
1833. — Ebenezer Buzzell, Aaron Young, Jonathan Young, Samuel F. Brewster. 
1834. — Ebenezer Buzzell, Samuel F. Brewster, Micaiah S. Clough, Jacob D. 

Foss. 
1835. — Ebenezer Buzzell, Jacob D. Foss, Micaiah S. Clough, Jeremiah Buzzell. 
1836. — Hiram Hall, Jacob D. Foss, Levi Felker, Jacob Sherburne. 
1837. — Hiram Hall, Micaiah S. Clough, Thomas Hussey, Jacob Sherburne. 
1838. — Benjamin Odiorne, Jacob D. Foss, Thomas Hussey, Jeremiah Buzzell. 
1839.- — Benjamin Odiorne, Aaron Young, True William McDaniel, Jonathan 

Young. 
1840. — Alexander Waterhouse, True William McDaniel, Hiram Hall, Nich- 
olas Caverly. 
1841. — Alexander W^aterhouse, Hiram Hall, Benjamin Odiorne, Darius 

Winkley. 
1842. — Thomas T. Hall, Oilman Hall, Samuel F. Brewster, John H. Wink- 
ley, Jr. 
1843. — Thomas T. Hall, Benjamin Odiorne, John H. Winkley, John D. Peirce. 
1844. — Thomas T. Hall, Benjamin Odiorne, John H. Winkley, John D. Peirce. 
1845. — William \\'aterhouse. Oilman Hall, Elias Varney, Hezakiah Thompson. 
1846. — William Waterhouse, W^illiam H. Young, Lyman Locke, Elias Varney. 
1847. — William Waterhouse, William H. Young, Lyman Locke. Elisha 

Locke, Jr. 
1848. — William Waterhouse, Elisha Locke, Jr., True William McDaniel, John 

S. Caverly. 
1849. — William Waterhouse, True W. McDaniel, Solomon Waldron, John S. 

Caverly. 
1850. — Benjamin Thompson, Hezakiah Thompson, John S. Buzzell, Albert W. 

Daniels. 
185 1. — Benjamin Thompson, John S. Buzzell, Albert H. Daniels, Solomon 

Waldron. 
1852.^ — William Waterhouse, Benjamin Odiorne, Smith Pearey, Seth W. 

Woodman. 
1853. — Albert K. Waterhouse, Benjamin Odiorne, Smith Pearey, Seth W. 

Woodman. 
1854. — Albert K. Waterhouse, Seth W. Woodman, Jonathan F. Berry, James 

B. Peirce. 



CHAPTER XLIV 
HISTORY OF HARRINGTON (VI) 

NOTED PERSONS AND LOCALITIES 

Col. Isaac VValdron was born in Madbury, March 16, 1747; he died in 
the VValdron house, near the railway station, May 3, 1841, in the ninety-fifth 
year of his age. He was son of Richard Kenney VValdron and his wife, 
Mary Clark. The ancestry of Richard Kenney Waldron has not been definitely 
determined, but it seems probable he is a descendant from Foulke VValderne, 
brother of Maj. Richard Walderne, famous in Dover history. That he has 
a double name given to him at his birth in 17 19 is a notable fact, as not until 
more than a half century later did the fashion begin to give children double 
names. The given name of his father is not known, but it is supposed that 
his mother was daughter of Richard Kenney who married Deborah Stokes, 
Aug. 15, 1687, as shown by Dover records, who was a grandson of Thomas 
Canney, the immigrant who came to Dover in 1633. 

Richard Kenney Waldron was a farmer in Madbury when his son Isaac 
was born, but about 1760 removed to that part of Barrington called "Canaan." 
He was a soldier in Capt. (later Maj.) Samuel Hale's company of Dover 
men at the siege of Louisburg, 1745; soldier in Capt. Samuel Gerrish's com- 
pany of Col. Nathaniel Meserve's regiment in the "Crown Point Expedition," 
May I to Nov. i, 1756; a soldier on militia duty in Capt. John Cochrane's 
company at "Fort William and Mary," now Fort Constitution, Newcastle, 
July 6 to Sept. 28, 1771. He died at the home of his son Isaac, but the date 
of his death is not known. 

Col. Isaac Waldron's mother was Mary Clark, daughter of Abraham 
Clark and wife, Anna, who resided in Madbury. All traditions agree that she 
was a very able and most excellent woman. She was baptized by Rev. Jonathan 
Gushing, minister of the First Church in Dover, Jan. 17, 1742, together with 
her mother and sister Anna, her age not given. When her son Isaac became 
old enough to engage in business for himself he came to reside at the business 
center of the town, the neighborhood around the Congregational Church. 
About 1772 he married Sarah Boodey and commenced housekeeping where 

391 



392 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

the old Waldron house stands. That house was built soon after the close 
of the Revolution by Colonel W aldron, who had begun to flourish in business 
and had l)econie one of the prominent men of the town. His first wife died 
July .S, 1799. In 1801 he married Tiazah Xoble. \\hi> died in 1841. a few 
months Ijefore he died. He and his wi\'es are buried in the burial ground 
on the Waldron farm, in the rear of the house. His grantlson, John H. 
\\'aldron. son of John, born in 1807, died in i8(j2, alwaxs lived at the home- 
stead. He said his grandfather was a total abstainer from into.xicating drinks. 
The late Judge Jacob D. Young once told the writer that he remembered 
his great uncle, Colonel Waldron. He was a spare man, about medium 
height, and when I, a boy of sixteen knew him, he was \"ery dignified and 
affable, then past ninety years. He could reatl w ithout glasses as well as any- 
body and was very active mentally. 

The first public record of Colonel \\ aldr(jn sa^s he was surveyor of 
highways in 1777. He was selectman in 1779, and from then on uy. to iS^o 
ills name appears fre(juently in public aflairs. He ser\'ed twenty years as Rep- 
resentative in the Legislature, nineteen years in succession, jsrevious to 1816 
His name appears among the signers of Barrington to the Association 
Test or 177A. He did n(.)t go to the war but was an otflcer of the militia 
company of Barrington that trained the men who went to the war. .\t the 
organization of the militia in 1796, under the new constitution, he was major 
of the Second Battalion of the Twenty-fifth Regiment and continued as such 
until 1804. Lieutenant-colonel commandant (colonel) and held that comnns- 
sion until 1816, when he was 58 years old. In 18 14 he was colonel of tlie 
Fourth Regiment of Detached Militia, which marched to Portsmouth for the 
defense of that port against the expected attack by the British warships. 
Jeremiah Kingman of Barrington was sergeant-major on his stafif; Ichabod 
Bartlett. who later became the distinguished lawyer at Portsmouth, was 
quartermaster on the stafif. Colonel Waldron had his regiment arri\-e at 
Portsmouth promptly on time at the call of Governor John Taylor Cilman. 
under date of Sept. 9, 1814. 

At Barrington from the close of the Revolution up to 1825. or about 
that date, Colonel Waldron kept store, tavern, and cultivated a big farm. 
besides being engaged largely in puljlic affairs. The late Robert B. Caxerly. 
F.sq., of Lowell, Mass.. who was born in 1806, and knew Colonel Waldron 
well, said "he was endowed with sound common sense, force of character. 
honesty and practical good manners." 

Hon. Isaac Waldron of Portsmouth was Colonel Waldron's oldest son antl 
was born Dec. 4, 1773. and died in Portsmouth, Aug. i, 1843. He was 
graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1794. He began his business 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 393 

career in Portsmouth and became one of its most distinguished citizens and 
wealthiest mercliants. He was many times Representative in the Legishiture. 
and was member of the Governor's Council. From i8ig to 1831 he was 
president of the Portsmouth Bank; afterwards, until his death, president of 
the Commercial Bank; he was also director in \arii;ius other corporations. 
He was a member of the North Church, and of St. John's Lodge of Free 
and Accepted Masons, which is the oldest Masonic lodge in X'ew Hampshire. 

Hon. Samuel Hale was born in Portsmouth. Veh. 5, 1758; died in 
Barrington, April 29, 1828, aged 70 years. The son of Alaj. Samuel Hale 
and Mary Wright, his wife, who was daughter of Capt. Thomas Wright of 
Portsmouth, one of the original proprietors of Barringt(_>n and for whom 
Major Hale named his second son. Major Hale was the second son of 
Samuel and Aphia Moody Hale, and was born in Newburgport, Mass., Aug. 
24, 1 7 18, and graduated from Harvard College in 1740. Soon after grad- 
uation he came to Dover (N. H.) and was school master there three years 
or more; when preparations began for the capture of Louisburg he raised a 
company of nearly a hundred men of which he was appointed captain ; he 
led his company at the capture of Strong Fort in 1745, and for his skill and 
bravery as a commander was promoted to major, which title he retained 
ever after. On his return to New Hampshire he did not return to Dover 
but commenced teaching in Portsmouth, where he received the offer t<i 
become master of a Latin grammar school then recently established in that 
town; Major Hale remained master of that .school nearly forty years, besides 
doing a lot of other important work. Many boys were prepared for college 
under his instruction, and it is said that not one of his pupils who offered 
themselves as candidates failed of admission to that institution. He had three 
sons who had more or less to do with the early history. Samuel. Thomas 
^^'right, and William ; he did not send them to Harvard College, but in his 1 )\\ n 
school gave them as good an education as most of the college boys got, then 
bought a thousand acres of timber land in Barrington and set his boys to work 
to subdue the forest, develop the resources of the to\\ n and make a record for 
themselves; and they were successful in the trust lliat was placed in their 
possession by their generous parent. 

In 1771 Major Hale was granted by King George the Idiird, through 
Governor John Wentworth, a tract of land adjoining the township of Con- 
way, containing over 1,200 acres, still known as "Hale's Location." The 
original charter which is preserved in the state archives at Concord gives 
as a reason for the grant "the due encouragement of settling and cultivating 
our lands within our Province," — but it has always been understood by 



394 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

the family that the land was given as a reward for Major Hale's service to 
the Crown at Louisburg. As a matter of fact in the next century his grand- 
son and great-grand-son went to Conway and made that their home the rest 
of their lives. 

Major Hale represented Portsmouth in the Legislature for several years, 
and in his later years was judge of the court of common pleas for Rock- 
ingham county. 

Judge Samuel Hale was educated in his father's school at Portsmouth; 
after completing his school studies his father sent him to Dover to learn the 
business of tanner and currier with Mr. Kelley, who had a large tannery in 
the section of the town called Littleworth, in the neighborhood of the springs 
that bear the name "Kelley Springs." Having mastered that business, soon 
after 1780 he commenced to operate one of the tracts of land his father had 
purchased several years before, and the present Judge Hale house on the 
Province Road was built about 1784 by the assistance of Major Hale, except 
an addition that was put on by Judge Hale in the next century, when it was 
supposed his son Samuel would make Barrington his permanent residence. 
Of course the lumber business first occupied his time and attention ; but 
soon he opened a store, which he erected near liis house, where he carried on 
general trade with all the townspeople, and his own employees, of whom he 
always had a big crew on hand. Soon his brother William came up from 
Portsmouth, a young man of twenty years, and became his assistant and 
finally his partner in tlie store business. The writer of this has one of their 
day books of 17S4 which is interesting historical reading, but cannot be 
quoted here. Major Hale also gave to his son William 300 acres, part 
of the original purchase, which has come down to his descendants, intact, 
to the present time. Besides having a store Judge Hale iiad a tannery in the 
field at the south side of the barn where the road now runs, making use of 
the water of Midnight Brook which runs there from its source at the foot of 
"Mount Misery," which is west of the house and not far from it. 

William Hale, the younger son of Major Hale, remained in Barrington 
with brother Samuel until about 1797; he was united in marriage with Lydia 
Rollins, April 30, 1794, and their first two children were born in tha Judge 
Hale house, Thomas Wright, Feb. 9, 1795, and John, born Dec. 24, 1796. 
Their next child, Mary Ann, was bom in Dover, Nov. 11, 1798, so it appears 
he had removed to Dover at some date between December, 1796, and Novem- 
ber, 1798. But his removal to Dover did not dissolve the partnership; it 
remained intact until Judge Hale's death in 1828. The firm name was "Sam- 
uel & William Hale," and they conducted an immense business for that period 
in New Hampshire history. They erected a big store on the east side of the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 395 

Cochecho river at the south corner of the Washington street bridge, up to 
which they could bring their goods in boats from Portsmouth and unload 
them direct into the lower story of the store. That store was continued by 
his son, the late William Hale, until purchased by the Cocheco Manufac- 
turing Company and the space used for the present No. i mill. 

After William removed to Dover, Samuel discontinued the store business 
in Barrington and substituted shipbuilding, having his yard on the gravelly 
knoll at the southeast of the barn, in recent years cut away by the new 
road from Province to Canaan road, so called. Judge Hale had plenty of ship 
timber right at hand, and good ship carpenters a-plenty. In that yard the 
ships were framed and fitted together ; then taken apart antl hauled to Du\-er 
Landing where the frame work was put together and properly covered and 
finished, ready for sea voyages. In all these ventures the Hale Brothers 
were successful, being careful, shrewd and energetic managers, and for years 
they increased their wealth "hand-over-fist," each having a handsome prop- 
erty; Samuel died in 1828, William in 1848. 

Judge Hale married first, in 1791. Mary Rollins. They had one son, 
Samuel, born in Barrington, April 30, 1793; he graduated from Bowdoin 
College in 1814, receiving the degree of A. B., also Harvard College con- 
ferred the degree upon him in 1818. For three or four years after graduation 
he remained at Barrington with his father, and an addition was made to the 
house at the northwest corner, for his special use. During the time he was in 
business with his father there, shipbuilding and in other ways, he was elected 
Representative in the Legislature, for two tenns. But he soon after went 
to Portsmouth to supervise the mercantile business of his father and uncle 
which had branched out. At this time they had become extensive owners of 
wharf property in Boston — Long Wharf, as it w as called, in particular. Later, 
in 1843, Mr. Hale became the agent of the Manufacturing Company at 
South Berwick, which position he held until his death in Rollinsford, Dec. 
19, 1869. He was a tall, large, fine-appearing man like his father and 
grandfather, and a man of great business capacity. 

Judge Hale first appears in public affairs as one of the Selectmen of 
Barrington in 1789, when he was thirty-one years old; from that date on, for 
thirty years he had more or less to do with public affairs, and being popular 
with his townsmen he could have anything for the asking whenever he asked 
for it and his business might permit him to accept. So he was Representative 
to the General Court; State Senator; twice a Presidential Elector; he held 
various military positions and in the war of 1812-1815 he was major-general 
of the Second Division of New Hampshire Militia. From 1813 to iSt6 



396 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

he was judge of the Court of Common Pleas lor the Eastern Circuit of 
New Hampshire. 

Tlioiiias JVright Ilalc, one of the three brothers, was settled by his father, 
the major, on a farm adjoining that of Judge Hale; his house was on the 
Canaan road, about a mile from Judge Hale's house, and the pathway be- 
tween them was through a grove of white oak trees, the finest the writer's 
eyes ever looked upon. These trees were cut down in 1862 and hauled to 
Portsmouth Navy Yard and converted into ships that helped capture south- 
ern ports and finally subdue the great rebellion. Mr. Hale devoted his 
energies to good farming, and took a hand in political alTairs at March 
town meetings for many years. For twelve years he was Representative 
to the General Court : but Mr. Hale's specialty was to serve as Moderator 
in town meetings, and his fellow citizens elected him to that oflice a great 
many times ; having a commanding presence and a still more commanding 
\oice. he could rule the luost storm}' meetings and make himself heard above 
the most turbulent noise. His son, William Hale, who was born in 1791 
and inherited the homestead, was ecpially famous as Moderator in town 
meetings. His eldest son, Thomas Wright Hale, who was born in 1826, 
and died in 1910, was equalU^ distinguished in this official business as his 
father and grandfather. For a hundred years the Hale family was one of 
the most noted in Barrington. For fifty years after his death in 1828, old 
residents in Barrington deliglited to recall reminiscences of Judge Hale, what 
he said and what he did. 

Among the men who were born in Barrington in the nineteenth century 
and won fame elsewhere are Col. John W. Kingman; a graduate of Harvard 
College: a student-at-law with Daniel M. Christie; and a son-in-law and law 
partner of the same. He won distinction in the Civil war as colonel of 
the Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment. After the war he settletl in Wyom- 
ing and won distinction as an attorney and judge. His son, Daniel Christie 
Kingman, is an officer uf high ran'c in the regular ariiiv. 

Prof. Sylvester Waterhouse who graduated from Harvard College in 
1852, won nation-wide distinction; for a half-century he was professor 
of Greek in Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., being one of the best 
Greek scholars in the country. But outside of that delivered important 
scientific lectures which greatly aided in the development of various industries 
in the Northwest. 

Frank Jones won national and international fame as founder of the 
Frank Jones Brewery at Portsmouth. He was mayor of Portsmouth several 
terms and member of Congress two tenus, president of the Boston & Maine 
Railroad for several years, and the promoter of many corporations which 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 397 

have been of wide benefit to the business interests of New Hampshire and 
otlier states. He was the founder of the great Wentworth H<jtel at New- 
castle, and probably did more for rortsmoutli than any one man in the 
nineteentli centur\-. 

The brothers Judge Jacob D. ""I'oung, Col. .\ndrew H. Young and .\aron 
Young, ah born in Barrington, were men of mari<ed abiUtv. and were pleasant 
men to meet. Judge Young won fame as an able and just judge of Probate 
Court, which office he held for many years. Col. .\. H. Young held important 
positions in the army during the Ci\'il war. and after the war was collector 
of internal revenue for several years. During the closing years of his life 
he was a colonel in the regular army. The younger brother, Aaron, held 
various official positions under the Government for many }ears. Probably 
Barrington never i)roduced three brothers who were their e(|ual in successful 
political management. 

Charles A. Foss, who was born in Barrington in 1S14, and resided all 
his lifetime on the ancient Foss homestead in the neighborhood of Locke's 
Mills, was a good citizen in every way, and a good farmer: he did nut 
neglect the political interests of the town, nor of his party. He was one of 
the delegates from his town that brought the Republican party into working 
shape in New Hampshire, and he remained its staunch supporter to the end of 
life. He was elected to the Legislature for 1S53-56, and in 1875-76 he was 
elected one of Governor Cheeney's Council. For many years he ser\'ed as 
Moderator in town meetings, in which he won fame second only to the Hale 
family. Mr. Foss was tall of stature and well-proportioned, w ith a voice that 
commanded attention from afar. He always enjoyed the confidence and 
respect of his fellow-citizens, 

Rc2\ Joseph Boody, Free Baptist, son of Zachariah rmixly, was born in 
Barrington, May 16, 175:2. Began to preach in 1780, ;{n<l was ordained 
at North Strafford, Aug. J2, 1785, and was pastor ni the church there until 
181 3. During tlie time he did missionary work in Vermont and Canada, 
and organized Free Baptist churches there. He frequently preached in 
Barnstead and other towns around. His home was on a farm in Strafford, 
where he died Jan. 17, 1824. 

Rez'. Hccekiah D. Brock. M. D., Free Baptist, was born in Barrington 
in 182 1. He was con\erted to the Free Will Baptist belief and commenced 
preaching when he was twenty years old ; at Raymond he supplied the church 
two years ; later he was ordained at Kannebunk and was minister there three 
years. He left the ministry in 1847 on account of lung trouble and studied 
medicine, receiving the degree of M. D. He died in Dover, N. H., Dec. 
30, 1 85 1. 



398 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Rev. Aaron B-uzzdl, Free Baptist, was born in Barrington in 1764. He 
was a farmer until he became converted to the Free Will Baptist belief, and 
commenced preaching when he was twenty-seven years old and was an itin- 
erant preacher, traveling from town to town in New Hampshire and Maine 
with his brother Rev. John Buzzell, seven years preceding 1808. He was 
ordained at New Durham, the birth-place of the Free Will Baptist Church, 
Oct. 18, 1798. His life work was that of an itinerant preacher. His home 
in later years was Strafford, Vt., where he died Oct. 21, 1854. He was great 
at "revivals" and the record says "preached with power." 

Rev. John Buczcll. Free Baptist, was born in Barrington in 1766. He 
was a farmer and school master until he was twenty-four years old ; at that 
age, in 1790, he was teaching school at New Durham — hearing Elder Benja- 
min Randall preach, he became a devout Free Will Baptist, and preached his 
first sermon in April, 1791, in Middleton. and was so successful and satisfac- 
tory to Elder Randall that he was ordained Oct. 25, 1792. He had a powerful 
voice and a graceful and persuasive style of speaking, and could argue a 
theological fjuestion to the finish. He was not a permanent minister long in 
any one church, but his work was an itinerant who was expert in organizing 
Free Will Baptist societies in New Hampshire. Vermont and Maine. He 
was largely instrumental in establishing the Parsonfield (Me.) Seminary. 
He was the first man who established an interchange of courtesies with the 
Baptists in England. He began jjublishing Free Will Baptist doctrine in 
181 1, after preaching it twenty years. In 1826 he was one of the founders 
of the Morning Star, the Free Will Baptist paper, which became a power 
for good, and for many years was publishetl in Dover, N. H. The paper 
ceased to exist as a Morning Star in 1910, and became merged with the 
great Baptist paper, The Watchman. William Burr was the first editor 
and publisher. Elder Buzzell was one of the assistant editors for a quarter 
of a century. He died in Parsonsfield, Me., March 29, 1863, having reached 
very near to the century mark in his life journey. He deserved to be a D. D. 
Elder Buzzell was one of Barrington's most worthy productions. 

Rev. Nathaniel Critchett, Methodist, w'as bom in Barrington, Oct. 29, 
182 1. He was a farmer and business man until he was thirty years of age, 
but had been active in Sunday school work ten years. About 1850 he began 
preaching occasionally at places in Maine, and was admitted to the Maine 
General Conference "on trial" as a preacher in 1861 ; ordained deacon in 
1864; and elder by Bishop Ames at Lewiston, Me., May 13, 1866. Following 
that he held several two-year pastorates in Maine, then removed to Illinois, 
where he was a successful pastor until he retired in 1880. He died at 
Cheming, 111., May 12, 1890. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 399 

Ephraim Holmes Hart, Free Baptist, son of Nathaniel M. and Betsey 
(Connel) Hart, was bom in Harrington, in the Captain Hunking garrison, 
June II, 1809. He was educated in the common schools and Strafford (now 
Austin-Cate) Academy, and was an instructor in the academy for a time. 
He was licensed to preach Jjy the clun-ch in Strafford May 3. 1838, and was 
ordained Dec. 22,, 1840, at Brownfield, Me. He served as pastor in various 
churches in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts until 1873. His last 
pastorate was at Alton. He died in Lynn, Mass., Jan. 4, 1877. 

Rei'. Alonco Hayes, Congregationalist, son of John Wingate and Mary 
(Hale) Hayes, was born in Barrington fat Green Hill), Aug. 22, 1810. 
Graduated from Dartmouth College in 1839. Teacher in Washington, D. C, 
1839-1840. Graduated from Andover Theological Seminary, 1842; ordained 
pastor of Congregational Church at West Bumstable, Mass., May 24, 1843, 
and remained seven years. He held other pastorates, and died July 13, 
1858, at Hall's Cross Roads, Alexandria, Va. 

Re7'. {and Major) U'illiain Meal Mescrve was born in Barrington. April 
9, 1840. Previous to the Ci\il war he was engaged in business in Boston. 
Near the beginning of the war he joined one of the Massachusetts regiments 
as captain: for gallant service he was discharged at the end of the war. Major 
Meserve. In 1870 he received a strong religious impression, which he could 
not throw off, that he must become a minister; he studied for the ministry. 
was graduated at the Theological Institute of Connecticut in 1874. He was 
licensed to preach by the New London (Conn.) Association, April 8, 1873. 
Ordained an evangelist at Santa Cruz, Cal, Oct. 8, 1873. His services have 
been confined largely to places in California and Colorado. He is still engaged 
in the evangelistic work for the Congregationalists. 

Rev. (Elder) Samuel Sherbnrn. Free Baptist, son of Gideon Sherburn, 
was born in Barrington, Oct. 23, 1803, and always resided there, having 
inherited a valuable farm of 200 acres, but he was impressed to preach the 
Gospel from the Free Will Baptist point of view. He was a good scholar, 
good schoolmaster and interesting speaker. For thirty consecutive years he 
was teacher in winter district schools. His services were always in demand. 
He began to preach when he was nineteen years old: Sept. 2, 1830, he was 
ordained and installed as pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church at South 
Barrington, and held the pastorate thirty years, preaching his last sennon 
Aug. 4, 1861 ; he died four days later, Aug. 8, 1861. Elder Sherburne was 
superintendent of schools in Barrington several years, and commissioner of 
schools for Strafford county. He represented Barrington in the Legislature 
in 1842. It remains to be said that Elder Sherburne did not improve the 
ancestral farm. There is a tradition that he did not enjoy farm work. 



400 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Rc'i'. Cvnis Foss was l)orn in Barrington in 1799. He went to Do\er. 
New York, before lie was of age, and became a teacher in Beel'cnian, X. Y. 
He was licensed to preach when he was twenty-fi\e years old, and was a 
circuit rider in the Goshen ( N. Y.) district. Admitted to the Xew York 
conference in 1825; ordained deacon in 1827; elder in 1829. All of his 
api)ointments were in New York State beginning at Stamford in 1825. He 
was placed on the sujierannnated list in 1847. and died at Carmei, X. Y., Feb. 
28, 1849. 

j\Ir. P'oss has a good record as minister, Ijut his great fame rests in 
having a son, Cyrus David Foss, who was born at Kingston, N. Y., Jan. 
17, 1834, and became one of tlie most distinguished bishops in the Methodist 
Episcopal church ; perhaps that church never had a greater man for bishop. 
His brother, William Jerry Foss, was also a Methodist Episcopal minister 
of note. 

Barrington has certainly been the birth-place of many noble sons. As 
itinerant ministers the Buzzell brothers, Aaron and John, must be ranked as 
the greatest leaders in the evangelistic work done by natives of Barrington. 
They worked together many seasons. \\'hen it was announced that they 
were to hold meetings in a village the meeting-house would be packed at 
the beginning; there would be something doing without delay. They always 
had full meetings as long as they stayed. They did a much-needed work: 
and they did it well. 

LOC.M.ITIES 

Barrington has various names for localities within its boundary. The 
Two-Mile Streak has already Ijeen explained. Green Hill is the highest ele- 
vation of land in the town; it contains excellent farming land and the views 
from its summit are very fine, extending miles in all directions. IMount 
^lisery, on the west side of the Judge Flale mansion, is remarkable in that, 
on the east side, for half a mile, it is a ledge almost perpendicular, i>resenting 
a very rugged appearance ; the Province road passes over its northern end, at a 
steep grade ; the summit is quite level for a considerable space then slopes off 
gently to Nippo pond, a beautiful body of water on the border line between 
Barrington and Strafford. W'aldron's Hill is the eastern companion of Mount 
Misery, its southernmost summit — being called, in old times, Brown's hill. 
The farms on it are excellent. It took its name from Col. Isaac \Valdron 
and his family, who at one time were extensive owners. The Province 
road passes over this hill. This road took its name from the fact in Gov. 
John Wentworth's time, before the Revolution, the Provincial Assembly 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 401 

voted money to help build it from Durham to Barnstead, to encourage settle- 
ment in Barnstead and hcyund. 

In the beginning of settlements in the town the settlers ga\e fancy names 
to localities in order to inform their friends out of town in what section they 
resided. Along the southwestern border is Ireland. I'^rance, Canaan, Bum- 
fagin, Wild Cat road. In the center is Hard Scrabble, Mellago, Smoke 
street: Ayers pond, Long p(jnd and Round pond are in the northwest sec- 
tion. Stone House pond is also a noted locality, taking its name from the 
high ledge and caxern under it. 

A noted locality at the closing years of the eighteenth and the hrst half of 
the nineteenth century was known as Leathers City. It disappeared from the 
map many years ago. The immigrant Leathers family settled at Oyster river 
as early as 1677, and were very resi)ectable peoi)le, except for one family 
which settled in Barrington a century later who by some l>ad intermarriages 
and too much use of rum produced the historic Barrington tribe whose spe- 
cialty was the manufacture of various kinds of baskets, which thev carried to 
market in large hayracks, and took their wives and children with them as 
they journeyed through the villages and cities in Massachusetts. Some of 
the old women made a specialty of telling fortunes to such as w ishe<l to know 
the future before they arrixed there. 

The story was prevalent in the middle of the nineteenth century that they 
were of gypsy origin. It w as said that a gentleman emigrated from England 
to Portsmouth, N. H., about 1750, and brought with him se\eral European 
gypsies ami endeavored to train them as household ser\-ants. He failed in 
the attempt and the g}'psies left Portsmouth and settled on some rough land 
in Barrington. And from them sprang the basket makers of the nineteenth 
century, ha\-ing a \illage of a few houses on a lonesome road that led north 
from the so-called \\'ild Cat road. The late Dr. A. H. Quint studied that 
question carefully, and in an article published in the Dover (N. H.) Enquirer, 
showed conclusively that the Barrington Leathers family were from Eben- 
ezer and Benjamin who went there after 1771. One of these harl six dis- 
tinguished sons, who married as follows : Ebenezer Leathers and Eleanor 
Morse, March 25, 1777. Benjamin Leathers and Sarah Place. Oct. 8, 1789. 
Thomas Leathers and Lydia Surgeant of Northfield, July i, 1795. Edward 
Leathers and Anna Leathers, Oct. 25, 1798. Jonathan Leathers and Betty 
Giles, March 23, 1801. William Leathers and Thankful Arnold, Sept. 12, 
1802. Valentine Leathers and Sarah Starbord, Sept. 10, 1803. Daniel 
Whitehouse and Polly Leathers, March 24, 1803. Ebenezer Leathers and 
Huldah Sawyer, May 14, 1804. These and their children are the persons 



402 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

who gave Barrington this fame afar. They made first rate baskets and 
spread their fame in their travels to sell the products of their labor. 

Ebenezer, who married May 14, 1804, Huldah Sawyer, was unfortunately 
implicated with his son Ebenezer and brother Robert Leathers in an affray 
in front of their own house, June 2^, 1847. which resulted in the death of 
Ebenezer's brother Steven. For this at a trial Jan. 22, 1848, the three were 
convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced, each, to three days solitary confine- 
ment, and Ebenezer, Sr., to ten years in state prison, and Ebenezer, Jr., and 
Robert, each to twenty years. The old man was soon pardoned out, Eben- 
ezer, Jr., died in prison in January, 1854. aged 45. .After this affair all the 
others in the village made haste to have their names changed, by act of 
the Legislature, so for many years now there has not been a person in Bar- 
rington bearing the name of Leathers. And they gave up basket making with 
the name. Leathers City ceased to exist. Complete records would give most 
interesting testimony as to the potency of a particular streak of bad blood. 



CHAPTER XLV 
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD (I) 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN 

Strafford was set oft' from Harrington liy an act of the Legislature passed 
in June, 1820. The old town was twelve miles long by six and a half miles 
wide. The General Court cut in halves, and called the northern half Straf- 
ford, from the name of the county, which had been named by Governor 
Wentworth in honor of the Earl of Straft'ord in Old England, whose sur- 
name was Wentworth. So the town is about six miles square, and it is 
divided into two sections of about equal area, by the Blue Hills, known on 
the old maps as "Parker's Mountain," because it fell by lot to a Mr. Parker 
of Portsmouth when Harrington was first distributed among the tax payers 
of that town about one hundred and ninety years ago. Mr. Parker's lot 
was not very valuable for farming purposes, but from its summit can be 
seen some of the most beautiful and grand views that New Hampshire affords : 
and in turn it is one of the most conspicuous and beautiful landmarks in 
Southern New Hampshire. From year to year, previous to 1820, there had 
been a demand for a division of the town of Harrington as the residents in 
the northern half objected to travelling from six to ten miles to attend town 
meetings, which were always held in the neighborhood of Gate's Garrison, in 
the Two-Mile-Streak. This part of the old town did not begin to be settled 
until the Revolutionary war began, but after the war its land was rapidly 
occupied. 

It is said that since days of the judges in Irsael, when "every man did 
that which A\as right in his own eyes;" or since the days of Homer, when in a 
council of war, any private soldier had a right to rise and express his opinion 
as well as the general, six square miles of the surface of the earth occupied 
by civilized man, never exhibited social conditions more completely demo- 
cratic, freer from distinctions of class or rank than the space occupied by the 
town of Strafford set forth from the beginning of its settlement. There 
was absolutely no aristocracy and no proletariat — no man who did not meet 
his neighbor on equal terms. The owner of a field worked side by side with 

403 



404 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

the man he hired, and usually said he did not want any man to do more 
work in a day than he did himself. Arcadia in idyllic simplicity was here 
realized. 

The first annual town election was in March, 1821. William Foss, (3d) 
was elected town clerk. Tobias Roberts, Joseph Huckins and Paul Perkins 
were selectmen. Azariah W'aldron was representative to the General Court. 
There are four roads extending thruugh tlie ton n in a nurtheasterly and a 
southwesterly direction, nearl_\- parallel to each other — tlie P'rovince road, 
the Ridge Road and the Crown Point road being local names for three of 
them. The town house was located on the Ridge road about a mile below 
Blue Hill, as lieing most con\'enient for all sections, the dwellers "above the 
Hills" objecting to ha\ ing it anywhere else. 

In the original plan of the old town of Barrington the land was divided 
into lots that were nuniliered up to I'J'J, that l)eing the numl.ier of the la.\ 
payers in Portsmouth. -\t each mile was a "range," and in laying off the 
lots, when they came to a pond, as Ayers' Pond, numbered its acres and led 
the lot in course beyond it. Bow Pond and Commons numbered 960 acres. 
So no tax payer drew a pond as his lot, but it was different as to mountains. 
Mr. Thomas Parker of rortsmouil' drew lot 149. containing 648 acres, and 
when he came up to inspect his award he found a beautiful, high but very 
rough hill ("Blue Hill") ; hence the map makers called it Parker Mountain. 
Mr. Parker ne\er resided there, but hi^ name will aljide forever. 

As has been remarked the citizens were all on an equality at the start; this 
resulted in raising up some of the most strenuous politicians any town in 
the state possessed. 1 be town meetings were always fullv attended, as soon 
as they got the new town house built. No one being boss, each ambitious 
man felt that he had a right to be candidate for any office he fancied ; and 
they did not raise bashful men in Strafford; when a man wanted an office he 
made l)old to tell his fellow citizens what his si>ecial wish was. During the 
Civil War the political situation became so hot that a division of the town 
w as asked for. the Blue Hills to be the dividing line ; but the Legislature 
wiselv refused to make the division. Perhaps the best man did not win 
every time, or to express it in another way the man who was defeated was 
generallv as good as the winner, the party lines being tightly drawn. Be 
that as it may. the following is the list of winners in the first fifty years, 
7820-1870: which party they belonged to the historian cannot say; but for 
many years the town was always counted on as sure to go Democratic. 

Representatives: 1821, Azariah Waldron; 1822, Job Otis. Tobias 
Roberts; 1823, Andrew Leighton, Job Otis; 1822, Tobias Roberts, Azariah 
Waldron: 182=;, Tobias Roberts, and no choice for second: 1826 and 1827 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 405 

there was no clioice. the contests being fearfully hot; 1828, Job Otis, Benning 
W. Jenness; 1829, Benning W, Jenness, Amos Tabbett; 1830, John Perkins, 
Elisha Parker; 1831, the same; 1832. John Perkins, Israel Hall; 1833, Israel 
Hall, William Tarker; 1834. Win. Tasker, Daniel Winkley; 1835, Daniel 
Winkley, Hudson Peavey; 183*), Hudson Peavey; 1837, n(j choice; 1838, 
Samuel P. Montgomery, Joshua Woodman; 1839, the same; 1840, Paul 
Perkins, Elisha Weeks; 1841. Paul Perkins, James B. Foss ; 1842, James B. 
Foss, Wm. Berry; 1843, Stephen Young, Andrew D. Leighton ; 1844, the 
saine; 1845, Charles Ca\erly, Eliphalit h'oss ; 1846, the same; 1847, Benjamin 

E. Woodman, Benjamin T. Foss; 1848, the same; 1849, John Huckins, John 
Saunders; 1850, Stephen Leighton, Nathaniel Locke; 1851, John Huckins, 
John Saunders; 1852, Joshua Roberts, Nathaniel Brock; 1853, Jacob Drew, 
Ezra Drown; ]854. Jacob Drew, John Peavey; 1855, Andrew J. Otis, Joseph 
A. Clough : 1856, ,\aron W. h'oss, Dennis Bal)b; 1857, Aaron W. Foss, Thomas 
Scranton; 1858, Hezekiah Berry, John K. Evans; 1859, John C. Huckins, 
David R. Montgomery; i860, Isaiah D. Edgerly, Daniel J. Holmes; 1861, 
Joshua Otis, Chas. F. Montgomery; 1862, John \V. Jewell, Cyrus Wingate; 
1863, George C. Pinkham, Paul Perkins; 1864, James Tuttle, Robert W. 
Foss; 1865, Nehemiah C. Twombly, Rufus Hall; 1866, Durban D. Caswell, 
Warren H. Perkins; 1867, Thomas Berry, Azariah Foss; 1868, Jeremiah 

F. Hanscom, Samuel Larkin; 1869, Daniel J. Holmes; 1870, Cotton H. Foss, 
Jeremiah Tasker. 

Tmvii Clerks: 1820-24, Wm. Foss (3d); 1824-28, George W. Foss; 
1828-33, Enoch Place; 1833-35, Samuel P. Montgomery; 1835-37, David K. 
Montgomery; 1837-38, Enoch Place; 1838-47, Benjamin E. Woodman; 
1847-49, Wm. Strachm; 1849-51, David K. Montgomery; 1851-54, Joseph A, 
Clough; 1854, Demeritt Place; 1855, Alfred Tasker; 1856, Charles F. 
Montgomery; 1857-59, Mark K. Foss; 1860-62, Richard W. Foss; 1863-65, 
Mark Foss; 1866, John S. Foss; 1867-68, Lafayette Chesley; 1869, Mark K. 
Foss; 1870-71, Wm. C. Foss. 

Sclccfiucn: 1821, Tobias Roberts, Joseph Huckins, Paul Perkins; 1822, 
Joseph Huckins, Joshua Otis, Azariah Waldron; 1823, Joshua Otis, Elisha 
Tasker, Thomas Chick; 1824, the same; 1825, the same; 1826, Joseph Huckins, 
James Demerrett, William Tasker; 1827, the same; 1828, Joshua Otis, Elisha 
Tasker, John Perkins; 1829, the same; 1830, Tobias Roberts, Isaiah Hall, Jr., 
James B. Foss; 183 1, the same; 1832, Daniel Winkley, Joshua Wingate, Wm. 
Tasker; 1833, Daniel Winkley, Barliar Gray, Joshua Woodman; 1834, Joshua 
Woodman, James B. Foss, Barbar Gray; 1835, James B. Foss, John W^ingate, 
Charles Caverly; 1836, Charles Caverly, Joshua Otis, Israel Hall, Jr.; 1837, 
Dennis Babb. Joseph Caverly, David K. Montgomery; 1838, Dennis Babb, 

24 



406 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Elisha Tasker, David K. Montgomery; 1839, Elisha Tasker, Stephen Young, 
Daniel Winkley; 1840, Stephen Young, Daniel Winkley, B. W. Jenness; 
1841, Andrew D. Leighton, Eliphalit Foss, Wm. Holmes; 1842, the same; 
1843, George W. Cavemo, S. P. Montgomery, Israel Foss, Jr. ; 1844, the same ; 
1845, Samuel Durgin, Jr., John Huckins, John H. Scott; 1846, John Saunders, 
Wm. Tasker, Thomas Scruton; 1847, the same; 1848, Stephen Leighton, 
Stephen Young, Rufus Hall; 1849, Wm. L. Hill, Joshua Roberts, Warren 
Foss; 1850, Jacob Drew, Rufus Hall, Thomas Berry; 185 1, Jacob Drew, 
Thomas Berry, John Evans; 1852, Cornelius Caswell, Lewis Stiles, John L. 
Swain; 1853, the same; 1854, Wm. Foss, Jr., John S. Young, Jehoah Tuttle; 
1855, Benjamin T. Berry, Caleb Hanson. Ebenezer F. Hanson; 1S56, Ezra 
Drown, Dennis F. Babb, Thomas Caswell; 1857, Micajah S. Hanscom, Thomas 
Caswell, Azariah Foss; 1858, M. S. Hanscom, Azariah Foss, John J. Leighton; 
1859, John Leighton, Paul Perkins, Joshua Otis; i860, Abram S. Clark, 
Joshua Otis, James Tuttle; 1861. Paul Perkins, James Tuttle, Durban D. 
Caswell; 1862. Paul Perkins, D. B. Caswell, Jeremiah S. Winkley; 1863, 
Jacob B. Smith, Stephen Leighton, Joseph A. Whitcher ; 1S64, the same; 1865, 
Jacob B. Smith. Aaron W. Foss, Jeremiah F. Hanscom; 1866, J. W. Foss, 

A. F. Hanscom, Asa H. Tuttle; 1867, Joshua Otis, Asa H. Tuttle, Lyman 
Foss; 1868, Paul Perkins, L. \\'. Foss, John O. Bordy; 1869, Robert B. 
Peavey, Warren Foye. George N. Foss; 1870, the same. 

The first delegates to the Constitutional Convention to revise the Con- 
stitution of New Hampshire were Benning W. Jenness, Samuel P. Mont- 
gomery. The delegates for revision, in 1876, were Aaron W. Foss, Jacob 

B. Smith. 

From the town records we find that Job Otis, Azariah Waldron, Tobias 
Roberts, by act of the Legislature of New Hampshire, were authorized to call 
the first town-meeting. 

In 1827, at a special meeting called for the purpose, it was voted "that no 
ardent spirit be sold within one-half mile of the place of the town meeting." 
Also the following is from the records : 

"Strafford, March i, 1823. 
"This may certify that we the subscribers selectmen approve of George W. 
Foss to be a suitable person to sell and mix spiritous liquors such as rum, wine, 
brandy, gin for two days at the Ridge Meeting-House on the nth and 12th 
days of March inst. 

"Joshua Otis, 
"Azariah W^aldron, 
"Joseph Huckins. 
"Selectmen of Strafford. 
"A true copy of record 
"Attest 

"WiLLi.\M Foss, 3d, Tozi'ii clerk." 



CHAPTER XLVl 
HISTOm' OF STRAFFORD (II) 

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS 

The Free Will Baptist church was established at four localities in what is 
now Strafford ; these places were known as Crown Point, The Ridge, The Pond 
and Snackety. That at Crown Point (Strafford Corner) was organized in 
August, 1779, by the Rev. Edward Lock, who was connected with the Calvin 
Baptist church of Berwick, Me. He held a revival there and the church was 
organized of about forty members. Rev. Tozier Lord and Rev. Benjamin 
Randall was then a member in good standing in the Baptist church at Berwick, 
the work of organization and Mr. Lord was chosen the first pastor. Mr. 
Randall was then a member in good standing in the Baptist church at Berw ick, 
and had been a preacher about three years, but had not started the movement to 
organize a new denomination. In March 1780, he left the church at Berwick 
and joined this new one at Crown Point in Barrington. Mr. Randall had 
settled his family on New Durham Ridge, where he had inirchased thirty acres 
of land in March 1778 and was doing itinerant work in preaching in various 
towns around, but it was not until April 5. 1780, a month after he joined the 
Crown Point church that he was formally ordained as an evangelist by Rev. 
Tozier Lord and Edward Lock. And on Saturday, June 30, 1780, a meet- 
ing was appointed for the organization of the church at New Durham, 
where Mr. Randall resided and which is generally regarded as the First Free 
Will Baptist church in America. But in fact the church at Crown Point, 
of which Mr. Randall was a member when he organized the "Mother Church" 
at New Durham Ridge, was the first Free Will Baptist church, although that 
name had not been formally assumed. The Rev. Edward Lock who organ- 
ized the Crown Point church, had been a member of the Calvin Baptist 
church at Gilmanton, had been disfellowshipped for declaring he had no 
sympathy with Calvinistic election, nor with close communion, so he organ- 
ized the Crown Point church as an independent body of Christians. The 
Rev. Tozier Lord was one of the council at Gilmanton that disfellowshipped 
Mr. Lock, and he said at the council meeting: "H you withdraw fellowship 

407 



408 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

from Mr. Lock you do also from me, for I am of the same belief." So 
when Mr. Lock had organized this independent church at Crown Point he 
very naturally recommended Mr. Lord for their minister, and the recom- 
mendation was approved, and Mr. Lord became the first settler-minister. 
Mr. Lock was then minister of a Baptist church in Canterbury. As Mr. 
Randall was a member of this church when he was ordained to the ministry, 
the church \ery naturally followed his lead when he became a full Hedged 
"Free Wilier," and it has remained ever faithful and efficient in maintaining 
the ancient faith proclaimed by Mr. Randall. Of course there have been 
occasional reverses, but its life has Ijeen continuous one hundred and thirty- 
four years ( 1913 ). At the beginning Mr. Randall had to visit the brethren and 
set them aright on certain theological points which he had carefully and 
prayerfully studied out, and get the church machinery into gear with the 
established routine of Free Will Baptist work. 

Among the laymen of this church there were men of marked ability, one 
of wliom was the Hon. Job Otis. It has sent out men who have become 
eminent as members in Free Will Baptist churches, and as leaders in the 
business world. It is said that the first persons baptized by immersion in 
the town of Strafford were Ralph Hall and Miss Abigial Daniels : he was 
an aged man and she a young woman. The names of the ministers of this 
church for the first hundred years were as follows : Elders, Tozier Lord, 1779- 
1781: Benjamin Randall, associated with Micajah Otis from 1783 to 1821; 
Enoch Place, till 1853; D. L. Edgerley, till 1857; A. R. Bradbury, till 1858; 
K. Place, till 1861 : N. C. Twombly, till 1863: B. Van Dame, till 1865; B. B. 
Snfith, till 1868; William T. Smith, till 1869; N. C. Lothrop, till 1873; Ezra 
Tuttle, till 1874; S. N. Brooks, till 1876; C. C. Foster, till 1878; E. Tuttle, 
till 1882. 

There are four parallel roads about equally distant apart extending north 
and south through the town ; there are a few crossroads, along the six miles, 
which connected these main thoroughfares; they were awful rough roads, 
passing over ver}' steep hills ; very naturally the people travelled on them as 
little as possible; the result was that the church-loving people Inult four meet- 
ing houses and organized four Free Will Baptist churches. Crown Point, 
the Ridge, Bow Pond and North Strafiford. The good people could attend 
meetings, then without travelling on a single crossroad, on which scarcely 
any one lived. 

The church at Crown Point was first, as already stated ; the second was 
organized in the summer of 1781. at North Strafford (local name Snackerty), 
with Elder Toseph Boody as minister; he was a native of Barrington and at 
this time was 29 years old. He was one of the converts in the revival which 



AiND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 409 

swept Ills native town under Elder Randall, i)reaching; he was one of the 
se\enty who organized this church and hegan preaching, but he was not 
ordained until August 24, 1783. His ordination was to the office c;if Killing 
Elder; remained minister of the church thirty years. Mr. Boody was a tall, 
dignified appearing man; he had a powerful voice and a pleasing and at- 
tractive manner in using it in his sermons and addresses ; his keen wit, severe 
sarcasm and fearless independence, rendered him a successful antagonist 
in theologv' and also in politics. He was a great re\i\al preacher, and was 
often engaged in evangelistic work witli Elder Randall. When they con- 
fronted a crowd of sinners, his Satanic Majesty made haste to retreat, lie- 
side attending to the religious wants of his hcime church h'.lder HdiHK- travelled 
and preached extensively in \'erni(int and Canada. He died in 1SJ4. hut 
his usefulness as a minister ceased when he was a little past three score vears 
old. This church still lives. 

The Third I'Vec \\ ill I'laptist church was organized in iSk;: the residents 
on the Ridge g(,t weary of uavelling over the rough and exceeding liillv cross- 
road to attend meetings at Crown Roint, so, January 20, that year, a reipiest 
was made by the people of Strafiford Ridge to the New Durham (Juarterly 
Meeting for a separation and for the organizing of a separate church at that 
place, not because of any difticulty among them as to divisions or dis[)utes. 
but for convenience and better accommodations. This recjuest was granted, 
and Elders Place, Merrill, and Peavey were appointed a committee to meet 
the people at the Ridge on the first Saturday in February, 1819, to acknowl- 
edge them the Third Church and to assist them in organizing. 

The meeting was organized on the above date by choosing Re\-. Enoch 
Place moderator, and Rev. J. E. Peavey clerk. ( Erom the records.) "Now 
when the brethren had gathered together at the schoolhouse on the Ridge, on 
the 1st Saturday in February, 1819, agreeable to appointment, they came to 
the following conclusion by the Grace of God. 

"\^'e, whose names are hereafter subscribed, ha\ ing given ourselves unto 
the Lord, do gi\e ourselves to one another in the Lord, by the will of God, 
considering ourselves a church of Christ, intending to watch over one another 
in love, striving together for the things which make for peace and things 
whereby we may edify one another. (Owning the .Scri])tures to be our rule 
of faith and practice and all the saints of God our l)rethren, we intend to 
comfort ourselves in the Lord together and edify one another even as also 
we' do. And to know them which labor among us and are over us in the 
Lord and admonish, and to esteem them very highly for their work's sake and 
be at peace among ourselves. To warn them that are unruly, comfort the 
feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient to all men. To render not evil 



410 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

for evil to any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among ourselves 
and to all men, praying the God of love and peace to aid us in all our journey 
from this to the eternal world, and preserxe us blameless, soul, body, and 
spirit unto his heavenly kingdom." 

Ebenezer Kelley, John Winkley, John B. Foss, Jr., Jerusha Foss, Timothy 
Foss, George Foss, Jr., Joshua Foss, Jr., Joseph Hill, William Foss (3d), 
Richard B. Foss, Joseph Huckins, Samuel Kelley, James Foss (4th), Mechech 
Drew, Simon Foss, Moses Sawyer, Joshua Foss (4th), Joseph Roberts, James 
Tuttle, John Tuttle, Woodbury Foss, James C. Gate, James Tuttle (3d), John 
Rowe, Sarah Foss, Mary Huckins, Hannah Huckins, Elizabeth Foss, Eleanor 
Muncy, Alice Foss, Eliza Foss, Elizabeth Foss, Sarah Foss, Alice Foss, Abi- 
gail Foss, Hannah Foss, Abigail Foss, Sarah Foss, Priscilla Foss, Mary 
Caverly, Anna Drew, Sarah Drew, Mary Drew, Jane Foss, Mary Huntress, 
Hannah Foss, Sarah Foss, Amy Foss, Abigail Foss, Sarah Foss, Judith A. 
Shepherd, Sally Shepherd, Eliza Shepherd, Sally Hill, Polly Hill, Katherine 
Hill, Susan Hodgdon, Betsey Peary, Sally Foss, Betsey Foss, Betsey Daniels, 
Elizabeth Brown, Olive Twombly, Anna Drew, Deborah Kelly, Sarah Tuttler, 
Sally Tuttle, Esther Tuttel, Polly Hall, Rhoda Clark, Alice Clark, Sarah 
Rowe, Mary Smith, Lydia Smith, Sarah Smith. 

Following is a list of the Elders who ministered spiritual food to its people 
during the sixty years following the organization of the church ; it is now 
one of flourishing and strong churches of the denomination ; the date of set- 
tlement was, Enoch Place, 1819; Ammi R. Bradbury, 1855; Arthur Caverno, 
1858; D. P. Harriman. 1859: Uriah Chase, 1865; I. M. Bedell, 1866; Caleb 
C. Foster, 1872; C. E. Handy, 1873; S. C. Kimball, 1875; L. H. Winslow, 
1880. 

During the thirty-six years' pastorate of the Rev. Enoch Place he preached 
but one-half of the time, two Sabbaths per month: the other Sabbaths the 
pulpit was occupied at intervals by Elders Sherburn, P. S. Burbank, John 
Winkley, Nathan Caverno, and others. 

The first clerk of this church was William Foss (3d), 1819, succeeded 
by Rev. Enoch Place, 1821; William B. Foss, 1842; J. H. Montgomery, 
1845; Warren Foss, 1848; Alfred Tasker, 1877, who served 20 years. 

The first church was built in 1800. It was a large church, with square 
high-backed pews, and a gallery running round three sides of the house. 
There were no means of lighting or heating; evening service and service 
during severe weather being held in the academy. The pulpit was high and 
elaborate. 

This church was taken down in 1857, and a new church built, in which 
service is held at the present time. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 411 

The Bow Lake meeting-house was erected in 1843, as a Union Church, 
and occupied as such till 1859. 

Rev. John Caverly and Enoch Place, Eree-Will Baptists, and the Rev. 
George W. Ashby, Baptist, occupied the pulpit. 

In 1859 the Bow Lake Free-Will Baptist Church was organized, with 
Rev. Levi B. Tasker as pastor, William P. Hall, deacon, and Orin T. Hill, 
clerk. 

The meeting-house was dedicated to the Free-Will Baptists, Nov. 14, 
1859. The church, when organized, consisted of twenty-four members, as 
follows : L. B. Tasker, M. H. Tasker, W. P. Hall, Eliza Hall, C. M. Thomp- 
son, Dyer Hall, Daniel D. Caverly, Orin T. Hill, Mary E. Hill, Reuben Crit- 
chett, Betsey Critchett, George W. Buzzell, Mary Babb, Jeremiah Cavemo, 
Dolly H. Caverno, Almira J. Hill, Elizabeth Roberts, M. A. Huckins, C. A. 
Hill, A. W. Hill, Susan Roberts, William Thompson, Mary Tasker, and 
Deborah Thompson. 

The Rev. L. B. Tasker presided over the church as pastor for three years, 
and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Brown, who remained pastor until 1865. 
Since then they have had a succession of good ministers and the church is 
prosperous. 

SCHOOLS IN STRAFFORD 

From the beginning of its organization as a separate town, Strafford has 
been liberal in supplying good town schools. Not only that, but in 1832, 
twelve years after the separation from Barrington, Strafford Academy was 
organized by the citizens of the town and located on the Ridge. It was 
recognized as a Free Will Baptist institution, and really was the outgrowth 
of that church on the Ridge. So it became the first, high class educational 
organization of the Free Will Baptist denomination, and took the lead in 
educating men for the Free Will Baptist ministry; many of its men who 
became powerful leaders in after years received their education there. Some 
of the instructors became distinguished as educators of nation wide fame ; and 
its students occupied seats in the Senate of Congress, and held positions of 
honor in the National Government. 

In the later years of the Nineteenth century the Rev. Mr. Austin made a 
bequest of $5,000 and the name was changed to Austin Academy. A score 
of years ago Mr. Gate, a wealthy shoe manufacturer in Massachusetts, who 
was educated in the original academy, bequeathed by will about $200,000 to 
the institution, and the name was changed to Austin-Cate Academy, and it 
is now one of the best educational institutions in the state. 



CHAPTER XL\T1 

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD ( IH ) 

Strafford's i'atriotic RiccoRn, 1861-1863 

Second Regiment Xew Hampshire X'olunteer Infantry Recruits 

Joseph D. Boyd, Co. I; enl. Dec, 2. 1863; al)seiit, sick, Dec. ly, i8()5; no dis- 
charge furnished. 

Johnson, John J., Co. B; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; trans, from Co. I, i3tli X. H. V., 
June 21. 1865; must, out June 21. iS>(;^. 

Johnson. Gray W., Co. B: enl. Jan. 4, 1864: trans, from Co. I, 13th X. H. \'., 
June 21, 1863; iniist. out Dec. ig, 1865. 

Smith, Richard, Co. I; enl. Dec. 2, 1863. 

Stael, Franz, Co. I; enl. Dec. 2, 1863; must, (lut Julv i. 1865. 

Third Regiment Xfw Hampshh^k X'oi.rxTEER Ixi \ntrv 

Campbell, Xathaniel J., Co. H; enl. Aug. 24, 1861 ; reduced to the ranks May 

30, 1863: re-enl. h'eb. 13, 1864. 
Huckins, Azariah W., Co. H; enl. Aug. 24. 1861 ; died of disease at Hilton 

Head, S. C, Aug. 20, 1862. 
Scruton, Clark, Co. H; enl. Aug. 24, 1861 ; wounded slightly July 18, 1863; 

re-enl. I'^eb. 19, 1864. 
Clark, John, Co. H; enl. Dec. 10, 1864; must, out July 20, 1865. 
Hines, James. Co. I; enl. Dec. 10, 1864. 

Fourth Regiment X'ew Hampshire Volunteer Infantry 

Pillsbury, Moses W.. Co. E; enl. Sept. 18, 1861 ; discharged for disability at 

Morris Island. S. C, Oct. 27, 1863. 
Jenness. John M., Co. E; enl. Feb. 25, 1864; captured April 9, 1865; released 

April 29. 1865; must, out June 5, 1865; re-enl. \eteran. 

Fifth Regiment Xew Hampshire W)lunteer Infantry 

Brown. James, Co. C; enl. Dec. 4. 1863; aljsent. sick. June 28-. 1865. 
Carlisle. James. Co. C: enl. Dec. 4. 1863: disch. for disability Oct. 10. 1865. 
Hunter. James. Co. C; enl. Sept. 14, 1865: must, out June 28, 1865. 
Mercier, Charles, Co. C; enl. Aug. 12. 1863 ; must, out June 28. i86s. 
Underbill, William H.. Co. E; enl. Aug. 20. 1864. 

412 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 413 

Sixth Regiment New Hampshire Voli'nteer Infantry 

Creamer. Alonzo D., Co. G; enl. July 2. i8ry4; trans, from Co. G. i ith N. H. 

v., June I, i(H65; must, out July 17, 1865. 
Williamson, James, Co. I ; enl. Aug. 14, 1863 ; absent, sick, since May 2/. i8(34 ; 

no discharge furnished. 

Seventh Regiment .\'e\v Hampshire Voli'xteer Ixeantrv 

Johnson, Henry, Co. D; enl. Dec. j, 1863: wounded se\erely, Feb. 2f). iSfq; 
wounded June i(^>. 1864; died of wounds at Hamjjtim, \''a.. June j;. 1864. 

Rand, William E., Co. I; enl. Aug. 11, 18(4; must, out JuU- 20. 1865. 

Caverl}-, Cyrus G., Co. A; enl. Feb. 2y. i8()4; captured near Richmond, Va., 
Sept. 27, 1864; tlied at Salisbury, N. C, Nov, 25. 1864: re-enl. veteran. 

Tuttle, Joseph W., Co. .\ : enl. Felx 24. 1864: wounded at Deep Run. Va.. Aug. 
16, 1864; pro. to corp. June i, 1S65; must, out July 20. 18^)5: re-enl. vet- 
eran. 

Eighth New Hampshire Volunteer Ixfaxtrv 

Prescott, Thomas C, capt. Co. H ; com. May 2^, 1863 ; must, out Jan. 18. 1865. 
Prescott, John H., capt. Co. G: com. Dec. 20, 1861 ; pro. to maj. July lO, [863. 
Prescott, Thomas C, sergt. Co. G; must, in Dec. 31. 1861 ; pro, to sergt.-maj. 

Nov. 16, 1862. 
Prescott, John H., corp. Co. G; enl. Dec. 27,. 1861 ; pro. to sergt. July 1 1, 1862 ; 

re-enl. Jan. 4, 1864. 
Eastman, George H., Co. G; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; cap. at Yellow Bayou. La., May 

16, 1864; released; pro. to corp. Nov. i, 1864; trans, to Co. B, Vet. Batt, 

8th N. H. Vols., Jan. i, 1865. 
Prescott, John H., Co. G; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; pro. to 2d lieut., to date Dec. 16, 

1863. " 

Veteran Battalion, Eighth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry 
Eastman, George H., Co, G ; pro, to corp, July i, 1863 ; must, out Oct. 28, 1865, 

Eleventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry 

Bones, Thomas, Co. H; enl, Dec, 4, 1863, 

Legro, Alexis, Co. A; enl. Dec. 22, 18G3: wounded slightly June 7, 1864; 

disch. for dis. March 20, 1865. 
Straub, William, Co. G; enl. Dec. IQ, 1863. 
Halstead, Walstonholme, Co. G; enl. Dec. 22,. 1863; pro. to corp. March i, 

1865 : pro. to sergt. May i, 1863 ; trans, to N. H. Vols. June i, 1863, 



414 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

TllIKTEENTH ReGIMENT NliW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER InKANTRY 

Hubbard, W. Hall. capt. ; com. March i. 1865; must, out June 21, 1865. 

Woodman. Charles A.. 26. lieut. ; com. June 15, 1865; not must.; must, out 
as I St sergt. June 21, 1865. 

Hall, Charles C. musician; enl. April 28, 1864; died of dis. Jan. 22, 1865. 

Parsiiley, John D., sergt. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; must, out June 21, 1865. 

Woodman, Charles, sergt. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; pro. to ist sergt. July i, 
1863; wounded slightly June 3, 1S64: pro. to 2d lieut. June 15, 1865. 

Evans, Alpheus D., corp. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19. 1862; died of dis. at Newport 
News. Va., March 8, 1863. 

Prime, Joseph H., corp. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; disch. by Order No. 4, 1863. 

Panshley, Augustine S., corp. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; trans, to V. R. C. 
Nov. 13, 1863 ; must, out June 20. 1865. 

Foss, Albert H., Co. B; enl. Sept. 18, 1862; must, out June 21, 1865. 

Roberts. Tobias, Co. B; enl. Sept. 18, 1862; must, out June 21, 1865. 

Evans. Joseph S., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; wounded severely June i, 1864; 
must, out June 21, 1865. 

Edgerly, Charles E., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; died of dis. at Washington, 
^D. C, March 8. 1863. 

Foss, Azariah J., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; wounded May 3, 1863; died of 
wounds at Suffolk, Va., May 7, 1863; interred at Suffolk, Va. 

Berry, William F^, Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at Ports- 
mouth Grove, R. I., May 11, 1864. 

Berry, Charles H., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; must, out June 21, 1865. 

Foss, Lemuel P.. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; must, out June 28, 1865. 

Foss, George W.. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19. 1862 ; died of disease at Concord, N. H., 
Oct. 15, 1864. 

Hanscom, George H., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; pro. to corp.; wounded 
slightly June 15. 1864; must, out May 19, 1865. 

Hubbard, John, Co. F; enl. Sept. 19. 1862: disch. for disability at Portsmouth 
(irove, R. I., May 29, 1863. 

Hall, Daniel D., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; pro. to corp. Aug. i, 1863; pro. 
to sergt. May 6, 1864; wounded severely Sept. 29, 1864; must, out June 
21. 1865. 

Hall, A. C, Co. F; enl. Sept. 23, 1862: disch. for disability at Philadelphia, 
Pa.. Jan. 15, 1863. 

Peavey, E. B., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; died of disease at Portsmouth, Va., 
March 19, 1864. 

Seaward, Joel D., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at Ports- 
mouth, Va., Sept. 23, 1863. 

Seaward, George A., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; must, out June 21, 1865. 

Thompson, David, Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; disch. for disability at Philadel- 
phia. Pa., April 13, 1863. 

Tuttle, Darius, Co. F; enl. Sept. 19. 1862; wounded slightly June 3, 1864; 
wounded slightly Sept. 29; must, out June 21, 1865. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 415 

Tuttle, Joseph A., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; died of disease at Portsmouth, 

Va., June 27, 1863. 
Thompson, Hiram S., Co. P; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; must, out June 21, 1865. 
Wentworth, Charles F., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at 

Camp Casey, Va., Nov. 8, 1862. 

Fifteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry 

Foss, John S., Co. G. : enl. Oct. 18. 1862; must, out Aue. n, 186^ ■ sick at 
Strafford, N. H. *, o o , 

Avery, John W., Co. G: enl. Oct. is, 1862; must, out Aug. 17,, i86v sick at 
Strafford, N. H. & . 

Winkley, Mark H.. Co. G; enl Oct. rs. 1862; must, out Ausj i :; i86v sick 
at Strafford, N. H. " o- o • 

Wingatc, Albert G., Co. G ; enl. Oct. 15, 1862 ; died of disease at Port Hudson, 
July 12, 1863. 

Howard. Martin V., Co. B; wounded. 



Eighteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer I 



NFANTR'4 



Caswell. Samuel S., adjt. : com. May 19, 1865: must, out July 29, 1865. 
Caverly. Alonzo H., Co. C; enl. Sept. 14. 1864; re-enl. in the ist Mass. Cav. 
Eaton, Samuel P., Co. C: enl. Sept. 14. 1864; must, out June 10, 1863. 
Evans, Enoch, Co. C; enl. Sept. 14. 1864; must, out June 10, 1865. 
Hill, William E., Co. C; enl. Sept. 17, 1864; must, out June 10, 1865. 
Tuttle, Daniel D., Co. C: enl. Aug. 14, 1864; must, out June 10, 1865. 
Herriman, Jeremiah P., Co. D; enl. Sept. 20, 1864: must, out June 10, 1S65. 
Willis, John, Co. H; enl. March 30, 1865. 

New Hampshire Battalion. First Regiment, New England Cavalry 

Glidden, William H., enl. Oct. 24. 1861 : pro. to corp. June i, 1862; re-enl. 
Jan. 5, 1864. 

Fir.st Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer Cavalry 

Glidden. William H., corp.. enl. Jan. 5. 1864; trans, from Troop H Tan. i. 
1865; pro. to 1st sergt. Jan. i. 1865; pro. to 2d lieut. June 10, 1865" 

Hall. Asa A., Troop H; enl. Jan. 2, 1864: wounded June 13. 1864; pro. to 
corp. July I, 1864; missing at Lacy Springs, Va.. Dec. 21, 1864; pro. to 
sergt. April i. 1865; disch. for disability. Baltimore, Md., June 25. 1865. 

First Regiment New Hampshire Heavy Artillery 

Howard, George W.. Co. D; enl. Sept. 4, 1864: trans, to Co. B Tune 10, 1863. 
Howard. Herbert E., Co. D. ; enl. Sept. 4. 1864; died of disease at Fort Rey- 
nolds. Va., Nov. 2. 1864. 



416 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Scruton, Clark, Co. D; enl. Sept. 4, 1864. 

Dyke, Lyman, Co. I: enl. Sept. 7, 1864; must, out June 15, 1865. 

Balk, John O., Co. I; enl. Sept. 7. 1864; pro. to cor|). June 8. 1863 : must, out 

June 30, i8fi-. 
Brown, Samuel F., (.'o. L; enl. Sept. j6, 1864; must, out June 1;, iH(>^. 
Clough. Moses B.. Co. L; enl. Sept. 26, 1864; must, out June 15, 1865. 
Kelley, Paul, Co. L; enl. Sept. 26. 1864; must, out June 15. i8()5. 
Caverly, Robert B.. Co. M; enl. Dec. i8, 1863: must, out June 9. 186;. 

Volunteer E.and Tenth Army Corps 
Boody. George \\'., enl. Sept. 27^. 1864: must, out July 4, 1865. 

Enlistment in \'eter.\n Reserve Corps 

Brown, Andrew H.. enl. Dec. 29. 1863. 
Caverly, \\'illiam B.. enl. Dec. 22. 1863. 

Soldiers not Found in Adjut.\nt-Gener.\l's Report of 1866. 

Caswell, Joseph F.. i8th Regt., Co. D; must. Sept. 20, 1864. 
Bruster. Gilman T., ist Regt. H. Art., Co. K; must. Sept. 17, 1864. 
Davis, Luther W.. 9th Regt.. Co. C; must. July 17. 1862; killed ;\Iay 12, 1864. 
Abbot, Orris S., nnist. Aug. 7, 1862: missing at l-Yeclerick.sbnrg, Dec. 18, 1862. 
Burk, Michael, 9th Regt., Co. A; must. Dec. 10, i86^; killed in action Mav 

31. 1864. 
Robinson, Charles .\.. 13th Regt.. Co. D: must. Sept. 18, 1862. 
Pease, Thomas S., 13th Regt., Co. B; must. Sept. 18, 1862. 
Peary, Samuel, 15th Regt., Co. G; must. Oct. 18, 1862: di.sch. 
Clark, George D, 15th Regt., Co. G; must. Oct. t8. 1862: disch. Aug. 13. 1863. 
Abbot, Orrin, 7th Regt., Co. H; must. Dec. 17, 1861 ; died July 20. 1864. 
Drew, Cyrus G.. 13th Regt., Co. B; must. Sept. 22. i8(:2. 
Pitman. Thomas, 15th Regt., Co. G: must. Oct. ]8, 1802; nine months' man. 
Miller, Levi, 7th Regt., Co. A; must. Oct. 29, 1861 ; hadlv wounded in battle. 
Scruton, George H., 2d Regt., Co. D; nnist. June r. 1861 ; disabled, and disch. 

June 17, 1863. 
States. Tobias. 7th Regt.. Co. A; disabled, and disch. Julv 28, 1863. 
Colbath. Charles A., 7th Regt., Co. A; must. Xov. 29, 1861 ; Inft. 
Brown, John \\'., 3d Regt., Co. H; must. Aug. 24, 1861 ; Inft. 
Brown, Jared P., 3d Regt. Co. H; must. Aug. 24, 1861 ; Inft. 
Foss, Richard T., 7th Regt., Co. H; must. Dec. 17, 1861 ; Inft. 
Ricks, George S., 129th X. Y. Regt., Co. A; must. July 21, 1862. 
Hayes, Joseph H., 7th Regt., Co. A; must. Xov. 29. 1861. 
Critchet, Luther C, 15th Regt.. Co, G: mu.st. Xov. 6, 1862: must, out Aug. 

13, 1863. 
Emerson, Samuel M., 18th Regt., Co. C; must. Sept. 14, i8()4 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 417 

Young, George W., 13th Regt., Co. F; must. Sept. 19. i86j; trans, to Vet. 

Corps July I, 1863. 
Dufey, John, 14th Regt., Co. K; must. Aug. 5, 1861 ; recruit. 
Foss, Ira, I3tii Regt.. Co. I-'; must. Sept. 8, 1862; trans, to cavalry corps. 

All the men have a good record and some of the officers and subordinates 
have specially fine records for bravery under the severe trials and exposures 
of war. 



CHAPTER XLVIII 
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD ( IV) 

BUSINESS AND LOCALITIES 

Like all of the old towns, Strafford has its peculiar local names for differ- 
ent parts of the territory; here are some of them: The Pond; The Ridge; 
Crown Point; Above the Hills; Snackerty; Canaan; Sodom; Johnsonbor- 
ough Pig Lane. There is a history connected with each one. Many of the 
men Avho were pioneers in settling that part of old Barrington were soldiers in 
the Revolutionary army in which they had many experiences which impressed 
their memories so strongly that their war stories were repeated at the hearth- 
stones and every fireside for years afterwards. Some of the old soldiers ser\'ed 
in the army at Crown Point in the hardest conflicts around Lake Champlain. 
After tlieir war service was o\er they came up to what is Strafford Corner, 
then an area of the primeval forest. They had to cut their way through the 
forests and underbrush and found it very rough work, and as they cut down 
the trees and brush, and wiped the sweat from their foreheads, they said, one 
to another, "This is as hard as it w as in getting up to Crown Point with the 
army." It was a happy hit at the truth of the situation, and ever after they 
called the locality about Straft'ord Corner "Crown Point." 

Later some of the old soldiers who had served with Gen. John Sullivan in 
that historic campaign of 1779, when he suljdued the Indians and routed the 
Tories in Western New York, came up and settled in North Strafford soon 
after that campaign w as over. The incidents w ere fresh in their memory, and 
they told war stories to the end of their lives. One place they particularly 
remembered was Schenectady, but in common parlance, one with another they 
pronounced it "Snackerty" and for some fancied reason, which passed out of 
memory of their descendants, they applied the name to their new home, and 
it has remained to this day. In local phrase The Pond always means Bow 
Pond, which is in the center of the western side of the town and partly in 
Northwood. Its name is derived from its shape, lying among the hills. It 
covers 1,625 acres of land when at high water. Its outlet is Isinglass river, 
which empties into the Cochecho river at Blind Will's Neck in Rochester, a 

418 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 419 

short distance above the line between Dover and Rochester. Bow Pond vil- 
lage is at the outlet, where a dam was built by John l<"oss at an early period 
in the settlement of this part of old Barrington. The excellent water-power 
soon made the locality a village center, which it has always remained for this 
part of the town. The pond was purchased by the Cocheco Manufacturing 
Company at Dover about 1830, and a higher dam was built to increase the 
storage capacity for water which the company used in turning its wheels in 
the cotton mills at Dover. The first dam liroke away in 1832 and the water 
rushed out, flooding the Isinglass river \alley for two-thirds of the way to 
Dover. It was feared trouble might be caused when the water reached the 
pond in Dover; but it did not, as the marshes all along the river held it in 
check, so that it amounted to not much more than a big spring freshet. 

In the southwest corner of Strafford and the northwest corner of Barring- 
ton is a neighborhood of good citizens and prosperous farmers which is called 
Canaan. It has been so called since the settlement of that section of old 
Barrington was commenced. Who named it no one knows, but was some one 
well versed in Bible history who very happily bestowed on it one of the best 
farming sections of the old town. It is the l)irthplace of se\eral distinguished 
persons. 

In the valley between Center Strafford Ridge and Caverly Hill, below 
Bow Pond, where the Isinglass river forms an island and during a great many 
years following the beginning of the settlement there were two sawmills. The 
road jiassing tlin lugh there is called Pig Lane road. The road was built at a 
very early period and has always been so called. Who gave it the name, or 
for what reason, is a mystery. The hills on the road leading down to the 
valley are very steep, which test the strength of the strongest muscles in a 
horse when con\eying a load, either up or down, but the valley itself is a 
beautiful spot, when you get to it. In later years the so-called "Range road" 
was built, which gave an easy approach and exit to the Province road which 
passes over Caverly Hill. 

In the valley between Center Strafford and Crown Point ridges is a district 
called Johnsonborough, which took its name from several families living there 
by the name of Johnson. On the road south of it is a locality called Sodom. 
This name seems the most mysterious of all, for the good families who have 
lived there from time immemorial were complete contrasts with the historic 
Sodomites. Probably in the earliest days of lumbermen some rough-minded 
wood chopper gave it the name, and there it has remained. 



420 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

BUSINESS ENTERPRISES 

Strafford lias many good waterfalls on the ri\ers which are outlets from 
the ponds within its boundary, and at a very early period and for many rears 
following, before the introduction of steam mills, there were numerous saw- 
mills and some gristmills, which did a thriving business. So late as 1870 there 
were seven sawmills (water-power) where lumber was manufactured, four 
gristmills, one cotton and woolen carding mill, one barrel and shook manu- 
factory, and two carriage manufactories. The Isinglass river from Bow 
Pon<l has three mill sites. Spruce jjonds in the southwest part of the town 
afford power for mills. W'illey's ponds in the northwest part of the town, 
above Blue Hill, afford considerable mill power. Also at North Strafford. 
-And the river in the \alley between the ridge and the pond there used to be 
several sawmills. In these later years more attention has been given to farm- 
ing, orcharding antl milk producing. For man}- years preceding the Civil war 
considerable attention was given to stock raising and furnishing droves of 
cattle and sheep for the markets about Boston. Also large amounts of poultry 
was raised for the markets in Boston. Strafford has always been a great 
producer of huckleberries and since it became fashionable to furnish them for 
market large quantities ha\e been picked every year and sent regularly to 
Boston markets, as well as local markets, tluring^ the berry season. 



CHAPTER XLIX 
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD (V) 

NOTED PERSONS OF STRAFFORD 

Judge Bcnning IV. Jenncss. Beyond question the most distinguished citi- 
zen of Strafford since its incorporation in 1820 was the Hon. Benning Went- 
wortii Jenness, famiharly known as Judge Jenness; born in Deerfield in 1805; 
died in Cleveland, Ohio, 1879. He was a son of Thomas and grandson of 
Judge Richard Jenness. He was the fifth son in a family of six sons and five 
daughters. His brothers all won distinction outside of Deerfield. He was 
educated in the common schools of his native town, and more especially as 
clerk in his father's "Old Red Store," on the so-called South road, where 
he worked until he was seventeen years old. That store was a first-class com- 
mercial school. In his eighteenth year, 1823, two years after the new town 
was organized, he came to Bow Pond and opened a store, on the model of his 
father's Deerfield establishment. It was a success from the beginning and 
he continued it forty years, besides doing a great many other things. Wlien 
he was twenty-one years old he married Miss Nancy W. Shack ford, daugh- 
ter of Samuel Shackford, Esq., of that town, one of its prominent citizens. 
Soon after his marriage he was elected Representative to the Legislature and 
served two years, thus beginning an active political as well as business career 
at an early age, and made him one of the boss politicians of the town, county 
and state, up to 1862. when he remo\-ed to Cle\'eland, Ohio, to attend to the 
management of his financial interests, already large in that locality. He there 
engaged in the lumber Inisiness, superintending the Cleveland branch, under 
the firm name of B. W. Jenness & Co., while his partners attended to the manu- 
facturing at the mills in Michigan. They did an extensive and profitable 
business. Judge Jenness remained in that city until his decease, Nov. 16, 
1879. His remains were brought to Strafford and interred in the Shackford 
burial ground by the side of his wife, who had died May 25, 1868. His sec- 
ond wife was Miss Mira J. Woodman of Strafford, who survived him many 
years. 

After serving as Representative he was appointed postmaster under Presi- 

25 

421 



422 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

dent Jackson and held tlie office fifteen years; he was State Senator two years; 
sheriff of old Strafford county five years; judge of probate five years; United 
States Senator to fill the unexpired term of Levi W'oodbur)' who had been 
appointed United States judge; in 1850 he was member of the constitutional 
convention. At the democratic national convention of 1852 the choice of a 
candidate for President of the United States was left, In' common consent, to 
the New Hampshire delegation and a caucus of delegates was called to choose 
the coming man. The only names presented were hVanklin fierce and 
Beniiing Wentworth Jenness. A ballot was taken by the nine delegates. Four 
voted for Pierce and four for Jenness. The chairman then cast his ballot in 
favor of Pierce, and the convention gave him the nomination and the people 
confirmed his election. Had the chairman voted for Judge Jenness he would 
undoubtedlv have been elected President of the L'nited States. 

He was nominated for Governor in 1861, but declined in favor of 
Gen. George Stark. That was the close of Judge Jenness' political career. 
Following that he had eighteen years of business career, as great and success- 
ful as had been his career in Strafford, where, aside from his public duties 
he had done an immense amount of work as a merchant and in the lumber 
business. His duties, public and private, were multifarious, but being a man 
of excellent judgment and superior business ability, quick to decide and act, 
he managed all with ease and success over a wide scale of activity. As a 
speechmaker Judge Jenness was not a "spell binder" orator, but he could say 
what he wanted to say, and say what ought to be said for an occasion. When 
the Judge "fired up" for the occasion the orators and politicians had no diffi- 
culty in deciding what to do and which way to vote. A correct summary of 
the moral character of Judge Jenness can be brief — no man ever learned of 
him a vice of word or conduct. 

Hon. Job Otis was born in Harrington, Aug. 23, 1770. He resided in that 
part of Barrington which became Straft'ord. He was in active political life 
when Judge Jenness was born, in 1807, and was the ecpial of the Judge in 
many ways, especially as a political manager. He was a son of Elder Micajah 
Otis, one of the fir.st Free Will Baptist ministers, and who for many years was 
minister of the Crown Point Church. Elder Otis was a son of Joshua Otis, 
the first of the name who settled in Barrington. And Joshua was great-grand- 
son of Richard Otis, the first of the name who settled in Dover. He had the 
garrison which was burned in June, i68q, when they killed him and his son, 
Stephen, and an infant child, and carried several members of the family 
away, prisoners, to Canada. 

When the F. W. B. Yearly Meeting organized the New Hampshire Chari- 
table Society in 18 13, Elder Otis held the office of treasurer until his death in 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 423 

182 1. His son Job was then elected treasurer and held the office thirty years, 
when lie was past four score years of age. He was always a staunch supporter 
of the Free \\'ill Baptist church. Job Otis owned a large farm at Crown 
Point and had a store in the village there. He was a powerful man physically 
and mentally, and a tireless worker. On the farm and especially in the hay 
field the "hired man" had to be pretty smart to keep up with him. He never 
asked his employees to do more work in a day than he did himself; and they 
shared his fare with him at dinner time, sitting at the same table and drinking 
from tlie same mug of cider he did. The cider pitcher was the communion 
cup for the farmer and his hired men. All the farmers had it in Mr. Otis's 
life-time. 

Hon. Job Otis was chosen selectman of Barrington for the first time in 
1808 and held the office four years in succession. He was chosen Representa- 
tive from Barrington in 1819 and i8jo, and in the Legislature i>f the latter 
year he was instrumental in getting the town divided ami in having his half of 
it incorporated as Strafford. He was Representative from Strafford in 1822, 
1823, 1828 and 1833. In the Legislature he was among the leaders in shap- 
ing business and was a shrewd manager in getting enacted laws as he desired. 
In 1834 and 1835 he was one of the Governor's Council. This was the close 
of Mr. Otis's public career, but not of his political career, for he remained a 
power among the political managers a decade of years following the close of 
his councillorship. Judge Jenness and Job Otis were the leaders in their 
respective sides of the town. Bow Pond and Crown Point. They were lioth 
stanch democrats ; when they combined forces and gave the word of command 
their plans never failed of success. 

Hon. Sainuci P. Montgomery was a man small of stature but lithe of foot 
and quick of action, wiry, and the wire steel. He was born at the old Mont- 
gomery farm on the summit of "The Ridge," an excellent farm and a delight- 
ful location. His brother David was one of the last of the family who lived 
there. Samuel was well educated and acrjuired a wide general knowledge after 
his school days were over. He was never married. He was a delightful and 
instructive conversationalist. He was a better schoolmaster than he was 
farmer. His gifts as a political manager were vigorous. He was popular with 
his townsmen and they willingly bestowed on him e\'ery office that was theirs 
to give from time to time in the annual town meetings. About 1850 he was 
State Senator and in the General Court was chairman of the judiciary com- 
mittee. His appointment to that position was criticised by the lawyers, who 
claimed that a lawyer should l>e at the head of the committee, and Mr. Mont- 
gomery was not a lawyer. Nevertheless he proved to be equal to the demands 



424 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of the jxisition and before tlie close of the session won the praise of all of his 
brother Senators. 

Mr. Montgomery engaged considerably in the lumber business for se\eral 
years. Later he engaged in school teaching in one of the Southern States and 
closed his life's work there. He was a good schoolmaster, as he had been a 
good citizen and an agreeable companion on all occasions. 

He was a great-grandson of John Montgomery, one of the earliest settlers 
in Strafford. He was born June 9, 1806, on the farm which his ancestor 
settled on and cleared off the primeval forest. From him it passed to his son 
Jonathan, whose son John inherited it, father Samuel P. and David K. The 
latter was an excellent farmer. His brother was not gifted that way, but his 
talents were active in other useful occupations. He was no idler; he was a 
good school-teacher and held all the offices of trust and responsibility in town 
several times over. His great-grandfather, John Montgomery, was one of the 
first .settlers in Straft'ord Ridge. 

The Caverno faiiiilies in Strafford have ah\ays occupied a prominent posi- 
tion socially, politically and financially in the community. The first of the 
name who settled in old Barrington, in that part which is now Straft'ord, was 
John Caverno, son of Arthur, of Sc(jtch-Irish natiunality. who came to this 
country soon after 1735, and in 1742 commenced clearing a farm from the 
primeval forest on w hat is know n as the Canaan road, about a mile south of 
Bow Pond village. He married Sarah Ti])betts of Barrington in 1746 and 
they commenced housekeeping in a log house he had built on his clearing. 
They prospered and before many years a good, old-fashioned, two-story 
New England dwelling house took the place of the primitive habitation. Their 
son, Jeremiah, inherited the homestead and married Margaret Brewster. 
They prospered; an important part of their prosperity was a family of ten 
children: John, Sarah, Lydia, Jeremiah, Polly, Arthur, George W., Marga- 
rei, Sullivan and David B. They all made good and Jeremiah succeeded his 
father on the old homestead. John and George bought farms in the immediate 
neighborhood of the old homestead, upon which they li\-ed and died. These 
farms remain in possession of their descendants. 

Snllkvii Caz'crno, who was born in 1807, was graduated from Dart- 
mouth College in 1831, Ijeing the first Strafford boy who acquired that honor. 
He taught school at Rockport, N. Y., two years; studied law and opened an 
office at Lewiston in October, 1835, where he resided until his death about 
1890. He was one of the eminent lawyers of that part of New York. He 
was master and examiner in chancery four years, 1836-1840; Police Justice 
for Niagara county from 1844 to 1848. Later Gov. Horatio Seymour 
appointed him one of three commissioners to revise the statutes of the State 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 425 

of New York, a very high coniph'ment to liis aljility as a lawyer. Judge 
Caverno kept fresh in mind his literary work as well as his law practice, 
reading frecjuently in his Latin and his Greek. In the later years of his life he 
took np the study of the natural sciences and became proficient therein, fie 
was one of the first to see the advantages of consolidation and grading of 
schools and secured the adoption of a union system in Lockport, when the 
states in general had little or no provision for such system by general stat- 
ute. He was a man of sound brain and his life was a stage whereon was 
exhibited irreproachable conduct. His son, Daniel Henry Caverno, graduated 
from Dartmouth College in i860, studied law and was in practice with his 
father a while. He died suddenly in 1867 as he was about to settle in practice 
of his profession at Nashville, Tenn. He was a young man of fine aliilities. 
Rev. Arthur Caverno. born April 6, 1801, was a brother of Judge Sullivan 
Caverno, above mentioned. He received a good academic education but was 
not a college graduate ; his father could not afford to send two boys to Dart- 
mouth. He taught school a while after he finished attending academies at 
Gilmanton and Newfields. When he was seventeen years old he became con- 
verted to the Free Will Baptist faith and was baptized by Elder Enoch I'lace, 
October 18, 1822. When he was twenty-one 3fears old he was licensed to 
preach by the New Durham Quarterly Meeting. He was ordained to the 
ministry in the following year on the 17th of June in an oak grove on his 
father's homestead by a council consisting of Revs. Samuel B. Dyer, Moses 
Bean, David Harriman, Enoch Place and William Buzzell. His first pastorate 
was in Epsom, where he was stationed until 1827. During this time he 
preached occasionally in Nottingham and Raymond. One of his con\'erts 
was Daniel Plumer Cilley, who later became an eminent Free Will Baptist 
preacher. His second pastorate was at Contoocook, where he was a success- 
ful and satisfactory minister five years. He then settled at Great Falls in 
Somersworth where he was minister of the church for three years up to 1836. 
From 1836 to 1838 he was financial agent for Strafford Academy, which had 
recently been organized. In the following years up to his death in Dover, 
July 15, 1876, he continued active in the ministry; the Sunday before his 
death he preached at the Free Will Baptist Church in Alton. Following are 
some of the places he was pastor: Lowell, Mass. ; Bangor, Me. ; Portsmouth, 
Concord, Beddeford, Me. ; and Dover, where he spent the years after he was 
three score and ten. He was a preacher fifty-six years and an ordained 
minister fifty-three years. He preached 6,000 sermons, baptized 480 persons, 
married 320 couples, and attended 500 funerals. He was the first Free Will 
Baptist minister who received a stipulated salary. He was a frequent con- 
tributor to the Morning Star, the denominational paper published at Dover 



426 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

many years. Elder Caverno was in a twofold sense one of the fathers of the 
denomination, being more than a half century in its ministry, and he exerted 
a controlling influence at its formative period. He possessed a voice of more 
than ordinary sweetness and power. He was affable and courteous in manner, 
social in disposition, and a general favorite with all the families where he was 
known. 

y\'('i'. Dr. Charles Cazrrno is a nephew of Judge Sullivan and Elder .\rthur 
Caverno, and a .son of Jeremiah and Uuruthy Kingman ( Balch ) Caverno, who 
lived on the old Caverno homestead on the Canaan road, southeast of Bow- 
Pond village, where he was born .\ug. 19, 1832; graduated from Dart- 
mouth College in 1854; principal of Thelford, Vt., Academy, 1854-5; read 
law at Albany Law School and with his uncle. Judge Sullivan Caverno, at 
Lockport, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in 1857 and practiced his pro- 
fession at Milwaukee, Wis., five years, leaving there in 1S62. Then followed 
farming two years to recover his health. Having recovered, he turned his 
attention to the ministry and was ordained as a Congregationalist at Lake 
Mills, Wis., Dec. 4, 1866, and was pastor of the Congregational Church 
there five years ; ne.xt three years at Amboy, 111. ; then four years at Lombard, 
111. ; during the ten years from 1888 to 1898 he was minister of the Congrega- 
tional Church at Boulder, Colo. His health did not pernn't him to continue 
longer in charge of a parish and he has since lived in retirement at Lombard, 
111., but has preached and lectured from time to time and written much for 
publication. Doctor Caverno is an accomplished scholar, an interesting 
speaker and one of the best of men. He has been successful as a lawyer and 
a minister. 

Robert Boodcy Cai'crly, Esq., was one of Strafford's most distinguished 
sons who won fame outside of the town. He was a son of Lieut. John Caverly 
and his wife, Betsey Boodey, daughter of Elder Joseph Boodey of North Straf- 
ford, one of the first Free Will Baptist ministers. Robert was l)orn July 19, 
1806, at the Caverly homestead on Caverly Hill, one mile south of Bow lake 
village. The house in which he was born in is yet standing and was built by 
his grandfather, Moses Caverly, in 1777. The late John Huckins, one of the 
noted men of the town, in the middle and closing years of the last century 
lived directly across the road from the Caverly homestead. Robert's great 
grandfather ]\Ioses Caverly was one of the first settlers in Barrington. His 
wife was Margaret Cotton, of Portsmouth. The farm which he settled on is 
at what is known as the "Old l-'rench Mill." on a branch of the Isinglass river 
which flows from Lone Pond, which is close to line, between Barrington 
and Straft'ord, on the road to Strafford Ridge. The original house built by 
Moses yet stands there, being used for storage of wood and other purposes. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 427 

Robert Boodey Caverl}' receixed an academic education and commenced 
work, off the farm, as school-master at Great Falls, Somersworth. where he 
met with good success. He next studied law witli John A. Burlugh, Esq., and 
finished his studies at the Harvard University law school from which he was 
graduated. He commenced practice in Limerick, Me., and resided there six 
years in successful practice. He removed from there to Lowell, Mass., where 
he resided and practiced his profession with great success many years. During 
that time he not only practiced law and won great cases and great fame in 
the courts, but he also became the author of many literary and poetical pro- 
ductions which received commendations from distinguished persons. Among 
his publications are : Annals of the Caverly Family ; Lessons of Law and 
Life; Indian Wars of New England; Battle of the Bush, comprising five 
dramas, each being an historic legend of some distinguished character 
as found in New England history. He published poems from time to time 
between 1862 and 1880, which have received favorable comment. In 1874 
he led off in the building of the Dustin monument on the island at the mouth 
of the Contoocook river where it empties into the Merrimack, on which island 
Hannah Emerson Dustin performed the heroic deed which enabled her to 
return to her home in Haverhill, and make a spectacular page in history. 

Rev. John Cai'crly, an elder brother of Robert Boodey Caverly, was a 
Free Will Baptist minister, who served as pastor of the church at Bow Pond 
thirty years. He was born in 1789 and died in 1853. He was trustee of Straf- 
ford Academy nearly twenty years. He was a good farmer as well as min- 
ister and for many years had charge of the Cocheco Manufacturing Com- 
pany's property at Bow Pond. 

Strafford was the native place of six other men who became ministers. 
Nathaniel Berry, Free Will Baptist, born in 1816; died in 1865. Andrew 
F. Foss, born in 1803; died in 1854. He was ordained as a Baptist minister 
in 1827. Tobias Foss, Free \\'ill Baptist, born in 1813; died in 1893. George 
Thomas Griffin, Free Will Baptist, born 1856; licensed to preach in 1888. 
Joseph Hayes, Methodist Episcopal, born in 1817; ordained in 1842; remained 
in service up to 1890. 

Rev. Levi Buccell Tasker, Free Will Baptist, deserves more than a passing 
notice. He was a son of Elisha and Mary (Buzzell) Tasker and was born 
in Strafford, March 21, 1814. He was given a good education in the common 
schools and Strafford Academy. His father gave him the trade of tanner, 
currier and shoemaker, in which business he was busily engaged until he 
was thirty years old, but during the time he was active in Sunday School 
work and was superintendent in the Sunday School. He was a good boy, a 
good tanner and an expert shoemaker. While a student in Strafford Academy 



428 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

he sent out the first call for a county temperance society, about 1836, and 
was active in its organization, and he remained a worker for temperance to 
the end of life. Previous to being ordained to the ministry lie was a member 
of the Free Will Baptist Church at Northwood, wliere he was then at work. 
The Rockingham Quarterly fleeting, to which the church belonged, passed 
some very radical anti-sla\ery resolutions which the Northwood Church 
opposed; whereupon that church withdrew from the Rockingham O. ^I. ; Mr. 
Tasker vigorously supported the action of the O. M. and as vigorously opposed 
the church, withdrew from it ; whereupon he was dropi^ed from the rolls of 
the church, but he was afterwards restored, although he still remained a 
strong anti-slavery advocate, and lived to see his views triumphant. 

Elder Tasker was licensed to preach by the New Dunham Quarterly Meet- 
ing, at Canterbury, May 28, 1845, ^'^^ itinerated for three years, which gave 
him a training, in connection with the study he kept up, a theological course 
equal to that o])tained in the regular theological schools. He was ordained 
to the ministry at Strafford. January 13, 1S48; he had his first regular pas- 
torate with the Second Church at Harrington. He became minister of the 
Free Will Baptist Church at Sandwich, June 29, 1848, and remained there 
six years, meeting with marked success in building up the church. In Septem- 
ber, 1854, he became pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church at New Market, 
\vhere he remained a year and a half and was then recalled to Sandwich where 
he ministered another three years. Following that he was at Bow Pond 
four years and resuscitated the church there, bringing it up to the highest 
standard it ever attained. In 1S84 the church at Sandwich again called him 
to be their pastor, and he remained there until his death, August 29, 1875. 
The fact that he was twice recalled to Sandwich shows that he was a man of 
superior aliility. 

Elder Tasker was clerk of the Sandwich Quarterly Meeting and of the 
New Hampshire Yearly Meeting many years and was one of the most efficient 
business managers in those organizations. He was corporator of the Morning 
Star Priiitiiif/ Establishineiit seven years and a meml)er of the executive fioard. 
He was a member of the "Home Missionary Society" and its executi\e board 
for twenty years; also of the "Education Society." In one of his "vacations" 
he visited South Carolina and labored for a month or two among the recently 
freed negroes and saw just what were the conditions to be combatted and 
overcome. He was an excellent preacher, a good pastor, a wise counsellor 
and a worthy citizen. His wife was Hannah P. Caswell, daughter of William 
and Betsey (Tasker) Caswell of Northwood; they had a daughter and 
two sons. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 429 

Deacon Alfred Taslccr, a younger brother of I'Llcler Tasker, was born in 
Strafford, Marcli 9. ]<Si7. and always resided there, one of its honored and 
most liighly esteemed citizens; he died there Now 11, i88fi. These brothers 
were nf tlic se\'enlh generation frcini Wilhain Tas'cer, whij settled in Do\er 
before 1675; also from ivichard Pinkhani, wlio was signer of the D(i\er Com- 
bination of 1640, and t)f Richard Otis, w lu) came to Dover about i'i50, and 
was killed by the Indians, June j8, i68g, when the great massacre occurred 
at Cochecho in Dover, and his garrison was burned. Mr. Otis's daughter. 
Rose, ancestor of the Taskers, was carried away prisoner by the Indians, 
but was redeemed and brought back to Dover. 

Deacon Tasker obtained a good education from the common schools of 
his native town, Strafford Academy and Berw ich Academy. He was an 
excellent penman ; some of the composition that he wrote when attending the 
academies are still preserved and show marked ability as a student. He had 
a gift for music and an excellent bass voice, so at an early age he learned to 
sing in the church choir. For a number of years he was a teacher in winter 
schools in Strafford and towns nearby, in which work he was popular and 
successful. After he had exhausted the resources of the local instructors in 
music he went to Boston and received special instruction in church music under 
the direction of Lowell Mason, the most distinguished teacher as well as com- 
poser of that period. That was in 1846; returning to his home in Straft'ord 
he commenced teaching music, and during ever}- winter for a score of years 
following he had evening schools in several towns, in which he gave instruc- 
tion in church music to large classes. These schools w ere very popular among 
the young people, as well as the older ones. The result was that he trained 
up a class of singers which has not since been eciualled in those towns; he 
furnished all the local churches with excellent choirs. He was not only 
a good singer and teacher but was also a skilful jilayer of the violin, bugle 
and bass viol. He led the choir in the church at Center Strafford for more 
than forty years. He was senior deacon of the church there for many years. 

He was town clerk and treasurer for several terms. He was one of the 
enumerators of the census in 1880, for Straft'ord, and performed the duties 
faithfully anil accurately, but incurred a brain <Hfhculty which troubled him 
more or less each year after that, and during his last two years the disease 
gained upon him, and of which he finally died. During his whole life, 
from early manhood, he took a deep interest in religious matters, being one 
of the staunchist supporters of the church and a constant attendant at and took 
an active part in the prayer meetings and other gatherings which tended to 
support and upbuild the church and sound religious teaching. He always had 
family prayers at the close of die breakfast each morning as long as he 



430 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

kept house. He took a deep interest in educational matters and for many 
years was one of the trustees of the Academy there. He was also secretary 
and treasurer of the Strafford Mutual Fire Insurance Company for many 
years, managing the business with entire satisfaction to the company. 

Deacon Tasker was married Alarch 29, 1840, to Mary Margaret, daughter 
of Andrew Xeal and Sally (Leighton) Hill of Strafford; they had four 
daughters, only one of whom is living, Mrs. John Scales of Dover. Mrs. 
Tasker descended from a noted ancestr}-. Her grandfather .\ndrew Hill, 
who married Judith Gerrish in 1765, was one of the first settlers in Straf- 
ford "above" Blue Hill, going there soon after he was married. All their 
children were bom there. Andrew was third in descent from John Hill of 
Dover who settled in that town about 1650. His wife, Judith Gerrish, was 
granddaughter of William Gerrish and Elizabeth Mayo, his wife; William 
was a son of Col. Moses and grandson of Col. William Gerrish of Newbury, 
all eminent men in Colonial history. i\Irs. Tasker's mother was a daughter 
of .Andrew Leighton, Esq., who lived a near neighbor to the Hill family in 
Strafford, and granddaughter of Gideon Leighton. one of the first settlers 
in Strafford, and w ho was a soldier in the Revolutionarj^ army. Gideon was a 
great grandson of Thomas Leighton, an early settler in Dover and one of 
the leading citizens for a half century, following 1633. Mrs. Tasker was a 
finely educated woman, an excellent singer, a leader in church work and a 
staunch supporter of her husband in all his work. Her mother was a woman 
of remarkable talent in speaking; the ministers who heard her speak in 
church meetings said she could deliver a better sermon than any of the men. 
That was long before it was found out that women could speak in public. 

Hon. Daniel JJ'inklcy was Ijorn in what is now Straft'ord, May 26, 179-'?; 
he lived to be four score and twelve years old and was active physically 
and mentally to the end of life. He was a son of Deacon John Winkley and 
his w ife, Mary Swain, daughter of Richard Swain of "Beauty Hill." Barring- 
ton. Deacon Winkley, who was born in 1766, was a son of Samuel Winkley, 
and grandson of Francis Winkley of Portsmouth, who was an early settler 
there. Samuel was one of the first settlers in Barrington, having his farm 
in the Two-Mile-Streak. 

Daniel \Vinkley was educated in the public schools of Barrington and 
at Phillips-Exeter Academy. After graduation he taught school a while, then 
took u]) farming as his life work, but was frecjuently called on to serve his 
fellow citizens in other ways. He became an expert as a surveyor and 
especially in retracing old lines, lieing called on to do this sort of work after 
he was past the four score period in life's journey. He married Sarah Otis, 
March jo, 1816; slie was a daughter of Hon. Job Otis. Soon after mar- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 431 

riage they settled in Oxford, N. H., where they resided about ei,i,dit years. 
They then returned to Strafford and resided with his parents, and resided in 
this town from 1824 to 1S57. During that time lie served as Selectman four 
years, and as Representative in the Legislature two years. He was a Ju.stice 
of the Peace and Quorum for sixty years, and transacted considerable business 
in that line. 

In 1840 Mr. Winkley was nominated l>y the Whig party for Stale Senator; 
the democratic party then had a majority of nearly five hundred votes, as 
recorded at the preceding election. The popularity of Mr. \Vinkley was shown 
by the fact that he reduced the majurity against him to fifty votes. But Mr. 
Winkley was not specially given to |)olitics. his name and fame should ever 
remain conspicuous in Strafford history in his work establishing Strafford 
Academy on The Ridge; it was largely through his influence that it was located 
there, and he was a tower of strength in its promotion, thus laying the founda- 
tion of which has been built the splendid institution of learning, the Austin- 
Cate Academy. If it had not been for Mr. Winkley's \-igorous efforts there 
would have been no academy in the town since then. He was a trustee of the 
old academy a half century or more. Im-oui 1S57 to 1866 Mr. Winkley resided 
in Maiden, Mass. He then returned and resided on Strafford Ridge, near the 
church and the academy. He ever remained one of the town's honored, 
trusted and highly esteemed citizens. 

Elder Enoch Place was born in Rochester, July 1.^. 1786; he obtained a 
good education and cduimenced teaching winter (district) schools when he 
was sixteen years old; he worked on the farm with his father during the rest 
of the year. He continued this mode of life until he was twentv-one years 
old. Being then converted he was l)ai)tized by the Rev. Micajah Otis at Crown 
Point, and in the summer of 1807 began preaching in I'>ee Will Baptist meet- 
ings and continued in the work as minister for more than half a century. 
He was married Sept. -'9, 1808. to Miss Sally Demeritt, daughter of Capt. 
Daniel Demeritt. He and his family resided on the ancestral Place farm in 
Rochester until 1824, in the spring of which 3'ear he removed to Straft'ord 
Ridge and this became his home until his death, March 2t,, 1865, in his seventy- 
ninth year. In his later years he was afflicted with heart disease, of which 
he died. 

He became pastor of the church on the Ridge in 1824 and remained such 
nearly forty years, having assistants to some extent in his later years. He 
was not confined in his ministerial work entirelv to that church; he gave 
valuable assistance to the Crown Point Church, and did a good deal of itinerant 
work among other Free Will Baptist churches throughout the range of the 
New Durham Quarterly Meeting, assisting as revivals were held from time 



432 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

to time. Elder I'lace had a splendid physique — tall, strais^ht. full chested, 
well proportioned, with a fine head and pleasing- countenance ; his voice was 
magnificent; for many years, in the prime of life, he was Chaplain on the 
Staff of the Brigadier Generals of southeastern New Hampshire, and officiated 
at tiie Brigade musters which were many times held on the grounds near the 
Col. Isaac Waldron residence in East Barrington. On such occasions, 
mounted on a sj)lendid horse, finely caparisoned, at the proper time in the 
grand review, the Chaplain- offered prayer; it is statetl as a fact that on a 
clear day, in moderate autumn weather, his praver. though he ne\er shouted, 
could be heard a mile. 

The late Rev. Arthur Caverno said that, at times when he had heard hnn 
preach at revivals, "As he began to warm up w ith his subject, his soul would 
swim as in a place of burial rivers and streams. There was then an unutter- 
able unction in his preaching. Everything moved that could be moved by the 
human voice." 

He was one of the founders of Strafford .\cademy, and a progressive 
and tirm friend of education, missions and Sunday schools. He was a trustee 
of the Morning Star Printing Establislnncnt a number of years. For a long 
time he was clerk of the New Durham O. M., and secretary of the New- 
Hampshire Charitable Society many years, following its beginning. During 
his ministry he married more than five hundred couples, attended between 
twelve and thirteen hundred funerals. 

Dcincritt Place, eldest son of Elder Enoch Place, was for a great niany 
years one of the most active and energetic business men of Strafford; he had 
his home on The Ridge, near his father's residence. He was born in 1812; 
he li\-ed to be ninety- four years old; he was educated in the common schools 
and Strafford Academy; he was small of stature, a perfect contrast to his 
father ; he was ijuick in all his movements, both manual and mental and 
possessed an untiring energy controlled by keen, sound business judgment: 
quick of speech and sometimes ratiier brusk when he was \-ery busy initangling 
some in-iportant business knot, but always kind, generous and cordial when 
at ease from work. 

He began work in the poultry and produce business about 1835, collect- 
ing his material from citizens of Strafford and nearl)y towns. At first he 
ran his teams to Boston ; later as the railroad from Boston to Dover was 
advanced year by year he met it at the terminals and then put up his horses 
and transferred his loads to the cars and went into the Boston markets and 
made sales; when the rails were laid to Dover in 1843 '^^ ^^'^s one of the first 
men who put any freight aboard the train to go to Boston. Mr. Place never 
failed to have something to send each week, or twice a week, from that time 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 433 

until he was past eighty years of age. Vigorous and strong he traveled oil 
the same train with his freight to Boston, sleeping soundly on a bunk in the 
car. He was the first man who carried huckleberries and blueberries to Boston 
markets for sale. The demand was small at first but grew to large propor- 
tions before he gave up business. As he was very neat and particular to have 
everything clean and attractive looking he always obtained the highest price 
the market afforded. It is beyond question that Mr. Place brought more 
ready cash to the citizens of Strafford than any other half dozen men, while 
he was in business. He had a good, but not large farm, which he kept in 
good condition and from uhich he raised good crops. 

He was a trustee of the Academy many years; and chairman of the board 
several years under the new organization. He presided at the dedication of the 
new building for the Austin-Cate Academy in June, 1904, although past four 
score and ten years of age. A more useful man or better citizen Strafford 
never had. 

Among the prominent families beside those mentioned are the following: 
Waldron, Huckins, Hall, Perkins, Parshley, Tuttle, Foss, Brock, Holmes, 
Buzzell, Smith, Swain, Twombly, Brown, Whitcher, Jones, Shackford, 
Walker, Evans, Critchett, Babb, Scott, Stiles, Sloper, Caswell, Cate and 
Pillsbury. 



CHAPTER L 
HISTORY OF NEW DURHAM (I) 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS 

Xew Durham was granted by the Masonian Proprietors, May 5, 1749, 
to Jonathan Chesley. Ebenezer Smith and other citizens of Durham ; at first 
it was called Cochecho Township ; later the proprietors named it New Durham, 
for their old town, as so many of their people went there to settle they pre- 
ferred the home name, and by that name it was incorporated by the Provincial 
Assembly, Dec. 7, 1762. The first mo\-e in the business was in 1748, as 
follows : 

Proxince of Xew Hampshire 
To the Honorable Purchasers and Proprietors of Mason's Right (so called) 
— The Petition of Jonathan Chesley and Ebenezer Smith of Durham Gents 
Humbly Shews — That your Petitioners are appointed Agents for and on behalf 
of a Number of ye Freeholders and otlier Inhabitants of sd. Durham who are 
desirous of having a Certain Tract of Land granted them within sd. Mason's 
sd. Right and being con\inced (upon ye best information we can get) that 
ye property is yours and consequently that you can gi\e us a Title to what we 
desire. Therefore We Humbly pray that We and our Constituants may have 
ye Grant of a Township bounded bounding upon Rochester's head Line 
and Bamstcad upon Such Terms as Shall l)e most likely to promote your and 
our interest. 

Jonathan Chesley, 
Ebenezer Smith, 

In 1749 the following was presented to the Masonian Proprietors and 
shows who were the grantees and proprietors of the proposed new town : 

Province of New Hampshire: To the Hon. Theodore Atkinson, Esq., 
and other Gentlemen Purchasers and Proprietors of John Tufton Mason. Esq., 
his Right in Land in sd. Province a List of the Subscribers to the .Petition 
for a Tract of land abo\ e Rochester, to the above said Proprietors, preferred 
by the hands of Capt. Jonathan Chesley and Mr. Ebenezer Smith, viz. : 

Durham, April 11, 1749. 

434 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 437 

Jonathan Chesley, Ebenezer Smith, James Drisco, Joseph Duda, Jr., Joseph 
Wheeler, Benjamin Jackson, WilHani Bruce, Thomas Young (of Newmarket), 
John Cromel, Benjamin Mathes, Thomas Tush, Samuel Wille(y), Samuel 
Stevens, James Thompson, Jeremiah Drisco. Peter Moo, Jol) Runels. |r.. 
Walter Bryent, Jonathan Durgin, Aljednego Lethers, Jeremiah Burnuni, jr.. 
Joseph Hall (of Newmarket), Joseph Smith (of Newmarket), Philip Cmmet, 
John Andras, Benjamin Smith, Simon Rendel, Rnhert Burnuni, Robert Kent, 
John Beckford, Joseph Burnum, Samuel Adams, John Edgerly, Abraham 
Bennick, Jr., Thomas Langley, Eljenezer Jones, Eliphelet Daniels, [ohn h'oot- 
man, Thomas Stevenson, Jr., Valentine Mathes, Ichabod Chesley, Thomas 
Chesley, Jonathan Chesley, Jr., Aljrabam Stevenson, bVancis Drew, Tohn Inhn- 
son, Nathaniel Frost, Joseph Smith, Jr., Abraham Mathes, Eleazer Bickford, 
Benjamin Bennick, John Mason, \\'illiam Weeks (of Greenland), Lemuel 
Chesley, Joseph Sias, Samuel Chesley, Thomas Wille, Jr., Miles Randel, 
Samuel Sias, Solomon Seas, Treworthy Durgin, John Burnum, Joseph Chesley, 
Daniel Rogers, Samuel Smith, Jr., John Bennick, John Elliot, Benj. Jenkins, 
David Davis, Winthrop Burnum, Ichabod Denbo, John Wille, Jr., James 
Snn'th, Jeremiah Burnum, J(,)seph Thomas, Stephen Jones, Jr., Wm. Jack- 
son, Jr.. I'hilip Chesley, John Durgin, Francis Durgin, Pcnmore Duda, 
Nicholas Duda, Joseph Jones, Thomas Chesley, Jr., Joseph Drew, John Drew, 
John .\danis. Minister, 71iomas York, William Durgin, Theodore Wille, John 
Beckford, Jr., Valentine Hill, I^ichard Denbo, Calei^ Wakham, Joseph Weeks 
(of Greneland) and Joseph Bickford. The names on the petition are all 
numbered from i to 80. 

On the 5th of May, 1749, the Masonian Proprietors granted the petition 
above presented to them. The land to be along the he.idline of Rochester and 
to be of the extent of "six miles square adjoining a tract of land granted to 
Ebenezer Varney, William Wentworth and others and the headline of the said 
tract to be parallel with the Rochester headline." A plan of the town was 
made at Portsmouth, May 2, 1750, "At a Proprietors' meeting held at the 
house of Ann Slayton, — The Draft of ye Shares or Lots of ye Township 
granted to Jonathan Chesley, Ebenezer Smith and others." A draft of the 
lots was made, which is shown on pages 102 and 103 of volume 28 of New- 
Hampshire State Papers, which is \^ol. 5 of the Town Charters. 

This tract of land was included in the charters of "Kingswoods," Oct. 
20, 1737, which was granted during the administration of Governor Belcher, 
which was before the so-called "Masonian Proprietors" had purchased the 
claim to New Hampshire territory, above the old towns, from John Tufton 
Mason; so these "Proprietors" sold it over again, disregarding the "Kings- 
wood" transaction. Nothing appears to have been done toward making a 



438 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

permanent settlement of the territory until Dec. 7, 1762, when it was incor- 
porated with full town privileges, by the Provincial Assembly. Major Thomas 
Tash, a brave soldier of the French and Revolutionary wars, was authorized 
to call the first tow n meeting. He did not remove from his home in Durham 
to New Durham until about the close of the Revolutionar_\- war. He died there 
in 1809 at the age of eighty-seven years. 

The census of 1790 shows there were 562 inhabitants in the town of 
w hich number 138 were free white males 16 years of age and upward, includ- 
ing heads of families of whom there were 104. There were 142 children. In 
1785 there were 70 poll tax payers. Xew Durham was settled largely by 
citizens of Durham, as is shown by the L'nited States census of 1790, as 
published in 1907. Following are some of the Old Durham names that appear 
in the New Durham census, Sanniel Runnels, 13 in family, Thomas Tash, 
10 in family: John Edgerly, 4 in family, Josiah Doe, 5 in family; Caleb 
Edgerly, 6 in family: Samuel W'illey, 4 in family: Nathaniel Hanson, 6 in 
family: Lemuel Da\'is. 4 in family: Ebenezer Durgin, 5 in family: Thomas 
Tash, Jr., 4 in family: Eljenezer Beckfurd, 9 in family: Jacob Leighton, 7 in 
family; Moses Evans, 8 in family; Stephen Drew, 5 in family; John Beck- 
ford, 6 in family; Stephen jNIeadtr, 4 in family; Thomas Dame, 2 in family; 
Jonathan Hayes, 4 in family: John Bennett, 6 in family; John Roberts, 8 in 
family; Joseph Jackson, 4 in family; Ichabod Buzzey, 11 in family; John 
Glidden, 8 in famil}-; John Collemny, 11 in family; ElishaDavis, 7 in family; 
Nathaniel Durgin, 7 in family: Samuel Beckford, 9 in family; Moses E\ans, 

8 in family; Andrew Nute, 5 in family; Joseph Durgin, 8 in family; John 
Berry, 5 in family; Isaac Hanson. 8 in family; Zach Boodey, 7 in family; 
Thomas French, 7 in family ; David Elkins, 9 in family ; Nathaniel Kennston, 

9 in family. The U. S. census of 1790 shows 562 inhabitants; the census of 
1910 shows the number 523, that is 39 less 120 years before. In 1900 the 
jwpulation was 625, that is 63 more than no years before. In 1890 the 
number was 579, only 17 more than 100 years before. 

In 1770 Timothy Murray and Shadrach Allard made an inventory of the 
families, houses, improved grounds and fell trees in New Durham ; following 
are the heads of families: Ebenezer Dow, Edward and W'm. Peavey, John 
Bennick, Rob Boody, Nick Glidden, Benj. Bickford, John Glidden, Zeb 
Glidden, Nathaniel Kenniston, Jonathan Buzzell, Zach Boody, Jeremy Dow, 
Joseph Libbey, Eben Bickford, James Berry, David Allard, Benj. Mathes, 
Joseph Doe, John Collome, John Doe, Marriam Berry, Benj. Mooney, James 
Palmer, Jeremiah Taylor, Henry Allard. James Stillson, Timo Murray, 
Sidney Allard. Benj. Berrj-, John Rogers, Theo. Atkinson, Timo Davis, 
John Allard, Paul March. They reported t^j houses in town; 302 acres of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 439 

improved ground. They stated that the meeting house was enclosed, shingled 
and under floor laid ; it was underpinned and the window frames in "and no 
more finished towards it." There were two sawmills in running order, one had 
recently been burnt down. A sworn statement was made Jan. 4, 1770, before 
John Plummer, justice of the peace, that the report was correct. Another 
inventory was taken in April 1770 and the report shows 41 houses, an increase 
of 4 during the winter; and the number of families had increased from 33 
in January to 42 in April ; and there was one gristmill reported in oj^eration. 
One sawmill had been burned during the winter. The number of acres of 
improved (cleared) land was reported as 448^'S acres. 



26 



CHAPTER LI 
HISTORY OF NEW DURHAM (U) 

LOCATION, SCENERY AND BUSINESS 

New Durham is peculiar in sliape. By the terms of its charter its south 
hne was the "heatUine of Rochester," and Rochester then inchided I'^arming- 
ton, and its "uppermost (northern most) line was to run parallel with the 
Rochester line"; its east and west lines A\ere to be long enough to make an 
area of six square miles, and of course run parallel; so the length of the 
side lines is eleven miles, and the width between them four miles. The side 
lines run very nearly north and south ; the distance from the northeast corner 
to the southwest corner is twelve and one-half miles. On its south line is Farm- 
ington; on the east are Middleton, Brookfield ; on the north is Alton, Wolfebor- 
ough and Carroll; on the west is Alton, which in ancient times was called New 
Durham Gore. High hills, big rocks and mountains abound, with fertile valleys 
here and there. New Durham ridge is three miles north of the southwest corner 
of the town. On this is the lieautiful, historic \'illage where the first church 
of the Free Will Baptist denomination was organized in 1780. The ridge is 
a high elevation about three miles long and has some of the best farm land 
in t!ie county. It was one of the earliest places settled. The \illage is a little 
more than a mile from the railroad station, which lies on the northeast, in the 
\alley between the ridge and New Durham Corners, which village is one mile 
northeast of the station. The railroad is in the valley of Ela ri\'er. which flows 
from Cold Rain pond and emivties into the Coclieclio ri\'er at I'armington vil- 
lage. This river is the source of power for several sawmills. The town hall 
is at The Corners, a very pretty village, with various industries, and good farms 
about the five roads that meet there. In the center of the west side of the town 
is the village of Downiiigs mills, which takes its name from Hon. S. Downing, 
who for many years contlucted a large lumber business at the falls in Merry 
Meeting river. It is about a half mile northeast of the railroad, near the 
Alton line. This ri\-er flows from Merry Meeting Pond, whose outlet is two 
miles and a half north of Downing's mills, and half a mile from the Alton 
line. The Union Powder works are located near the outlet, and for many 

440 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 441 

years was a very busy place engaged m the manufacture of powder and other 
industries. Merry Meeting pond is ten miles in circumference, covers i.ooo 
acres and extends more than three miles from east to west of the town ; it is 
very deep. It is surrounded by the mountains of the town. Directly north of its 
eastern end is Mount Major, one mile ; one mile north of Mount Major is Crop- 
pie Crown ; one mile west of Mount Major and a half mile north of the pond is 
Mount Molly ; about two miles west of Mount Molly and bordering on the pond 
IS Devil's Den Mountain ; south of the pond is Birch hill ; at the foot of the 
south side of this hill is Marcelis pond, which is nearly in the geographical 
center of the town, which is one source of the Cochecho river which flows 
through Farmington and Rochester to Dover. There are several mills at 
falls along its course. At one of these falls Mr. F. W. Coburn has had a knife 
factory in successful operation for more than a half centurv. From a small 
plant in i860 it has grown to proportions that aftord sales of knives in every 
state m the Union. His sons continued the business. In the northern part of 
the town, between the mountains and Wolfeborough is Shaw's pond Near 
the center of the town is Rattle Snake hill, on the south side of which is a per- 
pendicular ledge 100 feet high. The lumber business has always been a source 
of much profit; the ground, when cut over, quickly reforests itself. 



CHAPTER LII 
HISTORY OF NEW DL'RHAM (.HI) 

NOTABLE CITIZEXS AND EVENTS 

Many who had served in the Revokitionary army w ere led to be settlers 
at New Durham by Col. Thomas Tasli, a soldier in the French and Revolu- 
tionary wars and was a conspicuous and influential citizen of Durham, a 
notice of whom is given under the head of Durham. He went there to reside 
after the close of the war, and he and his sons and grandsons were among the 
leading citizens for many years. Their names appear frequently on the town 
records and in business affairs for a century. In the state papers, edited by 
Isaac W. Hammond, are published petitions that were presented by the vet- 
erans, after the war with the I'rench, to the General Assembly in 1764. The 
signers are Gideon Gould, Timothy Clough, Henry Frink, Nathaniel Merrill, 
Richard Hull, Ebenezer Brow and Robert Pike. They claimed they had not 
received proper compensation for services rendered at Crown Point in 1760. 
In 1785 Mrs. Doe of New Durham claimed pay from the General Court for 
services of her husband, David Doe, as a Continental soldier. Another 
petition was presented by Peter Drown of New Durham who had served as a 
captain in Col. Stephen Peabody's regiment in the State of Rhode Island in 
1778. He was paid with depreciated currency and he asked to have the depre- 
ciation of his pay made up. Col. Thomas Tash appeared in behalf of the peti- 
tioner. Captain Drown was murdered Feb. 2, 178S, by Elisha Thomas, an 
account of which is given in the first [)art of this volume. In Decemlier, 1788, 
Samuel Runnels, petitioned for pay for service for si.x months in 
Rhode Island from Dec. 31, 1778, to June 30, 1779. In January, 1787, 
presented a petition to the General Court stating that he w as a resident of New 
Durham and had served in the army under Col. Thomas Tash in the New 
York campaign on North River and "in discharging his gun his left hand was 
torn to pieces by bursting of said gun, and his thumb carrietl away and his 
fingers and hand rendered almost useless, by means whereof he suffered most 
excruciating pain for a long time and has ever since been in a great measure 
deprived of the means of a subsistence for himself and a numerous family 

442 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 443 

of children." \M:erefore he asked for a pension or compensation in some way. 
On Feb. 3, 1791, Richard Colomy of New Durham petitioned Congress 
for a pension, stating "tliat lie was a soldier in Capt. Frederick BeU's company, 
Col. Reid's regiment, Gen. Poor's brigade in the late Continental army— that 
on tile 19th of April. 1777. i„ battle at Stillwater, he received two wounds, one 
in his knee and the other in his hi]^ and the ball still remains in his hip— by 
means of which your Petitioner and jNIemorialist is much disabled— that by 
reason of his living remote in the country, & being poor & ignorant of what to 
do, he ne\er made application to be enrolled as an invalid pensioner in New 
Hampshire till the time of enrolling had expired." Therefore he applied to 
Congress and \\as ])iit mi tlu' iinalid pension roll. 

The following is the resignation of Colonel Tash in favor of his son in 
1701 for justice of the peace in New Durham. It is given verbatim : 

. ^'cu Uurliam, Ian. 10, 171;!. 

De.\r Sir: This Conies to Inforimc you that I wrot to let you know 
that I am willing to Resign Ijeing appointed a justice of the Peace In favour 
of My Son Thomas Tash. If the President and Counsel Sees ht t.. appoint 
hmi m my Room. I Suppose that he Is well qualified for that Commission 
and will be no dishonor to them that appoints him, and I expect it will be 
agreeable to the Town (New Durham) he Lives In which Is all from your 
friend and most humble Sarxiit. 

-T) c T I • T Tiios. T.\si[. 

r. i5. — 1 wrote this Letter Least you had not received the other. 

New Durham has always been noted for its good schools. Not only that, 
but in the years previous to 1797 the citizens had organized a library .society 
for the pleasure and improvement of its members, as appears by the following 
petition which was presented to the New Hampshire General Court, May 25, 
1797: 

To the Honorable Senate and Llouse of Representatives for the State of 
New Hampshire to be convened at Concord, in said State on the first Wednes- 
day in June next : 

The petition of the Subscribers, a Committee appointed by. the New Dur- 
ham Library Society for the purpose, at their meeting held in said town on 
the 1 2th day of September last— humbly shows that said Society consists at 
present, of forty members, each of whom have paid four dollars a piece for 
the use of said society which money has been laid out to the best advantage in 
furnishing said society with the best and most useful collection of books for 
the use of the Members ;— That said Societv is still increasing in number 
and respectability and would in their opinion much faster increase if they 
were incorporated and made a body corporate and politic— on a plan similar 



444 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

to other institutions of the kind now existing in this State; that said Society 
at present are subjected to inconveniences, for want of such incorporation : — 
And as you are our poHtical fathers and guardians and, we are assured, wish 
patronize and promote useful literature, knowledge and good order among 
citizens at large, which beneficial ends are much facilitated l;)y institutions of 
this kind: — Your petitioners would therefore humbly pray, in behalf of them- 
seh'es and their associates, that your honors would be pleased to permit them 
to introduce a bill of incorporation for the purposes aforesaid, under such 
regulations and restrictions, as your Honours may deem just and reasonable, 
And your petitioner as in dut}- bound will ever pray — 
New Durliam, May 25, A. D. 1797. 

Samuel Runnels, 
Thomas Tash, Jr. 
Joseph Jack.sox, 

Conniiittcc. 

The committee was granted leave to bring in a I)ill. which was done and 
the society was duly incorporated. Since then no country tnwn in New Hamp- 
shire has had a class of better educated people than New Durham. 

Among the noisiest events of the town ha\e been the exj)l(isions of the 
powder works several times : the noise of each explosion was heard for 
many miles away. 

NOTED MEN 

Probably the Rev. Benjamin Randall should be ranked as the most eminent 
citizen New Durham has liad. He was born in Newcastle, Feb. 7, 1749; 
he died in New Durham Oct. 22, 1808, in the 60th year of his age. He 
was son of Captain Benjamin and ^largaret ()ilardaunt) Randall. He was 
grandson of the immigrant Randall, who came from England in 1700 and 
settled on Great Island, later known as New Castle. His parents late in life 
removed to Ossipee. At their death they were buried at New Durham ridge. 
He gave his son Benjamin a good mercantile education and had him learn 
the trade of sailmaker and tailor, at both of which trades the future preacher 
did good work. He gave the sea captains good sails and his patrons in Ports- 
mouth "good fits" in fashionable suits. He liked the work well enough Init it 
did not satisf}' his mental powers or his religious feelings. He united with the 
Congregational Church in Newcastle when he was twenty-three years old. 
When he was t\\enl}'-s!x he cliangcd his \icws on the tpiestion of baptism 
and joined the Calvin Baptist Church at Berwick, Me. When he was a lioy 
he went on sea voyages w ith his father occasionally, but he never learned to 
swear, as was then the fashion among sailor boys. He was married when twen- 
ty-two years of age. His wife was Joanna Oram, daughter of Robert Oram ot 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 445 

kittery. In 1775 he was orderly sergeant for a uliile during the siege of 
Boston in Captain Mooney's company. On leaving tiie army he began to 
preach, havmg been baptized, by immersion, by Rev. WiHiam Hooper at Ber- 
wick, the first Baptist minister in .Maine. Mr. Randall conducted meetings, 
m an itmerant way. in various towns, Madbury among tlie number. At this 
place some Xe\\- Durham people, who were visiting their old homes in Durham 
heard Inm preach and invited him to visit their new town and conduct meet- 
mgs, and he went there in the spring of 1777; he went there again in the 
autumn of that year. That was the nay he was led to towns in which he was 
to do his historic work. The next year. ,778, he moved his family, wife and 
several children, to i\ew Durham and that remained his home the rest of his 
life. There his children were educated, having the advantage of library 
already referred to. No doubt Elder Randall was one of the forty members 
of the Library Association. He purchased thirty acres of land on the ridge 
and kept it well cultivated in raising good crops for his family. His corn crops 
were among the best in town. 

In his preaching he had expressed opinions which the Berwick Baptist 
Church pronounced heretical and he was arraigned before a council for exam- 
mation. The council excommunicated him. He was soon after ordained as 
an evangelist, April 5, 1780. On Saturday, June 30. 1780, he organized the 
First Free Will Baptist Church, at New Durham ridge, his home Mr R-^n- 
dall made a draft of the Articles of Faith and the Covenant, and seven per- 
sons endorsed the draft, and tlie First Free Will Baptist Churcii was born 
Tt still lives and flourishes on the ridge. In these later years the word "W^iir' 
was dropped from the name. Soon others joined the new society For 
thirty years Elder Randall was its clerk and the records are in fine shape for 
historians to consult. Elder Randall did not "hide his light under a bushel" • 
he lived on a high hill and he let his "new light" shine\iear and far. The 
commotion he produced cannot be appreciated in the calm days of this twen- 
tieth century. The people were all stirred up. and those who opposed his 
views drew out the thread of their verbosity nnich finer than the staple of 
their discourse which stirred up the people all the more. He became a tireless 
worker and aroused others to take hold and help him ; but he was everywhere 
acknowledged as leader— the others followed. They did not have to attend a 
theological school to learn how to preach Elder Randall's free will doctrine ; 
hearing him preach a few times was enough. He crossed the line into Maine 
and stirred up the people everywhere he went. Churches were organized- 
then followed the Quarterly Meetings; then the Yearly Meetings, so, before 
he died in 1808, he had a perfect organization, working harmoniously and 
vigorously. Elder Randall (they called all their ministers Elder, not Rev- 



446 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

erend) did not start out to do any such a big job in 1778, but once he started 
he could not stop; tlie terrific opposition he met pushed him forward instead 
of backward. 

Benjamin Randall was a man of sound judgment, possessing a well- 
balanced mind. He was a good organizer and a strict disciplinarian. His 
piety was deep and strong. As a preacher he reasoned instead of ranting. 
His integrity was never questioned. He had a keen sense of ministerial 
propriety. He was a total abstainer from the use of intoxicating liipiors as a 
beverage, at a time when rum drinking was fashionable and its use was con- 
sidered necessary for courteous treatment of friends and strangers, and 
especially at weddings and funerals. 

Mrs. Randall survived her husband eighteen years, dying in 1826. They 
ha\'e many distinguished descendants. 

Rev. Joseph Franklin Joy was born on New Durham ridge, May 15, 1838, 
son of Samuel and \Yaty (Pettegrew) Joy. His father was a farmer and 
deacon in the First F'ree Will Baptist Church, organized by Elder Randall. 
Mr. joy fitted for college at New Hampton Academy; graduated from Dart- 
mouth College in 1863. After graduation he w as connected with the Sanitary- 
Commission at \\''ashington. D. C, for se\'eral months, then took up the study 
of medicine at Bowdoin College Medical School, Init ga\e that up at the end 
of a year to prepare for the ministry, being" strongly imiiressetl that he must 
take that course. He was licenseil to preach by a (Juarterl_\- Meeting of the 
Free Will Baptists at Northwood in January, 1865, and was ordained at Xew 
Durham in May, 1865, and became pastor of the church on the ridge, which 
position he held until 1872; he was minister at Milton 1872-75; and again at 
New Durham 1875-1883. He then went west and resided at Frankfort. 
South Dakota, engaged in farming until 1891, when he returned to New Hamp- 
shire and was minister of the church at Farmington 1891-96, and member of 
the school committee several years. He lived retired after that, engaged in 
farming. 

Elder Joy was a faithful student in college and Christian gentleman every- 
where. As a preacher he was not the equal of F'lder Randall, Init he was a 
faithful supporter of the doctrines as the Creat Foun<lcr proclaimed them. 
He was always ready to lend a helping hand to every good cause, so far as 
his means permitted. He was a very cordial man to converse w ith and was a 
faithful worker in all that he undertook. In his later years he was in poor 
health. He died in 1907. 

Rev. John S. Runnels was born in New Durham in 1797, son of Samuel 
and Mary (March) Runnels. His parents were among the first converts under 
the leadership of Elder Randall. They were well-to-do farmers and their 



AXD REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 447 

son followed that business until he was thirty years of age, when he made a 
change and engaged in business in Portland, Me. May 29, 183 1, in that city, 
he married Susan McCann. He was always a zealous I'Vee Will Baptist and 
active in church and Sunday school work. About 1840 he became impressed 
to enter the mmistr>'; in 1842 he was ordained by the Wolfeborough Quarterly 
Meeting and commenced itinerant work in New Hampshire and proved to be 
an efficient worker from 1842 to 1847; '^e was pastor of the Second Free Will 
Baptist Church, at Poland, Me., from 1847 to 1854. He died there March 22, 
1854. 

Rcz\ iluvirs LiitJicr riulcliain was born in New Durham Nov. iS, 
1841, son of Luther Hale and Mary Chamberline (Wallace) Pinkham. He 
was educated at the New liampton Institution and Bate's Theological School, 
from which he was graduated in 1879, but he had been licensed to preach in 
1874 and had done much work in that line while carrying on his studie>. He 
was ordained Oct. 17, 1879. He then became pastor of the church there 
and served ten years. After that he held several pastorates; was chaplain of 
the state prison two years; state missionary and secretary seven years; treas- 
urer of the Xew Hampshire Mission Board six vears ; pastor of the b'rec Will 
Baptist Church several years, during the time being its representative in the 
Legislature in 1903, in which year he died, December 22. Mr. Pinkham for 
many years held a place in the fr(.)nt rank of the Free P.aptist ministry, 

Mrs. Marilla Marks (i'niiii;/) Rickcr. a biographical sketch of whom can 
be found in another part of this volume, is a native of New Durham. Her 
ancestors were among the first settlers in the town and her kinsmen still abide 
there. She is proud of her native town and pays it an annual visit. At her 
death she has made suitable provisions for the cremation of her body and the 
burial of the ashes in the old family burial ground on the beautiful hill. 

Mrs. Ricker was given a good education, as well as a thorough training in 
domestic science by her good mother. She was a brilliant school teacher 
before marriage; she became a widow when a young woman; she was ambi- 
tious to do things and not afraid to say things at the proper time ; she studied 
law in Washington, D. C. ; she was admitted to the bar there and practiced her 
profession. In later years she returned to Xew Hampshire and resided at 
Dover. She applied for admission to the New Hampshire bar; she was finally 
admitted by a very elaborate decision rendered by Chief Justice Doe of the 
Supreme Court, being the first woman admitted to the bar to practice law in 
this state or in Xew England. 

Mrs. Ricker was born of good Free Will Baptist parents and is a strong 
admirer of Elder Benjamin Randall, and she bears the name of one of the 
most noted women of the Free Will Baptist denomination, Mrs. Marks, who 



448 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was the wife of tlie Rev. Da\id Marks. But, strange to say, Mrs. Ricker 
adopts and lives up to only a part of Elder Randall's creed ; she is a thorough 
believer in free will and has practiced it for many years, omitting the Baptist 
part of the creed. Xew Durham had an Old Home Day celebration not long 
ago and Mrs. Ricker was the orator of the day. The celebration was a grand 
success and her address was applauded much in its 'delivery and will be long 
remembered by those who heard it. She praised her native town and set forth 
its beauties and its grand attractions for summer visitors. She made special 
note of the fact that there were no illiterate adults in New Durham, and never 
had been from the beginning of the settlement in the primeval forest before 
the Revolutionary war began. The town has alwaj's provided good schools 
and the families have raised good children to be educated in them. Its farmers 
and especially its housewives arc and always have been among the best and 
most industrious in New Hampshire. New Durham has some very rocky 
places and hills hard to climb, Init it has good farms and good farmers in the 
smoother places, and her forests are perennial. For a number of years 
Mrs. Ricker has made Dover her chief residence, spending the cold winter 
weather in warmer southlaml. 



CHAPTER I.III 
HISTORY OF AHDDLETON (I) 

ORIGIN OF ITS NAME LEADING POINTS IN ITS HISTORY 

Micldlcton is in the middle of the most northern part of Strafford comity. 
It Hes in a wedge-shape form between Mihon on the east and south, and New 
Durham on the west. It received its name from its location. It was granted 
by the Masonian proprietors to certain petitioners who had settled there, or 
proposed to do so, March 21, 1770. These settlers were immigrants into the 
forests from Lee, Rochester and Somersworth, a leader anmng wlnjm was 
Thomas Morgan. It then included the present town of Brookfield. and when 
the original Strafford county was incorporated the Brooktield part was in 
the county, but is now in Carroll county. Up to the beginning of the Revolu- 
tion the settlements were all in the vicinity of Middleton Corners. In 1773 
they presented the following petition to the General .Assembly of New 
Hampshire : 

ProA'ince of New Hampshire 

To His Excellency, John \\'entworth, Esq., Captain Ceneral and Com- 
mander-in-Chief in and over said Province of New Hampshire, etc., etc., and 
to the Honorable His Majesty's Council for the Same — 

The Humble petition of a Number of the inhabitants and proprietors of 
the Township of Middleton in the county of Strafford and province aforesaid, 
being a tract of land granted by the Proprietors of Mason's patent so called 
on the 2 1 St day of March, 1770 — Most Humbly showeth that great progress 
is made and is still making towards the Compleat Settlement of said 
tract of land and that the inhabitants and proprietors thereof have been at 
great expense and Charge in making public roads through said Township for 
the benefit of His Majesty's Service — Your petitioners therefore pray that 
your excellency and Honours would be pleased to incorporate said tract of 
lanfl into a Township with such priviledges as other Towns enjoy within this 
Province by the bounds and limits contained in sd. Grant and your Petitioners 
as in duty bound shall ever pray. 

Middleton, July 7, 1773— 

449 



450 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

John Drew, William Hill. Xicholas Tuttle, Xatluuiiel X'arney. Isaac Drew, 
Nathaniel W'entworth, Josiah Johnson, Henry Young, Joseph Cook. John 
Hanson, John Tash, Ezekiel Sanborn, Isaac Stanton, John Gage. 

This petition was duly considered but not granted, but they were authorized 
i(j choose selectmen and a constable for the sole purpo.se of raising a provmcc 
tax, and the following was the tax collected: in 1775. 7 pounds, 4 
shillings; 1776, 4 pounds, 6 shillings, 6 pence; 1777, 2-j pounds, 14 shill- 
ings, 4 pence. And in 1777 the inhabitants presented the fnllowing petition: 

State of New Hampshire 

To the Honorable General Assembly now convened at Exeter: 
The [Memorial of Simeon Dearborn in'liehalf of the Inhabitants of Middle- 
town and Leavits Town (so called) Humbly shews that said Inhabitants are 
not incorporated into Towns, but were by the General Court of said State 
(when under the former Government) Authorized to-chuse Selectmen and a 
Constable for the Sole purpose of Raising a Province Tax — Since the late 
distraction of the time have neglected to chuse said Officers, by which means 
they are returned to a State of Nature — Therefore your ]\lemorilist Humbly 
Prays that said Inhabitants may be in\ested with Town priveleges, and in 
such a manner (if consistent) as to retain the I'mprietary pri\ ileges as here- 
tofore — and your Petitioner shall as in duty Bound ever pray — 

Simeon Df..\kiiorx. 
Exeter, March loih. 1777. 

The prayer of the petitioner was answered by the General Court by incor- 
porating Middleton March 4, 1778. The name Leavits Town disapi>ears, 
which was locally api)lied to the northern part, now Brooktield. The two 
sections are separated by the almost impassable mountains: Great Moose, 
Bald and Parker's Mountain. In 17(85 the following petition was presented to 
the General Court of New Hampshire asking for a division of the town along 
these mountains and have the northern section annexed to Wolfsborough. 

State of New Hampshire 

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court 
Convened at Concord, third Wednesday of October, 1785. 

Humbly Shew the Inhabitants of the Second Division of [Middletown, 
in the County of Strafford, and State aforesaid, that they are situated at 
great distance from the place of holding the public meetings in said Town, 
prevented from going to the other part of the Town w here most of the Inhabi- 
tants live, without traveling into another Town first, through roads almost 
impassible for the greater part of the year — Your Petitioners being so cir- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 451 

cuinstanced have been and must be deprived of the benefit of all town privileges 
in Middletown while they belong thereto — That as your Petitioners can more 
conveniently attend public meetings in Wolfeljorough, shold the Meeting 
House there be built at tlie place agreed on — They pray that they may be dis- 
annexed from Middletown and annexed to Wolfeborough. or otherwise 
relieved from their present grievance' — And your Petitioners as in duty bound 
shall e\er ])ray. 

Nicholas Austin, 

for Petitioners. 

The petition is signed by forty-six names but there is no date attached; it 
was in 1785. When the inhabitants south of the mountains heard of this peti- 
tion they bestirred themselves and got up the following remonstrance which was 
sent to the October meeting of the General Court : 

State of New Hampshire, Strafford, S. S. 

To the Honorable the General Court (jf said State — The Petition of us 
the Subscribers, h>eeholdcrs and Inhabitants of the Town of Middletown in 
said State Humbly shevveth that we your Petitioners are much Surprised to 
hear that a Number of People Inhabiting the upper part of our Town have 
petitioned to be set ofif from us in the infant State of our Town as we all are 
but few in numl)er and the State of our affairs both Public and Private being 
such that if granted we apprehend would be a great disadvantage to the 
General Welfare and Advancement of the Town, if not Ruin Both, Therefore 
we Humbly pray that their said Petition be not granted, or at least that it 
may be suspended to some futer Day, and Your Petitioners in duty bound 
shall pray. 

Middle Town, May jSth. 1785. 

This is signed by thirty- four men among whose names are Perkins, Hanson, 
Pike, Cook, Whitehouse, Baker, Horn, Ellis, Bickford, Richards, Garland, 
York, Wentworth, Johnson, Keniston, Burnham, Stanton. These remonstrants 
won and the devision did not take ])lace until Dec. 30, 1794, when the north 
part was incorporated into a town named Brookfield. For a number of years 
these two towns united in sending a re])resentati\e to the Legislature. In i8j6 
David Davis, Esq., who represented these towns in the Legislature, caused a 
special act to be passed, allowing each town a member, neither of which had the 
constitutional number of votes. 

The first settled minister was Rev. Neiiemiah Ordway (orthodox). Plis 
successor, Elder John Buzzell, a Free ^\'ill Baptist, established a church, since 
which time this has been the prevailing religious sentiment. 

The southern and central parts of Middleton have a level surface, but 
while looking north. Great Moose, Bald, and Parker Mountains tower up 



452 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

before the eye of the beliolder, fonning a natural buhvark between tliis and 
the town of Brookfield. The soil yields good returns by that perseverance 
and industry which characterizes New Hampshire farmers; the mountains 
protect them from the cold north winds so the town afifords some of the most 
delightful residences in New Hampshire. Many of the farmers are in pros- 
perous circumstances. 

Middleton Comers, a little hamlet south of the center of the town, is the 
principal place of business. Here is the postoilfice, the stores, a hotel, a public 
hall, and one Free Will Baptist Church edifice. 

Middleton contains 7,154 acres, of which 4.000 are improved by cultiva- 
tion. The census of 1790 shows there were 107 heads of families in the 
town, and 613 inhabitants. The largest family had 13 to provide for; 8 and 
10 in a family was common; there were 164 boys under 16 years of age; 
there were 304 women and girls. Among the family names were: Furnald, 
Palmer, Willey, Drew, Durgin, Daniels, Brown, Stanton, Austin, Johnson, 
Tibbets, Stodard, Nickerson, Coldair. W'hitehouse. I^yford, Roberson, Pike, 
Dearborn, Hanson, Watson, \\'iggins. Clay, Palmer, Keniston. Perkins, Cham- 
berlain, Kent, Edgerly, Stellings, Alley, Sanborn, Wentworth, Dearborn, 
Sawyer, Hill, Woodman, Colley, Bryant, Perkins, Gappy, Baggey, Hines, 
liickford, Horn, Beiuiett, Da\is, Twombly, Hix, Runnels, Place, Gerrish, 
Richards, Frost, and Baker. The present residents of the town, in 19 13, are 
practically descendants of these families and are sturdy representatives of the 
English stock of New England. They have good schools there and every 
child goes to school. No illiterates in Middleton. The census of 1870 shows 
a population of 482, that is a decrease of 131 ; in 1890 it was 207; in 1900, 
300; in 1910, 291, the smallest ever, 15 less than half the number it was 
in 1790. 

The boundary lines of the town are sixteen in number, taking the highest 
record of any town in the county. The lines on the east and on the west run 
very nearly north and south, and are parallel and four miles apart ; Wake- 
field is on the east and New Durham on the west. The south line, between 
Middleton and Milton, runs northeast-southwest, and is five miles and a half 
long. The north line, between it and Brookfield, has 13 angles and thirteen 
straight lines ; the surveyors could not do any better ; they could not get over the 
mountains which cover the way without zig-zagging in tlie manner the line 
apjiears on the map. 

The most northern source of the Salmon Falls river has its rise in Great 
Moose mountain in the northwest corner of Middleton. In the southwest 
part of the town is a pond which is the source of the Cochecho river; the orig- 
inal pond is much enlarged by a reservoir dam. 



CHAPTER LIV 
HISTORY OF MIDDLETONN (H) 

NOTED PERSONS BORN IN MIDIJLETON 

Rcz: JJ'illiain Biiccell, a Free Will Bajjtist minister wasi born in Middle- 
ton, Jan. 4, 1775. He was a son of William and a cousin of Rev. 
John Buzzell, who resided there from 1768 to 1798. Their parents went 
there from Barrington. He was a fanner until he was about thirty years 
old, when he was converted under the Free Will Baptist influence and com- 
menced preaching at Middleton in 1804; he was ordained to the niinistr\- in 
1806 and served as pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church in that town un- 
til 1831, a period of thirty-seven years. During the time he had charge, 
some years, of the New Durham (Elder Randall's) Church, He preached 
more than one thousand funeral sermons, being well known and highly 
esteemed in all the towns around. He officiated at more than six hundred 
weddings, and baptized several hundred. He possessed marked ability as 
a preacher, and his commanding presence and sonorous \-oice made him 
specially serviceable in grove meetings. When he was tempted to remove 
from Middleton and change his pastorate such was the love of his brethren 
for him that they would not pennit him to leave the Middleton Church. 
He died June 14, 1841 : two brothers and a cousin and two nephews were 
ministers. 

Rei>. John York was born in Middleton, March 4, 1783: he died in 
East Dixmont, Maine, April 25. 1862. aged seventy-nine years. He was 
converted at a revival in his nati\'e town when he was a young man and 
was baptized by Elder Benjamin Randall ; when he was twenty-four years 
old he married and removed to Dixmont, Maine, and soon after became a 
member of the Free Will Baptist Church at Newburgh when it was organ- 
ized in 1809, and he took the" oversight of it as pastor, and in t8ti was or- 
dained as an evangelist. The ordination service took place at Wilton. 
Maine, where Rev. Ebenezer Scales was minister and officiated in the ordi- 
nation ceremonies. He retained his residence at East Dixmont. but did 
itinerary work as an evangelist in Monroe, Brooks and Jackson, Maine, be- 

453 



454 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

sides liolding the pastorate at Newbiirgh up to 1S19. In the follow ing years 
he labored in twenty-two towns in Eastern Maine and organized six 
churches. He was in active service up to 1857, but in the closing five years 
of his life he preached only occasionally. 

Rev. Daniel Biizzell Goodivin was born in Aliddleton Feb. 22, 181 1, son 
of Dr. Joseph and Anna (Hanson) Goodwin. He was converted when a 
young man, and being a good speaker he labored as a lay e\angelist in the 
interval when he was not busy with his necessary work on his farm in 
Middleton. He was a welcome \isitor in W'olfeborough, Tuftonborough, 
Moultonborough and Alilton, and was an able assistant in many revivals. 
Occasionally he spoke in Maine, at Lebanon, San ford and Berwick. He 
simply claimed to be a Christian. In January, 1858, he was ordained to 
the niinistn,- at Moultonborough by the Staf¥ord County Conference of 
Christians, and was minister of the church there 1858-71 ; at West Milton, 
1871-80. He continued his residence in that town, but was without a charge 
the remaining eight years of his life. He died Oct. 10, 1888. 

Rez'. Edmund Chadzi'ick was born in !\Iiddleton, Jan. 12, 1812; died at 
Eddytown, Xew York, April 7, 1899. He wa a student at Dartmouth Medi- 
cal College for a time, \\'ater\ille College, 1836-38, graduating from 
Bowdoin in 1840. Following that he was a teacher at Nashville, Tennessee, 
two years. In 1843 he commenced studying for the ministry at Lane Theolog- 
ical Seminary. He finished his studies at Bangor Theological Seminary, from 
which he was graduated in 1845. He was licensed to preach by the Penobscot 
Association (Congregationalist), at Bangor, Maine, Nov. 12, 1844. Ordained 
at Franklin in 1845, agent of Sabbath School Assocition, Ohio, 1843-4; prin- 
cipal Starkey Seminary, 1847-61 ; principal of Dundee (New York) Academy, 
1863-7 ; president of County Teachers' Association, and loan commissioner for 
the United States deposit school fund for the State of New York. He held 
high rank among the educators of New York state. 



CHAPTER LV 
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER (I) 

GEOGRAPHICAL TOPOGRAPHICAL INCORPORATION- — THE ROYAL CHARTER 

THE TOWN NAMED FIRST MEETING OF PROPRIETORS — FIRST CLERK 

FIRST SELECTMEN SURVEY OF THE TOWNSHIP DRAWING THE LOTS 

THE PIONEER SETTLER OTHER EARLY SETTLEMENTS SUBSEQUENT DIVI- 
SION OF LANDS "NORWAY PLAINs" CLOSE OF THE PROSPECTORS* REIGN 

LAST MEETING TOWN ASSUMES CONTROL OF AFFAIRS. 

The town of Rochester Hes in the eastern part of the county, and is 
bounded as follows : On the north by Farmington and Milton, on the east 
by Salmon Falls river, which separates it from Maine, on the south by Som- 
ersworth, Dover and Barrington, and on the west by Barrington, Strafford 
and Farmington. 

The surface of the town is rolling, and the soil generally fertile. It is 
watered by the Salmon Falls, Cochecho, and Isinglass rivers. 

Incorporation. — This town was incorporated by royal charter under date 
of May ID, 1722. The charter was granted in the name of King George I, 
and the signing of this document, which gave a "local habitation and a name" 
to this section, was the last act of government performed by Gov. Samuel 
Shute, his Majesty's Governor of the Colonies of Massachusetts and New 
Hampshire. Its caption bears the following: 

" George, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King 
Defender of the faith, etc." 

The town was named in honor of the Earl of Rochester, a brother-in- 
law of King James II, and one of the most eminent men of his time. For 
a number of years he had held the exalted position of lord treasurer. 

Immediately following the charter is "A Schedule of the names of the 
Proprietors of the Town of Rochester with their respective proportions 
ascertained being Part of the Charter." First appears a list of fifty-two 
whole-share proprietors, heading which is the name of Col. Richard Wal- 
dron, and at the close "Parsonage," "Use of Grammar School," and "First 
Ordained Gospel Minister." Secondly. "Half-share Proprietors;" of these 

455 



456 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

there are eight. Then come twenty- four quarter-share proprietors, and, final- 
ly. "Associates admitted, Governor Shute for a home lot and five hundred 
acres ; Lieut. -Governor Wentworth, ditto. Eight other members of the Gov- 
ernment Council a w hole share each." 

The petition for the charter of the town was signed by most of the in- 
habitants of Dover, with others from Portsmouth, Xewington and Durham. 

The first meeting of the proprietors was held at the meeting-house in 
Cochecho, July 9, 1722, "to consider, debate, and resohe such matters and 
things" as were necessary for the performance of the conditions of the cliar- 
ter. Col. Richard W'aldron was chosen moderator, and Paul Gerrish town 
and proprietor's clerk. 

The first condition of the charter required that within three years the 
proprietors should build a house and settle a family therein, and within four 
years plant or sow tliree acres of ground. The right of those wIki fail to 
complv was forfeited. It was therefore decided at this meeting that the most 
commodious part of the town should be laid out into "home lots," where 
the several proprietors might build their houses and settle their families. A 
committee was appointed to "pitch upon" the best location, and were also 
instructed to lav out roads and also a suitable "train-field." The clerk was 
instructed to procure a "book consisting of three cpiires of paper Ijound up 
in parchment, at the charge of the commoners," to keep the records in. This 
was all the business transacted. In consequence of the Indian troubles, 
which kept the border settlements in a constant state of alarm for the next 
few years, no meeting of the proprietors was held until April 24, 1727. At 
this meeting Paul Gerrish was reelected clerk and served until his death, in 

1744- 

The first selectmen were also chosen at this meeting, as follows: Capt. 

Francis Matthews, Capt. John Knight, and Paul Gerrish. At this time but 

little interest seems to have been taken in the new plantation. The selectmen 

notified the comnnttee which had been appointed five years before to lay out 

the home lots to reconsider a plan of division, and after five months a plan 

was submitted which proved not acceptable to the proprietors, and was voted 

"void and of no effect." 

Capt. Robert Evans was then chosen by the proprietors to survey and 
lay out the plantation in 125 lots, one lot for each share, of sixty acres each, 
in ranges from Salmon Falls river to the Barrington line. 

The sun-ey having been made, the drawing of the lots was commenced 
Dec. 13, at the meeting-house in Cochecho, by Rev. James Pike, and com- 
pleted on the following day at Oyster River (DurhamV whither the meeting 
bad adjourned. 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS 457 

The territory now lia\'ing been properly laid out, and the home lots 
satisfactorily drawn, the next move was the settlement of the town; and 
to Capt. Timothy Roberts it seems is due the honor of having been the first 
to settle within the bounds of the present town of Rochester. This was 
Dec. _'6, i7_>8. He was not a proprietor, but purchased a quarter of a share 
of Samuel Twombly, of Dover, for ten pounds. He located below Gonic 
on a part of lot 90, first di\-ision. The deed of Twombley to Roberts was 
the first cnn\eyance of lan<l in the territury. C/aptain Rubcrts was soon fol- 
lowed by other pioneers, pronnnent among whom were b-leazer Ham, Ben- 
janfin Frost, Benjanfin Teliltets and Jnseph Richards. I^'rom this time for- 
ward the settlement rapidly increased in ixiijulation, and soon became known 
throughout the state as one of the most important of the Ijonk-r hcUlements. 

Although some of the settlers were of the Scotch-Irish immigrants, still 
the town -was settled principally by people from Dover, where the greatest 
niimlier cif the proprielnrs li\e(l. ( )f the first si.xty lannlies not one-fiftli 
part were families of actual proprietors. To the original proprietors the 
lands were evidently more a matter of speculation and profit than of nccu- 
pation and improvement. It is worthy of notice that the names now most 
comniDU in town are those which frequently occur in the list of proprietors. 
Among these are Hayes, W'entworth, Hanson, b'ickford, Edgerlv, \Miite- 
house, Hurd. Horn, Foss, Ham, Evans, Roberts, Varney and Tebbets. 

A]5ril 20. 1730, it was decided to make another di\-ision of land, com- 
prising a nnicJT larger tract than the first, b'.acli sliare contained not less 
than two hundred and forty acres, extended from the head of the first divi- 
sion to the region of the Three Ponds, including a large part of the present 
towns of Milton and Farnnngton. In the first and second ranges, third divi- 
sion, was a level tract, quite large in extent, to which was given the name 
of "Norway Plain," from the Norway pines with which it was covered. A 
large part of the plain was left common, and was the site of the present 
village of Rochester. 

December 17, 1730. the lots were drawn, and at the same meeting a town 
treasurer was chosen. Beside se\-eral votes in relation to the church and the 
minister, it was also voted that the ten-rod road running across the town 
by the meeting-house should bq cleared "fitt for man and horse to pass and 
repass." An overseer was appointed, with authority to hire men to carrv 
on the work. 

The proprietors held the entire control of affairs in the town until about 
the year 1740, when their political importance rapidly declined. They, how- 
ever, kept up an organization until 1763. but their business was restricted to 
matters which concerned the property only. The last meeting of the proprie- 



458 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

tors was held at Stephen Wentworth's, in Rochester, June 28, 1784, when the 
town clerk was elected proprietor's clerk, and all lx)oks and papers of the pro- 
prietors were passed into his custody, and the office l>ecame vested in him 
and his successors forever. 



CHAPTER LVI 
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER (H) 

ANCIENT LOCAL NAMES AND LAND GRANTS 

The territory of Rochester has an interesting history antedating 1722 
by tliree score and ten years, at least. Although Dover began to be set- 
tled in the spring of 1623 its exact boundary was not detennined, by com- 
missioners appointed by the general court of Massachusetts, until 1652. The 
committee consisted of William Payne, Samuel Winslow and Nathan Boyse. 
The northern line was started at the first falls in Lamperill river and ran 
on a "west by north" line to the Salmon Falls river, at a point four miles 
above the first falls in the Newichewannick ri\er (South Berwick). 

All the territory north of this line belonged to Massachusetts, and the 
general court made several grants accordingly. Dover town meetings made 
all the land grants inside of its own boundary. 

SQUAMANAGONIC 

The first grants made by Massachusetts general court in Rochester terri- 
tory were to Mrs. Parnell Nowell and her son, Samuel, Mr. Samuel Nowell, 
each one thousand acres, Oct. 14, 1656. Mrs. Nowell was widow of Increase 
Nowell of Boston, who died there Nov. i, 1655. The record says he came 
over with John Winthrop in 1630. He was appointed ruling elder that year, 
but resigned in 1632, and crossed the river and founded the church in Charles- 
town. He was commissioner of military affairs in 1634 and secretary of 
Massachusetts colony, 1644-9. At that date he joined an association which 
was organized to abolish the custom of wearing long hair, which was at that 
time a mark of "dignified office and estate," and wrote and spoke with much 
vehemence on that subject. He died in poverty, hence, the next year after his 
death, the Massachusetts General Court Record, Oct. 14, 1656, has the fol- 
lowing : 

"The Court being sencible of the low condition of the late Honnored Mr. 
Nowell's family & Remembering his long Service to this Commonwealth in the 

459 



460 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

place not only Magistrate but Secretary, also, for wich he had but litle and 
slender Recompense, & the Countries debts being such as out of the Country 
Rate they Cannot Comfortably make such an honorable recompense to this 
family as otherwise they would Judge meete, therefore do Give and Grant to 
Mrs. Xowell and her sonne Samuell two thousand acres of land to be laid out 
by .Mr. Thomas Danforth and Roljert Hale in any part of the Countrie not yet 
Graunted to others in two or three famis that may not hinder any plantacion 
to be erected " 

This Samuel Xowell was born in Roston in 1634; graduated from Harvard 
College in 1O53, ''i"<^' ^^'i^ chaplain under Gen. Josiah Winslow in the Indian 
battle Dec. 19, 1674, in which he e\inced "a fearless mien while the balls 
whistled around him." He was an assistant i6<So-6. and treasurer of Harvard 
College several years. The Massachusetts court record of Nov. 18, 1658, 
shows the return of the survey of the grants made by Danforth and Hale. 
In brief it is that Mrs. Xuwell's farm of one thousand acres on the "northwest 
side of Scohomogomocks Hill, lately planted by Indians and lying two miles 
in length up the Ouochecho river," etc. * * * "Also laid out unto 
Mr. Samuell X'owell one thousand acres lying on ye south and east side of the 
aforesaid Scohomogomocks Hill and is bounded with the wilderness land 
Anent the great Pine Stcaiiip on the northeast side thereof and continued be- 
tween that and the Chochecho River towards Dover bounds, the which south- 
east line wee could not cleerly determine because Dover bounds is as yett 
unlaid out." In 1679 the bounds were determined more definitely as other 
grants were being made around the Xowell thousand-acre "farms." 

This grant is the first record that contains any mention of what is now 
known, for short, as Gonic. The surveyors of course spelled it as it was pro- 
nounced. The name next appears thirty years later, Jan. 3. 1688. when the 
Indian Sachem Hoope Whood. Samll Lines. Quid Robbin. and Kinge Harry 
conveyed to Peter Cofiin all right and title to the marshes and timber between 
the two branches of the Cochecho "beginning at the run of water on the north 
side of Squammagonake old planting ground (and between the two branches), 
to begin at the spring where the old cellar was, and so to run ten miles up into 
the country between the branches by the rivers" (Cochecho and Isinglass). In 
land transferred since then the name is frequently used. The English of the 
word is "water from the clay-place hill." Tho.se surveyors. Thomas Dan- 
forth and Robert Hale, were men of note. Danforth was born in Eng- 
land in 1622: died in Cambridge. Mass.. in 1699. He came to X'ew England 
in 1634. He was assistant under the IMassachusetts government from 1659 
to 1678. becoming deputy governor in 1679: he remained deputy governor and 
President of Maine until 1688. He was one of the judges of the Massachn- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 461 

setts Supreme Court who condemned the witchcraft proceedings of 1692. In 
his )'oung-er days he was an expert land surveyor. 

WITCHTROT 

Tlie next grant of Rochester territory (^ before it was Rochester), was made 
Oct. II, 1670, wlien tlie Massachusetts court granted one thousand acres to 
Dr. Benjamin Whitchcot and Rebecca, his wife, "in any Free Place on Condi- 
tion they gave the Massachusetts Colony a Release, and full accpiittance from 
all after Claims and Demands," which condition was complied with. The 
place he selected is on the Salmon h'alls ri\er above the boundary of old Dover, 
now Somersworth. Of course he came around by water from P)Oston to the 
falls at South Berwick, then went up the Salmon Falls river, hunting for a 
place to locate his thousand acres. When he arri\ed at what is now East 
Rochester he decided to have his grant laid out there, on the west side of the 
river. Jonathan Dan forth, a noted surveyor and kinsman of the above-men- 
tioned Thomas Danforth, made the survey and a return of it to the Massa- 
chusetts court Aug. 13, 1672, and the following is a copy from his record, now 
on file in Boston : 

One thousand acres lying upon a branch of the Pascataqua River, called 
Newtchawanack, at some distance above the head of Dover Bounds, lying 
wholly on the west side of that river. Beginning at a place called ye Bound 
Meadows, there being an island of up-land and narrow skirts of meadow run- 
ning around about it, and soe goeth up the river 416 pole upon a straight line, 
unto a basswood tree, standing in a valley near the river, below a steep hill, 
and from thence it runs west southwest 480 poles, unto a pine tree standing 
in a great pine szcamp. from thence it runneth south and by east 320 poles 
unto ye river, which the closing line, taking in a small quantity of meadow 
lying without this straight line, to the value of two or three acres joining to the 
east of the meadows. The lines were all runne, the trees well bounded, the 
comer trees marked with B. The exact form thereof may appear by a platt 
taken of the same 13: 6 mo: 1672. By Jonathan Danforth, surveyor. 

A member of the Xorthani Colonist Historical Society, of Dover, in 
August, 1909, while in Boston made a tracing of the above mentioned plot as 
it appears in the state archives in Boston, and took it to East Rochester, and with 
the assistance of a friend matle a partial survey of the grounds as they were 
then, and easily traced the outlines as given on the plat made by Surveyor 
Danforth 237 years before. They first found the "Bound meadows" by the 
river side; from there they measured a line along the river, as shown on the 
plan, and the northeasterly corner was found to be a short distance below the 
present upper mill dam, at East Rochester, where, rising from the valley is a 



462 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

steep hill, or ledge, though not now so very high, as Danforth says. The line 
on the northerly side carried the bound over into the edge of the White Hall 
swamp district, where the big pine trees stood 250 years ago ; this with the other 
lines practically included the whole of the East Rochester division of the town. 
The low land down below the present factories and canal evidently makes the 
extra two or three acres mentioned. 

So in the years before Rochester was incorporated, 1722, that locality was 
the Whitchcot tract of land. As the common English people did not sound the 
"h" in words, they called it Witchcot. After the great witchcraft delusion of 
1692, and Doctor Whitchcot had long been dead, the local name became 
corrupted into Witchtrot, by which it was long known after the town began to 
be settled. Under the town divisions no regard was paid to Dr. Whitchcot's 
grant ; the proprietors allotted it among themselves, hence the Massachusetts 
House Journal, June 24, 1738. has the following: 

A petition of Samuel Sewell, Esq., and others. Administrators on the 
estate of their late honorable father, Samuel Sewell of Boston, Esq., deceased, 
and of Jacob Sheafe of Boston, aforesaid, Gent, shewing they are the legal 
Representatives of the .Assigns of Benjamin Whitchcot and Ruhecca his wife, 
deceased, to whom this Court on the nth of October, A. D. 1670, at their 
second Session, were pleased to Grant one thousand Acres of land in any 
free place, on Condition they gave the late Massachusetts Colony a Release 
and full Acquittance from all Claims and Demands, referring to the Grounds 
of a Petition delivered the said Court, which the petitioners say was fulfilled 
in the year 1671, and the said Grantees afterwards, viz. in 1672, laid out in 
the Province of New Hampshire and is now (1738) part of a Town known 
by the Name of Rochester, that they are without any benefit of the Grant by 
reason of its being so laid out, without the Aid of this Court, praying for 
Relief by a new Tract of the unappropriated Lands in this Province being 
made them, to hold in equal Halves, to satisfy the first Grant, for the Reasons 
mentioned, Read and Ordered, That this Petition be considered on Tuesday 
the 27th currant. 

After due consideration they were given a grant of land elsewhere to 
recompense them for the loss of the East Rochester one thousand acres. All 
this explains the origin of the local name IVitchtrot. 

WHITE HALL 

In the Massuchsetts Court Records, Oct. 11. 1672. is the following grant 
of New Hampshire land by that colony : 

Laid and unto Captain Richard Walderne for the use of Captain Thomas 
Lake (of Boston) and partners (by virtue of an order of the General Court 
held at Boston. 31st day of May, 1671) one thousand two hundred and eighty 
acres of land on the southwest side of the river of Newichawannock, about a 
mile above the head line of ye Townshipe of Dover as following, viz. : Begin- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 463 

ning at a certain elboe of the said River Knowne by the name of the Great 
Eddie near to a Point of land Called Goliah's Neck, and from the said Great 
Eddie six hundred and fortie rods west and by south in length of said 
lands, and from ye said Great Eddie three hundred and twentie rods and 
by the west for the breadth of it. 

Per me, John Wincoll. 
April 26, 1672. 

16:8 mo: 72. The magists Consent hereto. Provided ye Grant Intrench 
not in ye least on ye land Confirmed by this Court to Dr. IVhitchcot, or his 
successors, and that this land be liable to pay County Rates as other Townes. 
The magists hand past this to their brethren the Deputys hereto. 

Edw. Rawson, 

Secretary. 
Consented to by the Deputyes. William Torrey, Cleric, 16: 8 mo: 72. 

Now we have proof positive that this grant to Major Walderne, then cap- 
tain, is the locality called White Hall. In 1656 the surveyors Danforth and 
Hale say there was a swamp of great pines on the northeast side of "Scohomo- 
gomocke Hill." They were the first men who entered the primeval forest of 
Rochester with chain and compass. Again in August, 1670, Thomas Dan- 
forth, in his survey of Dr. Benjamin Whitchcot's one thousand acres says the 
west line ran "west southwest 480 poles unto a pine tree standing in a great 
pine swamp." Again in the approval of the Massachusetts officials, given to 
Captain Walderne's grant, 1672, it says: "Provided ye grant intrench not in 
the least on ye land confirmed by this Court to Dr. \Vhitchcot." 

At that date, 1672, the only name it had was "the great pine swamp." 
When the name White Hall was applied does not appear, but there is reason 
to believe, and nothing to contradict it, that Capt. Richard Walderne, later 
known as Major Richard, is the man who so named it, and he selected that 
name in honor of White Hall in London, the headquarters of the English 
Government. That was his custom to give names to his timber grants so as to 
locate them when speaking of where the timber came from. It is the tradition 
that the high ground around the pine swamp was covered with massive oak 
trees. The pines and certain parts of the oak were shipped to England and 
used in construction of the warships. It was in fact a timber reservation for 
the English Government. 

Capt. Thomas Lake and partners were a Boston lumber company, engaged 
in shipping timber to England for the use of the Government. No doubt 
Major Walderne was one of the "partners," hence the 1,280 acres were "laid 
out" to him in 1671. Probably Peter Cofifin was another partner, as in 1666 he 
began furnishing lumber, masts, etc., for Thomas Lake & Company, which 
continued several years, but Captain Weldeme was the boss of the White 



464 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Hall job. That White Hall was a familiar name of the locality among Dover 
people before 1700 is manifest by the fact that old records so called it. For 
example: The bounds of ancient Dover as reaftirnied, or preambulated, in 
August. 1701, began "at ye middle of Ouamphegan falls, and so ran uj) the 
middle of the ri\er four miles, or thereabouts, to a marked tree by the river 
side, with a mile of Jl'liitcliall." Orders were given to Capt. Robert Coffin 
and his troops, .Aug. 1 1. 1708. to march from Exeter to Kingstown and thence 
to Oyster river and there to take up their (piarters for the first night; and 
"thence to Cochecho and soe up towards ll'hitehall, and soe return to Cochecho 
the next night, and there quarter; and thence to return the third day to Exeter 
again and there lodge, and to continue from day to day till further order, 
unless diverted by the appearance of the Enemy; where upon the first advice 
he is to repair immediately to give present relief to any part that may be 
assaulted." That is to say, this company of soldiers were doing scout duty 
to guard against attacks by the French and Indians, and JVhitehall was on 
the extreme eastern boundary of Dover. This order is given in New Hamp- 
shire Provincial Paper, Vol. 2. page 582. On the next page, 582, is an order to 
Gov. Joseph Dudley, dated at Whitehall (Eng. ) Dec. 30, 1707. On page 588 
at a council meeting at Newcastle, Aug. 23. 1708, Captain Coffin's account was 
rendered for the services of his company in their marching as scouts to Wheel- 
wright's pond (in Lee), Whitehall, etc. The road to Whitehall (from 
Cochecho) is mentioned July 7. 17 14, when William Everett's grant of 100 
acres on the north side of James Kid's land, near the Great pond (Willard's 
pond), above Cochecho was laid out to Thomas Downes, beginning at a pitch 
pine near the pond, on the west of the road that leads to Whitehall. Ebenezer 
Downes, Dec. 20, 1714, conveyed to John Kurd fifty acres of land, being one- 
half of that tract given to his brother, Thomas Downes, by their grand- 
mother, Martha Lord, "beginning at a pine tree near the Great pond (Wil- 
lard's pond), above Cochecho, on ye west side of ye Mast path yt leads to 
]Vhite Hall." This indicates that Captain Walderne made that path forty 
years before this date, and hauled the pine trees cut in White Hall swamp 
dow n by the present Granite State trotting park and W^illard's pond, and then 
down the state road and Central avenue to Franklin scpiare, and got them into 
the river somewhere at Dover Landing. 

Farmer and Moore's Gazetteer of New Hampshire (1823) says: "Between 
Norway Plains and Salmon Falls river is a considerable quantity of land 
formerlv called White Hall, the soil which was destroyed by a fire in the dry 
years of 1761 and 1762, so as to be of little value for cultivation." Whitehall 
swanip is mentioned in September, 1814, when Betsey, widow of Stephen 
Wentworth, petitioned for leave to sell "land in White Hall swamp, so called." 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 465 

This swamp contains about live hundred acres of low land, now co\-ered in 
part by wliite birches. It is between the road that leads from Rochester ( Nor- 
way Plains) by electric railway to Dover (ancient Cochecho) and the road 
from Rochester to Si.inicrsworth. Probably Maj. Richard W'alderne so named 
it in honor of the "Committee of Trade and P'oreign Plantations at W'liiie- 
hall," often mentioned in the provincial records. Whitehall palace in London 
was then the center of authority and most of the orders concerning New- 
Hampshire and its mast trees and ship timber came fnmi that committee. 

BLIND will's neck 

Blind Will's Neck is the neck of land in Rochester between the rivers 
Cochecho and Isinglass and is close to the Do\"er line. It was here that a 
friendly Indian sagamore named Blind Will was killed in March, 1677, having 
been sent with a scouting party Ijy Maj(jr Walderne to watch the movements 
of some hostile Indians, w ho fell suddenly upon the party and killed the greater 
part. Belknap's history gives a full account of the afifair. The name is men- 
tioned in various land transfers, as March 17, 1736, Samuel Tibbets conveyed 
land to his son Ichabod, at Blind Will's Neck. Dec. 3, 1745, Jonathan Young 
conveyed to his son Jonathan land at Blind Will's Neck. Oct. 8, 1765, Hum- 
phrey Hanson conveyed to his brother Ephraim three acres at Blind Will's 
Neck. 



CHAPTER LVII 
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER (IH) 

INDIAN HISTORY 

THE FIRST GARRISON-HOUSES INDIAN WAR THE FIRST BATTLE JOHN RICH- 
ARDS JONATHAN DOOR DANGER OF ABANDONMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT 

PETITION FOR THE SOLDIERS THE OLD IRON CANNON MAJOR DAVIS DE- 
FENDS THE TOWN ATTACK BY THE INDIANS THE KILLING OF MRS. HODG- 

DON PEACE THE BRITISH PRESS-GANG. 

Although the settlement of Rochester had been long postponed on account 
of Indian wars, yet since it first actually commenced nothing of this kind had 
thus far occurred sufficient to interrupt its progress. The inhabitants must 
have numbered at this period ( 1744) nearly one hundred and fifty families, 
and being upon the verj' frontier, they were exposed most helplessly to all the 
horrors of the impending conflict. For a few weeks or months they might 
have neglected their work and lived in garrisons, or engaged in active opera- 
tions against the enemy, yet, as the war continued, they were compelled to 
expose themselves in order to provide means of subsistence. 

In 1774 the proprietors gave to the inhabitants all the mill-rents then due, 
to l>e appropriated for building five block-houses or forts, "three on the great 
road that leads to Norway Plains, one at Squamanagonic upper mill, and one 
on the road by Newichwannock river, or as His Excellency should otherwise 
order," and appointed a committee to carry out the vote. The forts were 
built, although the rents could not be collected to pay for theuL Besides these 
])ublic garrisons many were built at private expense, which received the 
names of their owners. 

Garrisons were built two stories in height, the lower story being of solid 
timber, with strong window-shutters fastening upon the inside. The upper 
story projected three or four feet upon all sides, commanding approach to the 
building from every quarter. From the projecting part water could be poured 
down to extinguish the flames in case the house should be fired, while an enemy 
who came near the doors or windows was exposed to certain death. Loop- 

466 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 467 

holes were provided at suitable places, large enough upon the outside for a 
gun-barrel to be pointed through them, and hollowed or leveled upon the inside 
to allow the gun to be moved about and aimed in different directions. The 
second story was built according to tiie fancy or ability of the owner. In the 
case of the Richard Wentworth garrison, it was made of thick planks dove- 
tailed together at the corners like a chest, and without any frame, except 
a few braces. The cellars of the public garrisons were divided by walls into 
many separate apartments for accommodation of different families. This was 
the case with the one at the Gonic. As an additional protection oftentimes the 
whole building was surrounded with a rami>art or palisade formed of timber 
or posts set in the ground. 

A few anecdotes will illustrate the cunning of the Indians and the caution 
of the settlers. The cattle were discovered in the cornfield one day at Colonel 
McDuffee's. The boys .started at once to drive them out, when they were 
checked by the colonel, who said he knew the fence was strong, and the rascally 
Indians must have laid a plot to trap them. No one was allowed to move out 
of doors for a day or two, but when it was safe to venture forth the place of 
concealment whicii the Indians had contrived was discovered, and it was evi- 
dent that they liad cut down the fence, driven the cattle into the held, and 
placed themselves in ambush to kill or capture whoever came out. 

At one of the garrisons a large number of hogs were kejit, whicii were 
suffered to roam about during the day to feed upon acorns and such other food 
as they could find, and were called home at night. One evening they were 
called a long time, but none made their appearance. In the night, when it was 
quite dark, the hogs seemed to return suddenly, and a grunting as of a large 
drove was heard all around the building. The family were too wary, however, 
to be deceived by any such ruse as this; they suspected the truth, tliat the 
Indians had dispatched the hogs and were now imitating their grunts to entice 
somebody out of the garrison. That the imagination of the settlers often 
magnified the real danger or excited needless fears is very probal)!e. Not nnicli 
would be required to produce alarm after a few persons had fallen victims to 
tliese inhuman foes. 

It was not until June i- 1746, that any concerted attack was made 
Ijy the Indians. What a thrill of horror ran through the community! 
By an artfully-contrived and boldly-executed plot, four men were murdered 
in the midst of the settlement, and within sight of a garrison; a fifth was 
wounded and taken prisoner. The names of tliese persons were Joseph Rich- 
ards, John Richards. Joseph Heard. John Wentworth, and Gershom Down. 
They were on the way to their w ork in the field, carrying guns and traveling in 
company for mutual protection. A band of Indians had concealed themselves 



468 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

by the side of tlie road, near where these men must iKiss, ha\ing first sent one 
of their number to the opposite side, who stationed himself liehind a tree at a 
convenient distance. Thus haxing prepared a snare, with aU that cunning for 
whicii the race is noted tliey ])atiently waited the ajiproacli of their \ictims. 
When tlie w orkmen arrived at tlie ambush, the sohtary Inihau, w lio was to act 
as a decoy and draw the fire of tlie party. ste])|)ed suddenly fortii into full 
\ iew and fired upon the company. "Face your enemies: fire!" was the order 
of Joseph Richards, whc) acted as cai)tain, and all discharged their pieces at 
the savage, who, having effected his object, had instantly disappeared, escap- 
ing unharmed. The remaining Indians, with terrific yells and whoii|)s. sprang 
from their ambush in the rear and rushed furward. John Riclianls was 
wounded. All the guns on both sides being tlischarged, an exciting race ensued. 
The whites fled down the road towards a deserted house belonging to the 
wounded Richards, where they hoped to gain refuge. The Indians followed 
as closely as they dared, but w ith caution, for fear the guns of some of their 
enemies might still remain loaded, 'i'he fleeing ]>arty — all except John Rich- 
ards — succeeded in reaching and entering the house ; the door was secured 
behind them, the men planting themselves firmly against it, while they hastened 
to reload their arms. Before they cnuld accomplish this the Indians, finding 
iheniseh'es unable to force open the <lr)or. mounted tn the roof, tore off the 
poles of which it was constructed, and falling uy.itn the men. now defense- 
less, dispatched them in the most Ijrutal manner. The .guns of the murdered 
men were afterwards found half-loaded; and a wel). which j\Irs. Richards had 
left in the loom unfinished, was stained with the l)loocl of her neighbors. John 
Richards, who was wounded, instead of entering the house with the other.-, 
directed his flight to the garrisiin where bis wife was dwelling: but before he 
could reach it an Indian overtook him. who. with uplifted tomahawk, was 
about to take his life. Richards called for quarter and was spared. His 
wound not being dangerous, and being able to travel, he was carried prisoner 
to Canada. This n.iassacre occurred near the spot where a school-house now 
stands on the main road. The amlmsh was a short distance this side, near 
where Bedfield Aleserve resides. 

Taking the wounded Richards with them, the Indians, to escape pursuit, 
struck hastily into the swamp, killing some cattle on the route, and cutting out 
their tongues and a few tidbits, and next made their appearance on the Salmon 
Falls road near Adams' Corner. They surprised some men at work in a field, 
all of w hom. however, made their escape. Jonathan Door, a little boy, who in 
youthful innocence sat whistling upon a fence, became a fellow-captive with 
Richards. Under the skillful medical treatment of the Indians the wound 
of Richards was soon healed: and after remaining a rear and a half in Can- 



I \ 




TRUE MEiMiiiMAI. ( liri;i II, l;ui ii |.>ri:i;, N. H. 




ST. MAKVS CATHOLIC (HI'KCH, 
ROCHESTEK, N. H. 






FIRST CONGREGATIO.NAi, 
CHURCH, ROCHESTER, N. H. 



.MLTJloLilST CHURCH, 
ROCHESTER, N. H. 



HULV RUSAKV (;HL:RCH, 
ROCHESTER. N. H. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 471 

ada. he was sent by flag of truce to Boston, and thence returned to his friends 
in Rochester. He bought the place in the village now owned by J. H. Ela, Esq., 
and here he lived after his return. He died in 179J, aged seventy. His son, 
of the same name, inherited the place, and for years was a miller in the I birne 
& Hurd mill, situated opposite, where Deacon Barker's grist-mill now stands. 
He was a Revolutionary soldier, and served through the war; was in the battle 
of Bunker Hill and at the surrender of Ticonderoga, where he narrowly 
escaped capture; he was at the battle of Bennington and at the surrender of 
Burgoyne. He is remembered l:v man\- now li\ing. 

The excitement proved by the atrocity of June 2-j, cannot easily be 
imagined. The suddenness of the attack, its locality, — the most thickly- 
settled part of the town, — the exciting nature of the struggle, the death 
of so many of their friends and neighbors, and the escape of the enemv before 
pursuit could be made. — all must have r(.iused to an intense degree the feelings 
of the people. It is apparent from the haste with which they adopte<l measures 
for future security that great anxiety prevailed. No sooner were the remains 
of the murdered men buried than a petition to the Governor and Assemlily at 
Portsmouth was dispatched, representing the dangerous situation of the inhali- 
itants, and begging for a guard of .soldiers to protect them. This |ietition 
"humbly showeth that the inhabitants are few in number, in indigent circum- 
stances, living in a wilderness, and are continually lialile to the assaults of the 
barbarous Indian enemy, who have killed within the past week four men, and 
taken prisoners one man and a boy. They ha\-e killed and wounded a consid- 
erable number of our cattle; they are continually lurking about our houses 
and fields, and are seen by some of us almost every day ; we cannot go out or 
come in without being liable to fall by them, and our families are suffering 
because we are not able to go out to labor." Such is the enumeration of their 
distresses. "Tiierefore we pray your Excellency and your Honors to take our 
deplorable circumstances under your wise consideration, and extend to us your 
paternal care and affection by allowing us a suitable number of soldiers to 
guard us in our garrisons and about our necessary employment." 

The excitement had not subsided when another event occurred which 
carried it to still greater height, and added another life lost to the list of their 
calamities. 

Traces of Indians had been discovered in the sand by the heath brook at 
Norway Plain, and in expectation that a party were on their way to attack the 
settlements a company of men concealed themselves at night by the side of the 
road a short distance below Norway Plain brook, at the foot of Havens' hill, 
intending in their turn to ambush the Indians when they came along. Upon 
the approach of the enemy, howe\-er, one of these sentinels, Moses Roberts, 



472 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

l:)ecanie alaniied and commenced to creep through the bushes towards his 
neighbor, who, seeing the bushes wave and supposing him to be an Indian, 
fired upon him. Roberts died the next morning, blaming himself, and justify- 
ing the man who shot him. 

To support the petition of the inhabitants and represent that the settlement 
would be broken up unless they received assistance, Rev. Mr. Main was sent 
to Portsmouth. His mission was successful; for, besides the assurance of 
soldiers to protect them, he returned with a very substantial token of the 
"paternal care and affection" of the authorities in the form of a huge cannon, 
one of the iron guns of Queen Anne's time, for the safe return of which, when 
demanded, he gave his receipt in a large sum. The history of this cannon is 
worthy of a brief digression. It was intended for an alarm-gun, by use of 
whicii the people of the town might be sununoned together whenever danger 
was apprehended. During the Indian war it was kept at Mr. Main's. After- 
wards it was moved to Stephen Wentworth's tavern, a house which is still 
standing, situated upon the lot owned by Doctor Farrington. This house was 
called the Wolfe tavem, from the immortal General Wolfe, who had then re- 
cently given up his life upon the Plains of Abraham. The Wolfe tavern was a 
place of no mean renown; it w^is the only public-house in town; it was also the 
only store in town, for not only were there accommodations here for weary 
travelers, but the necessary articles of life, such as rum and crockery-ware, 
were dispensed to seeking customers. But the grand boast of the Wolfe 
tavem was in something more aristocratic than these. It was here that His 
Excellency Governor Wentworth always "put up" when journeying to and 
from his farm in Wolfborough, a distinguished honor to any tavern. Here 
the old gun for a long time found a home, a hospitable roof we presume, where 
its pow-ers of speaking loudly were not over-tested by warlike youth. From 
this place it would be impossible to trace its wanderings. It appears during its 
whole career to have experienced more than the usual vicissitudes of earth, — 
from the minister's to the tavern, from scaring away "the barbarous Indian 
enemy" to celebrating with booming voice many anniversaries of national inde- 
pendence, — yet ever faithful through good report and through evil report, 
until, like many a brave soldier, its existence was thrown away in a noble 
cause by the folly and recklessness of its commander. It was exploded July 
4, 1845. by William J. Roberts, William Hodgdon, and some others, and its 
fragments found an inglorious burial among metal of baser and more ignoble 
rank in the iron heaps of the foundry. There were many mourners. The town 
discovered that they had lost a time-honored friend. Its loss was even so 
much regretted that at the next town-meeting the selectmen were instructed 
to prosecute the individuals who had sold the old iron, A long and expensive 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 473 

lawsuit grew out of this prosecution, in which the town was defeated, not 
being able to establish its ownership, a result well deserved by the town per- 
haps for its neglect to care for its property. 

Crowned with success in the object of his visit, Mr. Main returned to the 
settlement. Throughout the summer and autumn and a part of the winter 
scouting parties of soldiers were stationed in the town, whose duty it was to 
go their daily rounds upon the most traveled roads near the garrisons, and 
from garrison to garrison, occasionally making longer marches when special 
reasons required. These parties or squads usually consisted of from twelve to 
twenty men, who were relieved e\ery few w eeks by fresh soldiers. When long 
marches across country were to be nia<Ie the number was of course much 
larger. Upon re[)ort that a party of thirty Indians had killed a man at Pena- 
cook ( Concord ) , and were approaching Rochester, Gov. B. VVentworth 
ordered Major Da\ is, w ith a detachment of forty men, to march to Rochester 
to scout about that town. Similar cases frequently occurred. It was doubt- 
less owing to such prudent precautions and the continual presence of soldiers 
that there was no further loss of life this year. In the spring of 1747 the 
inhabitants found it necessary to petition for a guard, and as a strong argu- 
ment why their favor ought to be extended to them, they set forth that no less 
than twenty of their brethren were enlisted in His Majesy's service for the 
Canada expedition. Several families had already moved from the town, driven 
by the distress and fear of the enemy. The petitioners confessed themselves 
unable to defend the settlement. Their only dependence for succor and relief 
was upon the provincial authorities, and while they acknowledged the protec- 
tion granted to them during the past year, and returned for it their hearty 
thanks, yet unless the same be continued to them they must unavoidably move 
away, and leave all their improvements for the Indians to destroy. Major 
Davis with thirty men was sent to their protection. Uncommon danger must 
have threatened the settlement at this time, for at a public town-meeting in the 
October following the tow n voted their grateful acknowledgment to the Gov- 
ernor and Council for sending Maj. Thomas Davis w-ith thirty soldiers, "who 
by his prudent, diligent, and careful management, under Divine Providence." 
had been instrumental in defeating the enemy in their attempts against them, 
and of so preserving their lives. Perhaps there had been an engagement, for 
on May 23, 1747. Samuel Drown, a soldier, had been wounded; he was for 
a long time taken care of at the expense of the province. UiX)n the 7th of 
June of this year an attempt was made by the Indians to capture or kill a party 
of men at work in a field. Every one who has traveled the Neck road remem- 
bers the spring by the roadside about half a mile below Gonic. It was near 
this spring that the Indians lay in ambush. They were discovered by three 

28 



47-t HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

hciys, John and George Place and Paul Jenness. The Indians fired ni)on theiu. 
John I'lace returned tlie fire and wounded an Indian. Jenness presented his 
gun in a threatening manner hut did not fire. By keeping it aimed towards the 
Indians lie prevented them friim rushing upon them until the men in the field. 
who had heard the firing, came to their relief, and the Indians were put to 
flight. The wounded Indian was traced by the stains of blood for a long 
distance. 

A few rods from the road leading from Rochester \illage to Gonic, and 
not far distant from the latter place, in a ipuet spot half encircled by trees 
which line the high ri\er-bank. se\-eral rough, unlettered stones, indistinctly 
visible to the passing tra\'eler, mark the resting-place of some of the early 
inhabitants. One of these graves is that of Jonathan Hodgdon's v\ife, who 
was killed by the Indians Alay i, 1748. The particular locality of her death 
is just beyond "Great Brook." upon the right-hand side of the road, nearly 
opposite the place of her Ijurial. She had gone out to find and milk her cows. 
It was a still Sal)batb morning. For several days a considerable party of 
Indians, lying concealed upon Ham's hill, which commanded a view of Squa- 
managonic garrison, had watched all the movements of the settlers. They 
contemplated something more than the capture or murder of one solitary 
woman. Tradition says it was their plan to watch the fort until they saw 
the men depart with their guns to church, surprise and capture the women and 
children left behind, ami finally waylay the men themseh'es upon the road. — 
a favorite stratagem of these tribes; but seeing Hodgdon and his wife leave 
the fort together, they determined to attack them. Mrs. Hodgdon was 
seized, and the Indians would have kept her quiet and carried her away a 
[■.risoncr. but as she persisted in screaming they killed her on the spot. Her 
husband, who was at a short distance, heard her cries and hastened to her 
rescue, not knowing the cause of her fright, but intending, if the Indians 
had taken her, to surrender himself also. He arri\-ed at the instant of her 
death, while the savages were in the act of scalping her. He presented his 
gun. but it missed fire. He then made his escape to the garrison. The news 
spread rapidly. The old iron cannon upon the hill, charged with nine pounds 
of powder it is said, thundered its note of alarm tn distant inhabitants. It was 
heard e\en at Portsmouth. Sexeral hundred persons gathered together. A 
company of light-horse from Portsmouth arrived at 2 o'clock in the after- 
noon, and the country was scoured as far as W'innipiseogee, but without 
success. The Indians, it was belie\cd. concealed themselves upon islands in 
the river near our \-iIlage. 

This was the last attempt of the Indians in Rochester. Such vigor of 
pursuit deterred them from any subsequent attack. Peace took place the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 475 

following year, a peace of short duration, for in 1754 the sword was resumed. 
Heretofore the English had carried on the war in a desultory and feeble 
manner, which encouraged their enemies to undertake these marauding and 
murdering excursions. After this period the English displayed more vigor; 
they fitted out formidable expeditions against Canada, and largcK- rclie\"ed 
the Eastern settlements from the calamities of war. One of these expeditions 
was against Louisburg, a strong city of Cape Breton, — the "Dunkirk uf 
America," as it was called. It was captured Ijy the British in 1758. hollow- 
ing are the names of some of the soldiers from this town engaged in His 
Majesty's service at this time: Lieut. John McDuffie, Ensign William Allen, 
John Copp, Jr., Daniel Alley, Ichabod Corson, Gershom Downs, Eleazer Rand, 
William Berry, Jabez Dame. 

The British officers sent press-gangs into the towns during the war to 
impress men into their service. The people of Rochester petitioned to be 
exempted from the press ; liut it does not appear that the petitirm was granted. 
When the press-,gang visited the town. Jabez Dame, whose name is gi\en in 
the above list, concealed himself until the danger was past; the next morning, 
however, having infonned the girl he was courting of his intentions, he volun- 
teered. The war was virtually closed in 1759 by the surrender of Quebec. 
The following year all the remaining French possessions in Western Canada 
were surrendered to the English, and the Eastern settlements found a perma- 
nent peace from the ravages of the Indians. 



CHAPTER LVIII 
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER (IV) 

TOWN ORGANIZATION CHANGE TO CITY 

An act of the i'ro\incial .\ssenibly took the iiianagemeiit of town affairs 
out of the hands of the proprietors in 1737, and placed it in the hands of a 
board of selectmen and town clerk and so continued until Jan. 6, 1892, 
a period of 155 years; in the fall of 1891 the citizens in town meeting adopted 
the charter for the city form of government which had been drawn up bv 
Col. Charles S. Whitehouse and Henry Kimball. Esq., and enacted by the 
Legislature. It is the first city charter in New Hampshire which has only 
one chamber, instead of the ancient style of aldermen and councilmen, for 
transacting its municipal legislation, who with the mayor, control all the public 
affairs of the city. Colonel Whitehouse was the originator of this plan and 
through his persistent energy it w as adopted. Very properly his fellow citizens 
elected him for their first mayor. The plan has worked well and since 1892 
other cities in the state ha\-e adopted the same form of go\ernment. Rochester 
has a fine record of ably and honestly conducted municipal affairs. 

In March, 1737, forty-five citizens residing in the town petitioned the 
(ieneral Assembly to give them power to choose town officers and assess taxes, 
as they were then "destitute of a settled ininistry and had no civil order," 
both of which they much needed. Among the names are : Bickford, Hodgdon, 
Wentworth, Buzzell, Merrow , Richards, Lock, Ham. Place, Berry, Hayes, 
Tebbetts, Stiles, Trombly, Copp, all of these names appear in the Rochester 
directory of 1913. 176 years after the petition was signed: this shows the 
Yankees will survive in this town. The Assembly granted the request of 
the petitioners, and appointed Paul Wentworth, Esq., Capt. Thomas Millet 
and Stephen Berry a committee to call the first town meeting to choose town 
officers. That order bears date of March 24, 1737; the committee attended 
to the duty assigned them and the town government was inaugurated that 
year. The following are town clerks down to the inauguration of the city 
government in January. 1892: Rev. Amos Main, 1737-38; John Bickford. 
1739-44; William Chamberlain. 1744-46; John Bickford. 1746-48; Isaac 

476 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 477 

Libbey, 1748-50; Edward Tebbetts, 1750-51 ; Isaac Libbey, 1751-56; Jonathan 
Dame, 1756-71; Josiah Main, 1771-1803; Joseph Sherburne, 1803-15; Joseph 
Cross, 1813-30; Charles Dennett, 1830-38; James C. Cole, 1838-51; Jabez 
Dame, Jr., 1851-53; George H. Dennett, 1853-55; Eben Mathes, 1855-57; 
Charles K. Chase, 1857-60; J. D. Evans, 1860-61; S. D. Wentvvorth, 1861- 
63; Nathaniel Burnham, 1S64; E. H. Whitehouse, 1865; J. H. Worcester, 
1865-67; George F. Gappy, 1867-72; George S. Lindsy, 1872-75; A. T. 
Cotton, 1876-80; Horace L. Worcester, 1880-91. 

The following men served as representatives in the i'rovincial Assembly 
and the State Legislature during the first hundred years, as a state : Lieut. 
Col. John McDuffee, 1775-82 ; Elsenezer Tebbetts, 1775 ; John Plummer, 1775- 
78; Deacon James Knowles, 1778-88; Jabez Dame. 1781 ; B. Palmer, 1788- 
91 ; James Howe, 1791-97; Aaron Wingate, 1792-95; William Palmer, 1794- 
1800; Joseph Clark, 1 798-1 801 ; Levi Dearborn, 1799-1802; Richard Dame, 
1800-1803; Beard Plummer, 1802; David Barker, 1804-06; Nathaniel Uphani, 
1807-09; John McDuffee, Jr., 1810-17; James Tebbetts, 1814-16; Moses Hale, 
1816-22; Hatevil Knight, 1818-19; Wm. Barker, 1819-20; Jeremiah Wood- 
man, 1823-24; D. Barker, Jr.. 1823-26; John Greenfield, 1823-24; Joseph 
Cross, 1825-29; Jonas C. March, 1827; James Farrington, 1828-36; Moses 
Young, 1830-31; John H. Smith, 1832-34; Benjamin Hazen, 1832-35; 
Jonathan Hussey, 1834-35; Charles Dennett, 1835-36; Wm. S. Ricker, Louis 
McDuffee, 1836-37; N. V. Whitehouse, 1838-39; John Whitman, 1840-41; 

A. S. Howard, 1840-44; Jonathan H. Foss, 1841-42; S. M. Mathes, 1843; 
Noah Tebbetts, 1842; Jacob Smart, 1843; Jabez Dame, Jr., 1844-45; Daniel 
Lathrop, 1845-46; Richard Kimbell, 1846-47; N. D. Wetmore, 1847; Wm. 
Evans, 1848-49; D. J. Parsons, B. H. Jones, 1850; James C. Cole, Stephen 
Shorey, 1853-54; James Brown, L. D. Day, 1854; J. F. McDuft'ee, George 

B. Roberts, Jacob B. Wallingford, Daniel W. Dame, 1855-56; Jacob H. Ela, 
R. T. Rogers, James Tebbetts, 1857-58; I. W. Springfield, John Legro, 1859- 
60; George W. Flagg, 1859; Levi Meader, 1860-61 ; M. H. Wentworth, Frank- 
lin McDuffee, 1861-62; Charles S. Whitehouse, 1862; E. H. Watson, James 
Farrington, William Wentworth. 1863; John Hall, Benjamin Horn, 1864 
Dudly W. Hayes, 1864-65; Charles K. Chase, 1865; Joshua Vickery, S. D 
Wentworth, 1865-66; A. Kimball, 1866; William Whitehouse, Jr., 1866-67 

C. K. Sanborn, E. G. Wallace, William Flagg, 1867-68; L. Harrington, i868- 
69; J. N. Haynes, John Crockett. S. Hussey, Jr., 1869; None chosen, 1870 
E. H. Watson, W. Rand, N. Nutter, R. B. Wentworth, 1871 ; Edwin Wallace 
S. E. Whitehouse, C. W. Folsom, 1872; C. W. Brown, 1872; Arthur D 
Whitehouse, Charles W. Folsom. Charles W. Brown, Francis Orr, 1873 



478 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Charles F. Caverl_v, 1S74: Chas. Caverly, O. B. Warren, John W. Tebbetts, 

F'rancis Orr, 1875. 

Rochester city government was organized Jan. 6, 189-', and the foUow- 

ing men have served as mayors: 1892, Charles S. Whitehonse, Rep.: 1893 

and 1894, Orrin A. Hoyt, Rep.; 1895, Dr. Robert V. Sweet, Dem. ; 1896 and 

1897, Samuel D. Felker, Deni. : 1898 and 1899, William G. Bradley, Rep.; 

1900 and 1901, Horace L. Worcester, Rep.; 1902 and kjo^. William G. Brad- 
ley, Rep.; 1904, 1905 and 1906, Charles W. Bickford, Rep.; 1907, 1908 and 

1909, William G. Bradley, Rep.; 1910 and 191 1, Joseph Warren, Dem.; 1912, 

Dr. John H. Bates, Dem.; 1913. Frank B. Preston, Dem. 

For seventy-five years, up to 1798, the town of Rochester included 
Fannington and Milton. The southwest line along Barrington and Straft'ord 
was 13'^ miles; the southeast aljout 4-v^ iniles; the northwest, along Xew 
Durham. .Middlctun and Brooktield. iS miles; the mirtheasterlv line is the 
river, very irregular in course, but the direct line from the northwest corner 
to the southeast corner is 26 miles, so the inhabitants up there had to travel 
at least 20 miles over bad roads, or paths, to attend church or town meetings. 
Very naturally they complained, and petitioned to be made into separate 
parishes, for church purposes, at least; after much discussiim their request 
was granted and the bounds fixed as they now are. Farmington was called the 
northwest parish, and Miltc^i the northeast parish; this was done by the State 
Legislature in 1794; that was tried four years, and then the northwest parish 
was set off and incorporated into the town of Farmington, Dec. i. 1798. 
In June, 1799, the southwest parish (town of Rochester) was formally 
separated from the town, for religious purposes, and the Congregational 
Society was incorporated as the First Parish in Rochester; after that town 
meetinge had nothing to do with church meetings, and the First Parish church 
has flourished continuously as a separate organization 114 years. Milton 
remained the northwest parish of Rochester until 1802; on June iith that 
year the Legislature made it a separate township, the town of Rochester hav- 
ing given its consent at a town meeting held on the 31st day of May, 1802. 
In this connection it is interesting t(i note the faiuily names on this petition of 
1802, which has 104 names attached; they are; Scates, Hayes, Horn. Xutter, 
Plumer, Chamberlain, Hanson, Miller, Gilman, Wentworth, Roberts, Jenness, 
Berry, Merrow, Drew . Jewett. Witham, Goodwin, Remick, Chapman, Brocket, 
Dearborn, Burnham, Tviombly, Carson, Pinkham. Xuts, Rollins, Jewett, 
Leord, Jones. Ham, Cook, Ricker, Dore, Willy, Hatch, Tuttle, Mathes, 
Palmer, Cate, Field, Hartford, Downs, Hanscom, Walker and ^^'ingate. 

The first postoffice in Rochester was established in 1812 ; before that Dover 
postofifice supplied the people with mail matter by stage coaches in the latter 



AND REi'RESENTATIVE CITIZENS 479 

years and by special carriers, something like our rural mail delivery, once a 
week. At the date when the postoffice was established there were sixty dwell- 
mgs ni tow n, a cotton factory with four carding machines, a scythe factory, 
two potteries and several general stores. In lyUj the town was divided into 
six parts, each part hiring a schoolmaster two months. In 1774 a grammar 
school was opened and in 1801 the district school system was introduced, 
remaining until its abolishment in 1884. The Rochester Academy was opened 
in i8j8, flourished for twenty years, then declined. The first movement for a 
public library was in 1792. when a few persons started the Rochester social 
library. It linally went into decline, but in 1834 it was revived, a new charter 
obtained and its growth from then on went steadily forward. As in the war 
of the Revolution, Rochester in the war of the Rebellion did its utmost for the 
cause of right and the preservation of the union. Both men and money were 
furnished without stint. A beautiful soldiers' monument testifies to the regard 
felt for the city's soldier dead. 

The industrial side of Rochester commenced with various small tanneries. 
In 1843 was the beginning of the shoe industry, a small factory being opened 
and continuing for five years. Other small shops followed, and in "185S the 
firm of E. G. & E. Wallace was formed, to later on reach immense proportions. 
The manufacture of woolen goods, now of great importance, also had a small 
beginning. The Gonic Manufacturing Com])any started in 1838 and the 
Cochecho Woolen Company, East Rochester, was incorporated in 1863. 

The Rochester of today has every improvement and advantage of a mod- 
ern city, broad, shaded streets, handsome residences, and unlimited supply of 
pure water, scientific sanitation, electric lights, superior railroad and electric 
car facilities, fine schools and good churches. New Hampshire is famous for 
its schools, and those of Rochester are the equals of any city in the state. The 
school board is composed of conscientious, earnest men, and the school build- 
ings are ample and modern. The High School building is one of the finest in 
New England, and the school itself ranks with the best of similar institutions 
anywhere. 



CHAPTER LIX 
HISTORY OF ROCHESTER (V) 

ROCHESTER MEN IN THE REVOLUTION 

Rochester men have a patriotic record in the Re\ ohitionary war. As early 
as Feb. 4, 1774, a committee of correspondence was appointed consisting of 
Hon. John Plumer, John McDiiffee, Ebenezer Tibbets and Daniel Wingate. 
and a series of patriotic resolves to support the Colonial claims for political 
rights and a copy of the resolution was sent to the commitee of correspond- 
ence at Portsmouth. John Plumer was moderator of this meeting and Josiah 
Main clerk. In the fall of 1774 the citizens refused to let any men go to 
Boston at the call of General Gage to build barracks for the British troops. 
Immediately after the battle of Lexington a recruiting office was opened in this 
town, at Stephen Wentworth ta\'ern ; and Ixochester men quickly responded 
to the call for volunteers to participate in the siege of Boston. At the 
Pro\ incial Congress held soon after at Exeter. James Knowles and John 
McDuffee were delegates from this town. 

Among the first to offer his services as a soldier was John McDuffee. who 
was commissioned May 20, 1775, as lieutenant-colonel of the Third Regiment, 
commanded by Col. Enoch Poor. Lieutenant-Colonel McDuft'ee had seen 
service in the Provincial wars, and was well qualified for this office; he was 
lieutenant in command of the rangers at the siege of Louisburg, and had com- 
mand of a detachment of men under \\'olfe at the capture of Quebec. In the 
regiment were ten men as private soldiers, members of Capt. \^'inborn Adams' 
(Dunham) company. There were also eleven privates from this town of 
Capt. Jonathan \\'entworth's company of Somersworth. In all there were 25 
Rochester men in the army in 1775. Capt. David Place had a company of 
Rochester "Minute Men" at Portsmouth, also, during the year Capt. John 
Brewster had a company of sixteen Rochester men stationed at Newcastle, 
from Aug. 7, 1776, to Jan. 7, 1777; Dr. Samuel Howe of Rochester served 
as surgeon of the regiment to which this company belonged. Fourteen Roches- 
ter men were privates in Capt. F. M. Bell's (Dover) company at the battles 
of Stillwater and Bemmis' Heights and the surrender of General Burgoyne at 

480 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 481 

Saratoga in October. 1777. Capt. Daniel McDuffee also commanded a com- 
pany in those battles of which about thirty were Rochester men, and the\- 
were in the fiercest parts of the battles. In the regular Continental army, in 
the three New Hampshire regiments, there were over thirty men who had 
long service, and several of them lost their lives in the army. There were alsn 
a good number of brave Rochester men who served their country upon the 
seas in privateering vessels. Among these were Benjamin Calber, Timotliv 
and Joseph Roberts and Isaac Hanson. They serveil with the gallant I'aul 
Jones. With them was George Roberts of Middleton. 

When the Selectmen pas.sed around the Association Test in 1776 for 
signers they found 196 men who complied with the re(piest to sign it; twenty- 
two men refused to sign the test and promise to bear arms against Kiut^ 
(ieorge's authority. Also there were twenty-two others who were members 
of the Society of Friends; one of their doctrines of faith was not to engage 
in war, they refused to sign for that reason. lUit many of these later changed 
their minds and rendered good service to the .\merican side of this contest 
with Great Britain. 

Hon. John Plumer, Lieut.-Col. John McDutTee, Deacon James Knowles 
and Dr. James Howe were prominent in their leadership among the citizens 
during the Revolution, but there were many others just as patriotic in render- 
ing service, though not so conspicuous in the public eye. 

Hon. John Plumer was the first magistrate in the town. Governor Went 
worth appointed him Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for Strafford 
county in 1773; the Provincial Congress reappointed him in 1776 and he held 
the office until 1793, when he resigned ; during the later years of his service he 
was Chief Justice. 

Lieut.-Col. John McDufifee was born in 1722; he was a lieutenant in the 
French and Indian wars. He served in the Revolutionary army nearly fi\ e 
years, continuously, being a part of the time brigade-commissary. He was 
the first Representative of the town in the Provincial Assembly of 1762; also 
a member of the State Legislature in 1782. He was si>c years a State Senator, 
being part of that time senior Senator, hence .ser\e(l as President of the Senate. 
He died Oct. 15, 181 7, aged ninety years. 

Dr. James Knowles came to Rochester in 1749. His fellow citizens con- 
ferred on him many official positions: although he was past the age of military 
service he did valuable work in the Revolutionary period, as a civilian. He 
served in the Legislature six years as Rochester's Representative. For fort\- 
years he was a deacon of the church. He was an able, efficient and unostenta- 
tious servant of his townsmen manv vears. 



482 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Dr. James Howe was one of six brothers who served in the Revolution. 
He had entered upon the practice of his profession before the war began, and 
his first service in the army was as surgeon's mate in Colonel Long's regiment. 
He did good ser\ ice in the Canadian campaign of 1777. He was three times 
elected as Rochester's Representatixe in the State Legislature. 



CHAPTER LX 
HISTORY Ol- ROCHESTER (VI) 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES 

The first Parish Congregational Church is as old as the town, as one of 
the conditions of the charter in 1722 was that the proprietors build a meet- 
ing-house within four years. Indian wars jirevented any settlement in the 
town for six years, and the condition was not fulfilled. In 1730 it was voted 
to build a meeting-house, forty feet long, thirty feet wide, and eighteen feet 
stud, to be well framed and inclosed. The house was built in 1731, on Havens' 
hill. 

In 1776, this house having become dilapidated and in danger uf being 
blown down liy the wind, it was proposed that a new one l)e built; but, on 
account of the war, it was delayed until 17S0; then a new church was built 
upon "The Common." This house remained un])ainted, and for years had 
neither steeple or bell. It had galleries on three sides. Many of pews were 
high square boxes. The middle of the house was provided with free benches. 

In 1842 this house was moved from "The Common"' to the corner of Main 
and Liberty streets. It was then renovated, and a \estry was added below. 
In 1868 it was enlarged and remodeled at an expense of $8,500. In 1876 
repairs were again made on the interior of the house, and it is now a pleasant 
and commodious house of worship. 

The following is a list of the pastors from 1737 to 1883: 

Amos Main graduated at Harvard College in 1729; was called to be the 
settled minister of this town May 9, 1737; died April 5, 1760, aged fifty-one; 
was pastor of this church twenty-three \ears. 

Samuel Hill graduated at Har^-ard College in 1735; was installed pastor 
of this church Nov. 19, 1760; died April 19, I7'^>4; was stated supply and 
pastor of this church about four years. 

Avery Hall graduated at Yale College in 1739: was installed pastor of this 
church Oct. 15, 1766; resigned April 10, 1775 ; was pastor of this church eight 
and a half years; died at Wakefield, Aug. 5, 1820, aged eightv-two. 

Joseph Haven graduated at Harvard College in 1775; was installed pastor 

483 



484 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of this church Jan. lo, 1776; died Jan. 2.J. 1825, aged seventy-seven; was pas- 
tor of this church forty-nine years. 

Thomas C. Upham graduated at Dartmouth College in 181 8, and at .\n- 
dover Theological Seminary in 182 1 ; was installed colleague pastor with Mr. 
Haven July 16, 1823; resigned to accept a professorship at Bowdoin College. 
May 29, 1825 ; was pastor of this church two years : died April, 1872. 

Isaac Willey graduated at Dartmouth College in 1822, and at Andover 
Theological Seminary in 1825; was installed pastor of this church Jan. 17. 
1826; resigned Oct. 22, 1834: was stated supply and pastor of this chiu-cli 
nine years. 

Edward Cleaveland graduated at Yale College in 1832, and Yale The- 
ological Seminary in 1835; was installed pastor of this church Jan. 11, 1S37; 
resigned Oct. 30. 1837; was stated supply and pastor of this church one year. 

Francis V. Pike graduated at Yale College, Sept. 14, 1831, and at Andover 
Theological Seminary in 1834; was installed pastor of this church Feb. 20. 
183Q; resigned Sept. 20, 1841 ; was pastor of this church about two and a half 
years; died at Newburyport, Mass.. Sept. 4, 1843. 

John E. Farwell graduated at Amherst College in 1836. and at .\ndover 
Theological Seminary in 1839; was installed pastor of this church Aug. 13. 
1843; resigned June 22, 1852: was jiastor of this church aliout nine years; 
died Dec. 24, 1858. 

George Spaulding became acting pastor of this church in .\ugust, 1852: 
resigned in August. 1853 ; was acting pastor of this church one year. 

J. C. Seagrave was installed pastor of this church May 25. 1854; resigned 
Dec. 26, 1855 ; was stated supply and pastor of this cliurch two years. 

James M. Palmer graduated at Water ville College in 1847. and at Bangor 
Theological Seminary in 1853; became acting pastor of this church May i. 
1858; was installed .April 26. 1S59; resigned July 14. 1864; was acting pastor 
and pastor of this church about six years. 

Prescott Fay graduated at Amherst College in 1S52. and at Andover 
Theological Seminary in 1855; became acting pastor of this church May 4. 
1865; resigned August. 1867: was acting pastor of this church two years and 
three months. 

A. F. Marsh graduated at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1867; was 
installed pastor of this church Oct. 31, 1867; resigned Oct. 11, 1870: was 
pastor of this church three years. 

Harvey W. Stone graduated at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1847 '• ^^'^^ 
installed pastor of this church May 18. 1871 ; resigned Jan. 28, 1873; was 
stated supply and pastor of this church four years. 

A. J. Quick graduated at Williams College in i860, and at Union Theolog- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 485 

ical Seminar}' in 1863; became pastor in October, 1875, and served until 1884. 
His successor was Rev. A. S. Kimball. 

The First Free Will Baptist Society was organized Marcli 19, 1825, at the 
house of Enoch Tibbets. A church was organized April 15, 1829, at the house 
of John York. It consisted of sixteen persons. For several years the meet- 
ings were held at private residences. In 1840 a meeting-house was built and 
dedicated at Gonic. The first quarterly meeting was held at the courthouse 
Aug. 10, 1839. In 1842 Rev. D. Swett was chosen first pastor of the church. 
In 1874 extensive repairs of llic meeting-house were completed at an expense 
of nearly three thousand dollars. The society is in a prosperous condition. 

The East Rochester and South Lebanon Free Will Baptist Church was 
organized June i, 1865, and Rev. Isaac Hyatt l>ecame pastor. The meeting- 
house was built soon after at a cost of $6,000. Rev. R. McDonald became 
pastor. The society continued to grow as the business interests of the \'illage 
increased, and is now in a flourishing condition. 

The Rochester J'illage Free Will Baptist Church was organized in the 
fall of 1 87 1 and Rev. Ezekiel True was chosen pastor. Fie gathered a large 
congregation and put the society on a firm foundation. A nice church edifice 
was built, and in honor of this able and faithful pastor the society named it the 
True ^Memorial Church, and the society is one of the most prosperous in the 
city. 

The Friends commenced having meetings in Rochester in 1751 by permis- 
sion from the Monthly Meeting in Dover. Permission was renewed from tiuie 
to time, for short periods only, usually about a month. In 1776 there were 
twenty men who professed that faith and probably as many women, perhaps 
more. In 1781 they built a meeting-house near Judge Dame's residence. It 
was afterwards taken down and the material user! for constructing a new one 
at Gonic. from which it has since been removed to its present location. A 
meeting-house was built at Meaderborough in 1805. In 1823 there were 
reported to be twenty families belonging to one meeting and fifteen families 
to the other. The membership at present is not large in number, but excellent 
in quality. 

The Uniz'ersalist began to organize in 184 1 and their first pastor was 
Rev. R. O. Williams. Following him services were held whenever they could 
secure ministers to officiate up to 1865 ; from that date until 1877 no meetings 
were held, w'hen a reorganization was perfected and services were conducted 
for several years. 

The Unitarians have for a number of years had a pastor who served them 
and the Unitarian Society at Dover, in the forenoon of Sundays in one city and 



486 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

in the afternoon in the other city. At present the liberal sentiment of the city 
is united in supporting these meetings. 

I'lic Methodist Episcopal Church began its existence in Rochester in 1807. 
The Rev. Ebenezer Blake was the itinerant who deliveerd the first ^Methodist 
semion. 'j'he meeting was held in a schoolhouse. He made his circuit round 
there once in four weeks. The Rev. Warren Banister assisted him betimes. 
In 1S08 the preachers were Revs. L. Bates and E. F. Xowell, doing service 
in a circuit of towns. Class meetings were organized and the cause of Metho- 
dism advanced slowly. In 1S09 the circuit riders were Revs. H. Field and A. 
Taylor. The meetings were then held in the courthouse and the size of the 
audiences increased, when signs of mob ojiposition appeared and the preacher 
had to be escorted on his way to the courthouse by special police officers. 
The opposers were "lewd fellows of the baser sort" in the town. In 181 1 the 
membership had increased to ninety-one members. Next year it increased to 
108. It seemed to lie the custom for a jireacher Uj ser\e onl\- one }ear. In 
1 81 6 Rev. John Lord became pastor and during the year increased the mem- 
bership about sixty. He was not permitted to remain more than two years, 
but his successors kept up the membership and increased it little by little each 
year. In i8_\:; the society had become sufficiently prosperous to build a meet- 
ing-house, which was completed in October, and dedicated with great rejoic- 
ing under the pastorate of Rev. H. Foster. Rev. E. F. Xowell participated in 
the dedicatory service. The new meeting-house and the new minister. Rev. 
Charles Baker, increased the size of the audiences. An act of incorporation 
was granted by the Legislature this year to facilitate business arrangements. 
The membership was largely increased in the years i8j6, 1827, and 1828: in 
the latter year a parsonage was built In 1830 the first Sunday school was 
opened in connection with the regular church service. Sunday schools had 
been held in a schoolhouse before that time. In 1834 they began to assist in 
missionary work. It had come to iie the regular custom now to change 
ministers l^iennially. F'sually the Rochester church was well ser\'ed and it 
prospered sjiiritually and financially. In 1844 the Rev. O. C. Baker was 
appointed preacher, but the presiding elder could not permit him to return a 
second year, because of a misunderstanding lietween the elder and the church, 
whereat the church was much stirred up, but his successor. Rev. Henry Drew, 
poured oil on the troubled waters and peace was restored, but they never for- 
gave that presiding elder. Before Mr. Drew's two years expired he secured a 
remodelling of the audience room of the church, which greatly improved the 
appearance, and made the house much more conxenient for the parishioners. 
In 1853 ^t was found necessary to enlarge the audience room to accommodate 
the increased congregation; also an organ was installed, which added much to 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 487 

the effects of the nuisical programs. In the spring of 1854 the New Hamp- 
shire Annual Conference was held in Rochester for the first time. That same 
year the church contributed $1,000 to the Conference Seminary, which had 
been established at Tilton, N. H. In iSfn the present parsonage was built at 
a cost of $3,000. In 1867 the corner-stone of the new church was laid Rev F 
K. Stratton bemg pastor. The Masonic fraternity assisted in the ceremonial 
work, m the presence of an audience of 5,000 persons. It was completed in 
1868 at a cost of $20,000. The j.astor was Rev. J. M. Chapman The 
Kev. M. T. Cilley was pastor in 1877-78, and did especially good work in rais- 
ing money to pay off the church debt of about Uvo thons'and dollars Beinc. 
housed m a very fine brick edifice, in a central location, the society has pros'" 
pered and done good work in all lines that help to make the citv better in nther 
ways as well as religiously. 



CHAPTER LXI 
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON (I) 

GEOGRAPHICAL TOPOGRAPHICAL FARMINGTON DOCK FIRST TOWN MEETING 

OFFICERS ELECTED 

The line between Ivocliester and l""armiiigton is 6^ miles long. The line 
helween Farmington and Xew Durham is parallel with the Rochester line and 
six miles distant ; Strafford is on the southwest and .Milton on the northeast. 
It touches Middleton at its north corner for the distance of two-thirds of 
a mile. The town is well supplied w ith streams and rivers, among which are 
the Cochecho, Mad, Ela, and Waldron. These afford manufacturing facilities 
which are a never-failing source of profit to the inhabitants. These are in the 
northeast side of the town, and the village is in the valley at the junction of 
the Cochecho and Ela rivers. The railroad is on the hill west of the village. 
Chesley mountain in a little south of the center of the town. Blue Job is on 
the northwest side of the town, partly in Strafford. 

The names of its mountains are from parties who owned them at an early 
(late. Job Allard owned the mountains now called Blue Job, which belongs 
to the Blue Hills range, hence the name Blue Job. Mad river derives its name 
from its freshets or floods, to which the country along its bank is subject. 
It has been known to rise after a heavy storm of one or two hours' duration 
a number of feet, flooding the country along its border, sweeping property and 
ever^-thing before it ; rocks weighing tons have been moved from their resting- 
places by its impetuosity and carried quite a distance down the stream. One of 
the floods occurred in 1869, causing great destruction of property, and endan- 
gering the lives of the people. -In some instances they uere rescued from their 
houses in boats. 

The early history of Farmington will be found principally in the history of 
Rochester, of which this town originally formed a part. The early record his- 
tory, Revolutionary, names of early settlers, etc., are incorporated in the 
history of the mother-town. 

Among the first who settled in this section were Benjamin, Samuel, and 
Richard Furber, Samuel Jones, Benjamin Chesley, and Paul Demeritt, who 
located near Merrill's Comers from 1770 to 1783. On the Ten-Rod road 

488 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 489 

Joseph and Levi Leighton were located ; on Chestnut hill, Moses Home, Caleb 
Varney, Judge Wingate, and others in various parts of the town. Among the 
men from this town who have held public positions in the state and United 
States legislative halls, now deceased, are Nehemiah Eastman, Esq., who held 
a distinguished position at the bar for many years. He was elected to the 
State Senate, and also a member of the Nineteenth Congress. He died Jan. 19, 
1856. Dr. Joseph Hammond was a member of the State Legislature, and also 
of the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses. He died March 28, 1836. 
George L. Whitehouse was a deputy sheriff six years, a judge of the court of 
common pleas for the county of Strafford for fourteen years, also a member 
of the House of Representatives three years. Judge Whitehouse has also been 
extensively engaged in railroad surveys in this and other counties. Jeremiah 
Dame, John D. Lyman, George M. Herring, and Alonzo Nute were members 
of the State Senate: Thomas T. Edgerly and Josiah B. Edgerly were regis- 
ters of deeds. 

Jeremiah Jones was the first man born in the town who was elected to the 
State Legislature. He was elected for six successive terms and nominated for 
the seventh, but refused to run. His majority at his first election was one, at 
the last 158. The late Hon. Henry Wilson, United States Senator from 
Massachusetts, was born on a farm about two miles south of Farmington 
village. 

The first meeting-house was built on Robert's hill, about two miles south of 
Farmington village. The first schoolhouse was built at Merrill's Corners, in 
the southern part of the town, about the year T791. 

Early Merchants. — One of the first merchants in Farmington was Jonas C. 
March, who came here from Portsmouth in about the year 1780, and built a 
store in what is now the lower end of the village, on premises now owned by 
G. N. Eastman. Mr. March subsequently removed to Rochester, and was suc- 
ceeded as the "trader" of the town by John Googin, whose stock in trade con- 
sisted chiefly of molasses, tea, spiceberries, [iepiier-corns, tobacco, rum, etc. 

Mr. Googin, however, soon had an energetic competitor in the person of 
Joseph Smith, of Dover, who erected a large two-story building on the site of 
the present brick church and engaged in trade, adding dry-goods to the usual 
stock of groceries. He had a faithful old clerk named Joseph Sherburne, who 
had charge of the store here, while Smith remained at Dover. 

In 1830, Nehemiah Eastman was the lawyer here, and Joseph Hammond 
the doctor. Peter and Levi Pearl were at the head of the militia, and J. H. 
Edgerly called the roll of names, among whom were the Nutes, Burnham and 
Isaac, George R. Dame. Samuel Bunker, Hiram French, etc. At that time 
"Jerry" Wingate was postmaster. 

29 



490 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

l-anniiigtoii "Dock." — The name of Farmington Dock is said to have 
originated as follows : Long years ago, when I-"annington was a part of 
Rochester, the people living on what was called the "I'lains" were in the habit 
of cutting logs in the winter and depositing them on a little hill on the banks 
of the Cocheco, near what was called Knight's Brook, ready to be rolled into 
the river when the spring freshets came and floated them to the "Plains." 
l*>om the manner of depositing, or "docking," as it was called, came the 
name. Another theory, however, is that the name Farmington Dock (or the 
Dock) originated from a growth of large yellow dock growing on the border 
of Knight's Brook, aljDut one-half mile south of the \illage, where it crosses 
the road. People were in the habit of watering their horses at this place, and 
the growth of said plant was so thick that it became of public notoriety. 
The word first appears in the town records in \j()2. 

The \illage of Farmington is situated on what was formerly known as the 
"Old Ji)hn Ham farm." The first dwelling was a log house, occupied by one 
Berry, i'he first frame house was erected in 1781 or 1782 by John Roberts, 
and here he reared a numerous family. The second frame house was built 
by Jonas C March pre\ious to 179-'. 

The town of Farmington was incorporated Dec. i, 1798, the notification 
for the first town meeting being dated Feb. 23, 1799, and signed by Aaron 
W'ingate. 

The First Toivn Meeting was held March 11, 1799, at the house of Simon 
Dame, "at ten of the Clock in the forenoon," when the following ofiicers were 
chosen: Moderator, .\aron W'ingate; town clerk, Jonas C. ]\Iarch : selectmen, 
Ichabod Hayes, Ephraim Kimball, and Da\-id Roberts; auditors, Capt. Samuel 
Furbur and James Roberts ; assessors, Thomas Canney and Paul Demeritt ; 
surveyors of highways, James Roberts, James Leighton, Joseph Thompson, 
Jr., Paul Demerett, Benjamin Furl)ur. Joseph Emerson, Daniel Canney, Jona- 
than I'rench, Edward Knight, Samuel Jones. Jr., Thomas Davis, John Downs, 
and ( ieorge Leighton ; surveyors of lumber, Jonathan French and David 
French: hogreeves, Richard Furbur, Josei-ih Holmes, .\aron W'ingate, Jonas C. 
March. Ephraim Perkins, John Murray, Ichabod Pearl, Ichabod Hayes, and 
Paul Demerit; tithinginen, Edward Varney, Anthony Peavey, James Xutter, 
Ezekiel Ricker, Samuel \'arney. Alexander Berry, and Richard Rundlet ; 
fence-viewers, John Walker, Ezekiel Ricker, Joseph Holmes, Elijah Meder, 
and David French ; field-drovers, James French, Benjamin Runnals, Joseph 
Thompson, Jr., Moses W'hitehouse, Paul Twombly, Moses Varne}', and 
Samuel Drowne. 

At this meeting it was voted "that the privilege of being a constable in 
said town of Farmington the present year shall be sold at vendue to the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 491 

highest bidder, and the purchaser to give bonds to the satisfaction of the 
selectmen for the faithful perfunnance of his duty." 

The "constable birth," as it was called, was bid off by Ensign Samuel 
Knowles for twenty-one dollars and twenty-fi\e cents. At this meeting John 
Taylor Gilman received one hundred and thirty-three votes for Governor. 
Richard Furbur was the town's first representative to the General Court. 

In 1799 licenses to retail "foreign distilled spirituous liquors" were granted 
to the following persons : Joseph Holmes, Lakeman & Marsh, Benjamin Run- 
nals, and Elezear Pearl. 

The following tavern licenses were granted : Joseph Holmes, Col. Richard 
Furbur, Samuel Knowles, Edward Knight, and Ephraim Perkins. 



CHAl'TER LXIl 
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON (II) 

ECCLESIASTICAL CONGREGATIONALISTS FREE WILL BAPTISTS 

The Congregational Church in Farmin^on Sept. 15, 1819, with the fol- 
lowing members : Benjamin Furber, Peter Akemian, Noah Ham, Mary Fur- 
ber, Muhitable Hayes, Mary Furber, Mehitable Furber, Elizabeth Roberts, 
The Rev. James Walker, agent of this New Hampshire Missionary Society, 
officiated at the organization, and he became pastor and held the office seven 
years. His successor was Rev. Clement Parker, who served in 1827-28 and 29. 
Following him the supply was furnished from time to time by the Missionary 
Society up to 1840 v\hen Rev. Timothy Morgan was installed and remained 
three years. Rev. Joseph Lane served in 1844-45 and 46; Rev. Benj. Willey, 
1847-50; Rev. Roger M. Sargent, 1851-52; Rev. D. D. Tappan, 1852-58; 
Rev. Roger M. Sargent, 1860-69; Rev. W. S. Kimball, 1869-71 ; Rev. Eugene 
Titus, 1872-74; Rev. Paul H. Pitkins, 1875-77; Rev. Walter E. Darling, 1877- 
1884. Since then a succession of good men have served as pastors and the 
church is in a flourishing condition. A good Sunday school library was 
secured for the society in 1833 by Rev. Mr. Fisk while a student at Andover 
Theological Seminary. 

The Free Will Baptist Society was organized Oct. 21, 1854. A church was 
organized inside of the society or parish Nov. 8 of the same j^ear,- with 
a membership of thirteen, five men and eight women. One of this number 
was Rev. Dexter Waterman, who became the first pastor of the church and 
society. The meetings were held at this time in the old Peavy meeting house, 
located about three-quarters of a mile from the center of the village. Under 
Mr. Waterman's management the membership of the church was increased to 
thirty-two, and the society was largely increased during the two years he 
served. His successor in November, 1856, was Rev. J. L. M. Babcock. In 
1857 steps were taken for the erection of a house of worship in the compact 
part of the village. The efforts were successful and the new meeting house 
was dedicated with appropriate services Oct. 28, 1857. The Rev. Ransom 
Dunn preached the dedicatory sermon. Mr. Babcock, who had successfully 

492 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 493 

carried througli the campaign of meeting house construction, financial and 
otherwise, resigned in May, 1858. His successor was the Rev. Daniel Poor 
Cilley, a grandson of Gen. Joseph Cilley of Nottingiiam, a speaker and pastor 
of unusual nierii wlm put tlie churcli and society into high standing among 
the churches of tiic i'ree \\ ill Llaptist denomination. Mr. Cilly served nearly 
three and a half years, when lie resigned to accept the appointment of chap- 
lain of the Eighth New Hampshire Regiment of Volunteer Infantry and soon 
joined his regiment and left witli it for the war. He inherited the martial 
spirit of his illustrious ancestors and served faithfully with his regiment to 
the close of tiie war, going with the men into every engagement the regiment 
was called upon to participate in. 

The Rev. Ezekiel True was Chaplain Cilley's successor, and he served from 
Nov. I, 1861, to March i, 1866, and was very successful in calling out large 
audiences at the Sunday services. At a meeting held on the 17th of the month 
the society voted to give their old pastor. Chaplain Cilley, a call to hecome their 
pastor again, as he had returned from missionery work in the South and was 
then a resident of Farmington. He accepted and served about six months, 
when he was obliged to resign on account of ill health ; his service in the army 
had broken his bodily powers liadly. His successor was Rev. S. N. Tufts, who 
served until Oct. 1, 1870. Mr. Tufts was succeeded by Rev. George M. Park, 
who served until Xcn . i. 1874. During Mr. Park's pastorate the meeting 
iiouse was enlarged, the interior uuicii adorned, and a new bell tower and 
spire were added. Mr. Parks was a great worker and left the society almost 
free from debt. He received ninety-two persons to the church — seventy-four 
by baptism. Mr. Parks' successor was Rev. David H. Adams, who served 
until Oct. 31, 1878. During his ]>astorate still further improvements were 
made by the introduction of a plant for steam heat for the meeting-house and 
vestr}'. The Rev. C. A. Bickford succeeded Mr. Adams and served till Oct. 
31. 1880. The Rev. David H. Adams, who had been preaching at New- 
market accepted a call to return to Farmington in 1881, and served several 
years. Since then the church has prospered under a series of able pastors. 



CHAPTER LXIII 

HISTORY OF FARMINGTOX (HI) 

farmixgton's shoe manufacturers 

111 1836 Elijah H. Badger came to Farniington and coniiTienced the 
manufacture of shoes, known at that time as Xatick Sale work, that place 
being then the banner town in the country for the manufacture of this 
peculiar grade of goods, brogans. He continued in business about one year, 
when he became financially embarrassed, and left town not to return again. 
About this time Martin E. Ha}es commenced in a small way the manufacture 
of shoes. He continued increasing his business until he was regarded as the 
largest manufacturer of shoes in the state, and from the time he commenced 
business he continued it almost without interruption through life. Mr. 
Hayes was a native of Farniington, and he always manifested a lively interest 
in the welfare of his town. To Mr. Hayes more than any one else the town 
is indebted for the beautiful shade trees in the village. He commenced the 
example by setting fruit and shade trees on his own grounds; others soon 
followed his example; the result gave the streets a beautiful and attractive 
appearance. Mr. Hayes never attempted to monopolize business, but encour- 
aged other manufacturers to come to Farniington and settle. About 183S 
or 1848, George M. Herring started in the shoe business here. He came from 
Natick. Mass. He was successful in his venture and continued in the lousiness 
during his life time. He not onlv manufactured shoes but also took a livelv 
interest in public affairs, both religious and political, and contributed much 
to advance what he thought beneficial to the community at large. Much credit 
is due him for the enterprise and energy which characterized him through 
life. His energy drew attention to this town as a good place for others to 
locate their shops, and Boston merchants began to invest their capital here in 
the shoe business. Mr. J. F. Roberts, backed financially by Boston nnJiiey, 
was the next to open a shoe shop in the village. 

^Ir. Roberts was a man much respected both for his energy and honesty. 
He continued l;ut a short time, for his health failed him. and he, too, was 
soon numbered among those whose business histor}- was short and honorable. 

494 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 495 

Mr. Roberts was succeeded by his two brothers, George E. and Henry L. 
Roberts, who remained together a few years, when they dissolved, and each 
continued by himself. Henry L. is still doing business in town, while George 
E. has for the last eight or ten years been retired. Alx)ut the same time 
that Mr. J. F. Roberts commenced manufacturing, Messrs. Alonzo and J. O. 
Nute commenced and continued together a few years, when J. O. withdrew. 
Alonzo remained in business, and has been continually engaged since, except 
a brief period in which he was in the army of the Union. Mr. Nute was one of 
those enterprising men who may always be found at the front in any enterprise 
he believes to be for the interests of his town. They were among the largest, 
if not the largest, manufacturers in town. Among others who were early 
identified in the business of our tow n were Luther Wentworth, H. B. Edgerley, 
and Israel Hays. Mr. Wentworth continued a short time, but failing health 
compelled him to retire from active business, and disease soon took him from 
our midst. H. B, Edgerly still continues, and has been continually identified 
with the business for the past thirty years. Mr. James B. Edgerly, the 
present very efficient cashier of the Farmington National Bank, was associated 
with Mr. H. B. Edgerly, for a few years. The name of the firm under which 
Mr. Edgerly does business at present is, H. B. Edgerly & Son. Mr. Israel 
Hays is still in the manufacture, and his firm is I. Elays & Son. Mr. William 
Johnson was one of the early comers to our town to engage in manufacturing. 
He has since moved to the West, where he is engaged in shoe business, but 
not manufacturing. 

Mr. N. T. Kimball and John L. Platts were also among those who were 
early identified with the shoe interest here. Mr. Platts removed to Dover, 
N. H., where he still resides, but he is not now^ doing shoe business. Mr. 
Kimball moved to Rochester, N. H., where he continued in business until his 
decease. Mr. John H. Hurd, later of Dover, N. H., is a native of Farming- 
ton. Mr. Hurd commenced and continued manufacturing in Farmington for 
many years, when he moved to Dover, where he continued in business, and 
the name of his firm was John H. Hurd & Son. The late C. W. Thurston, 
of Dover, fonnerly did business in Farmington, and continued here until 
the great fire of 1S75, whicli consumed his factory, together with a great 
deal of other property in our town. Mr. E. F. Jones manufactured shoes 
a number of years in town, at first in company with George A. Jones, who 
did a nice business, and was actively engaged many years. Mr. Daniel W. 
Kimball and John M. Berry were the active manufacturers for C. W. Thurston 
before his factory was destroyed. xA.fter that Mr. Kiml>all engaged in manu- 
facturing for a Boston house, and did a nice business. Mr. Berry was 



496 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

actively engaged in business since he commenced in 1870, and his factory 
now is one of the largest in town. Mr. Berry was the only manufacturer 
in town who made long leg, crimped, and treed boots. He manufactured 
shoes in the winter and boots in the summer. Mr. E. C. Kinnear was one of 
the largest manufacturers in town for a number of years. He continued here 
for some ten or twelve years, when he moved to Dover, and continued the 
manufacture until 1880, when he moxed to Rockland, Mass. Mr. A. E. 
Putnam commenced manufacturing in Farmington in 1878. He manufactured 
for a Boston house. J. F. Cloutman commenced in 1854, and continued 
actively engaged in business a half century. He commenced the manufactur- 
ing of brogans, and continued in that branch of manufacture for nine years. 
After that time he made a different class of goods, manufacturing women's, 
misses', and children's light sewed goods, made of grains, glove, kid, calf, 
goat, and kid, lastings, etc. The \alue of the product of J. F. Cloutman's 
factory in some _vears reached nearly one-half million dollars. 

J. F. Cloutman brought the first wax-thread sewing-machine ever used 
for shoe work in the state into Farmington, about 1855. He was the senior 
partner of the firm of Cloutman & Bingham. 147 Summer street, Boston. 
Mass. When manufacturing shoes commenced in Farmington there was no 
machinery used at all. Soles were cut from the sides of leather by hand, 
using a straight edge and pattern to mark the size of the sole. The heel lifts 
were cut out with knife and pattern. The inner soles were I>egged on to 
the last, and made to fit the last by hand and the use of a knife. Upper 
patterns were made of pine wood generally, and bound with flat zinc about 
three-eights of an inch wide. The uppers, after being cut. were sent into the 
country to be closed and made ready for the bottomer. The closing was 
done on the old-fashioned clamp, and the thread was prepared in the old- 
fashioned way, putting two or three threads together and waxing with the 
old-fashioned ball of wax by hand. The bottomer did all of his work by 
hand, and in fact from the beginning the shoe was made entirely by hand, 
without the aid of machinery. Today the methods are entirely changed. 
Machinery is used to cut the soles ; it is used to prepare the heels ; it is used 
to mould the soles that they may the better fit the shape of the last ; it is used 
by many to last the shoe; it is used to tack the outer sole on the shoe after 
lasting it; it is used in pegging, sewing, or nailing; it is used in leveling the 
bottom ; it is used in putting the heel on ; it is used in smoothing or shaving 
the heel ; it is used in trimming the front edge of the shoe ; it is used to set 
or burnish the front edge and heel; it is used to buff or scour the bottom 
preparatory to finishing it ; and in fitting or stitching the upper it is used from 
the beginning to the finish. Even the button-holes are worked in silk by 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 497 

machinery, and one operator can make from 2,500 to 4,000 button-holes 
per day. Machinery has made it possible to produce a much nicer boot 
or shoe, for a much less price, and in many cases one-half the cost, than 
under the old methods. In 1854 it was considered a fair business for one 
manufacturer to manufacture ten cases per week, or 600 pairs per week, and 
twenty cases, 1,200 jjairs per week, was considered a great business. Today 
there are a great many factories that produce from two to three thousand pairs 
each per day. The manufacturers of this town manufactured in 1881 about 
fifty thousand cases, or about one million five hundred thousand pairs, the 
value of which is probably about two million dollars. Farmington has alw ays 
been the largest shoe manufacturing town in the state, and continues pros- 
perous in the business. The shoe manufacturers of Farmington probably 
pay out annually in cash for labor $500,000, and furnish employment for from 
1,000 to 1,200 people. 



CHAPTER LXIV 
HISTORY OF FARAHNGTOX (I\j 

FARMINGTON SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR, VARIOUS TOWN TOPICS 

Farmington has always been one of the most patriotic of towns, in peace 
as well as in war. For the suppression of the southern rebellion it furnished 
234 men. in all departments of the service; the following are some of those 
who held high positions: Louis Bell, captain of Co. A. First Regiment, later 
promoted to colonel, killed Jan. 15. 1853; Alonzo Nute, quartermaster of the 
Sixth Regiment; Rev. Daniel Poor Cilley, chaplain of Eighth Regiment; 
Albert W. Hayes, second lieutenant. Sixth Regiment, promoted to captain in 
1862; Ralph Carlton, captain Co. I, Third Regiment; Henry A. Flint, first 
lieutenant Co. F, Second Regiment. 

Captain Carlton was killed July 17, 1862; the Grand Army Post of 
Farmington was named in honor of his bra\e career. A fine soldiers' monu- 
ment has been erected on one of the most \-aluable lots in the \'illage. the 
gift of Air. James Bartlett Edgerly. a descendant of Col. Thomas Tash and 
of Col. John Waldron of the Revolution, who is a member of the Carlton post. 
The Woman's Relief Corps did a large amount of work in raising funds to 
procure the monument. The noble stature that surmounts the monument was 
modeled from a brother of Seth Low. who was mayor of New York several 
years ago. The figure very appropriately faces southward, as Faniiington 
men faced and helped conquer the great rebellion. 

As Farmington was simply the Northwest parish of Rochester during the 
Revolution, the war record of its citizens is given in the history of that 
town, but in the lesser wars of the nineteenth century were : C. B. Roberts. 
Timothy Davis, J. G. Watson, G. L. \\'hiteliouse, Asa and Jeremiah Willey, 
whose graves are honored on Memorial Day by the Grand Army veterans. 

Farmington has many fine buildings showing that it has been and is pros- 
perous. The spacious opera house was opened in 1881 with Sol Smith 
Russell as the great attraction; since then its walls have echoed to the notes 
of many famous people, among them: Mr. Blaisdell of Concord. Camella 
Urso. Walter Emerson, Emil Lubliny, Miss Hall, the Fiske jubilee singers 

498 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 499 

and excellent orchestras, from time to time. Mr. Tompkins of the Boston 
theatre sent some of his best companies here who gave iirst class entertain- 
ments 

Of fraternal organizations Farmington has its full share: Free Masons, 
Odd Fellows, Knights of P*ythias, Improved Order of Red .Men and others, 
and the farmers are well organized and are doing good work in the Henr)' 
Wilson Grange, which has its name in honor of United States Senator and 
Vice-President Wilson who was born and brought up in this town. 

In \iew of the immense amount of good in work au.xiliary to the church 
and state and to the fraternal societies, special mention in terms of unquali- 
fied praise is due to sexeral organizations of Farmington women; among the 
nimiber are: Mrs. .\delaid Cilley Waldron, Mrs. L. H. Palmer, Mrs. L. A. 
Small. Mrs. Knox and .Mrs. Thayer of lodges, and Mrs. C. W. Talpey, 
Mrs. J. F. Cloutman. Mr>. .\. \\\ Shackford. Mrs. E. F. Eastman and Mrs. 
Larson A. Fernald. of the W^oman's Christian Temperance Union, and 
societies auxiliary to religious bodies. 

Extravagance has never been apparent in the dwellings of Farmington, 
but a certain degree of comfort antl delicate living is and has been the rule 
in nearly all of them, and there are few marks of destitution. The com- 
munity is made up largely of pure New England stock, \'ery few foreign 
families have come here to dwell. As a rule e\'ery man owns the home in 
which he dwells. 

The Fariuingtou Savings Bank was chartered in June, 1868, and organized 
the same year by the choice of George M. Herring, presitlent ; Thomas ¥. 
Cooke, treasurer; G. M. Herring, .A. Nute, Hiram Barker, George N. East- 
man, David T. Parker, H. B. Edgerly, John Barker, John G. Johnson, Daniel 
Pearl, C. W. ^^'ingate. John H. Ste\'ens, Le\i Pearl, and l^Iijah Jenkins, 
trustees. 

Mr. Herring held the office of jiresident until his death, in 1875. Jan. 
14. 1876, Hon. John F. Cloutman was elected ])resident, and held the office 
until May, j88r, when he was succeeded by C. \\ . Wingate. Esq. 

Mr. Cooke held the office of treasurer until his death, Nov. 11, 18S0, 
and was succeeded in office by William ^'eaton. Mr. Yeaton's successor 
was Charles W'. Talpev who held the office until his death, as also did Mr. 
Cloutman. Among those who ha\e served as trustees were : Charles W^ 
Wingate, George N. Eastman, Levi Pearl. II. B. Edgerly, William W^ Hayes, 
John F. Cloutman, Hiram Barker, Jonathan R. Hayes, David S. Parker, A. 
Nute, Josiah B. Edgerly, John Tuttle, John H. Barker, D. W. Edgerly, G. E. 
Cochrane. E. P. Nute. 



500 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

I'he Fanningtoii National Bank \vas organized in July. 1872, with the 
following board of directors: George M. Herring, J. F. Cloutman, John H. 
Barker, H. B. Edgerly, Alonzo Nute, C. W. Thurston, Charles \V. Talpey, 
Martin L. Hayes, Edwin Wallace; first president, G. M. Herring; first cashier. 
Thomas F. Cook. Mr. Herring's successor was John F. Cloutman; Mr. 
Cook"s successor was James B. Edgerly, both of these gentlemen served until 
they died. 



CHAPTER LXV 
HISTORY OF l-ARMLXGTON (Vj 

NOTED MEN OF FORMER GENERATIONS 

The State of New Hampshire lias furnished one President of the United 
States, Frankhn Pierce, and one Vice-President, Henry Wilson; both in the 
same generation; one of Concord, the other of Farmington; Pierce served 
from March 4, 1853, to March 4, [857; Wilson served from March 4, 1873, 
until his death, Nov. 22, 1875; he was in feeble health during 1875 and died 
of apoplexy. That score of years 1853- 1875, covers a period of the most 
remarkable events in the world's history, and Henry Wilson was active in. 
it from beginning to end. New Hampshire men can never duplicate it. 
In fact it is doubtful if New Hampshire ever furnishes another President 
or Vice-President of the United States. To Farmington will ever remain 
the lionor of being the birthplace of Henry Wilson, and his place of residence 
until he was twenty-one years old. Of course Henry Wilson is Farmington's 
most illustrious citizen. No extended biography of his career is needed 
here, but just a mention that he stands at the head of this town's noted men. 
His birthplace in this town is properly marked with a bronze tablet on a huge 
boulder. He was born Feb. 16, 1812; he died Nov. 22. 1875, in Washington, 
D. C. His birth name was Jeremiah Jones Colbath, but after he became of 
age he had the Massachusetts Legislature change it to Henry Wilson ; why the 
change was made is not known. When he was ten years old, his parents 
being very poor, he was apprenticed to a farmer in Farmington to "serve his 
time." as was the old custom in New England. It took eleven years to 
finish that contract, which terminated Fel). 16. 1833. During the time he was 
allowed to attend the winter school in that district, about six weeks, each 
winter, a little o\'er a year in the whole time, but he made good use of it 
in reading, writing and ciphering; also put in his spare time in the course 
of his duties as farmer's "hired man" to read every book that was available 
in Fannington, or the towns around it. and he seems to have digested the 
reading matter. There was no public library, neither were books very plenty, 
or in great variety. When his apprenticeship terminated in February, 1833, 

501 



502 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

he took his departure from I'arniington in search of utlier than farm work. 
There was no shoe shop or grange in the town at that time. After lie had 
won national fame in the United States Senate, he spoke one evening at a 
pulihc meeting in Dover. He said it was his first speech in tliat citv, and he 
began his address in a reminiscent way; tlie writer of this was fortunate 
enough to be there and hear iiim. He said he hail left Farmington. .so 
many years liefore his speech, in search of w ork ; he in(|uired at Rochester, 
no work for him there: he went to Great Falls, nothing for him there; he 
came to Dover and made ini|uiries, ever\- empli)\t'r had all the help he wanted ; 
he crossed the line out of New Hampshire and made inquiries at Haverhill, 
nothing doing. So he kept on from town to town until he reached Xatick, 
.Mass., having made the journey all the way on foot; in that town he was 
fortunate enough to find work in a house of a shoe maker. He went to work 
anrl learned the trade: he staid with that employer two years, and lived \"ery 
frugally; saved all the money he could and in 1835 trami)ed back to Xew 
Hampshire to see the folks. Strafford .\cademy had recentlv been opened ; 
he went to Strafford Centre, a few miles from his old home and attended 
the school a few terms; this gave him a good start, as he was quick to appre- 
hend and diligent in his studies. It was at this academy he began to show 
his masterly powers as a debater; at that time the school was full of keen 
young men and gave J\lr. Wilson all he wanted in that line; one of the great 
questions debated was anti-slavery. There he took his stand as an Aboli- 
tionist : thirty years later he was in the I'nited States Senate and his anti- 
sla\'ery campaign was ended in a complete victory. But at StrafYord he had 
not the remotest idea of what he and the country had to go through to set 
the bondmen free. 

In 1838 Mr. Wilson resumed his work of shoe making at Xatick, and that 
Ijecame his liome the remainder of his life. He began his political career as a 
campaign speaker in 1840, advocating the election of Harri.son and Tyler. 

At these meetings lie was introduced as the "X'atick Col>bler'" ; the result 
was his brother cobblers in that town sent him to the Legislature, as their 
representative: and then, after an intermission he served tliree annual terms 
in the State Senate, and had won a reputation throughout the state as a 
Free-Soil partv leader. After that he did not ha\-e much time to devote to 
shoe making, but the Xatick cobblers stood by their chief and kept him in 
the public senice of the state until 1855, when he was elected United States 
Senator; he was kept there by re-election eighteen years: then resigned to 
take the chair of Vice-President of the United States, and President of the 
Senate. 




-1. T11U.\1A« Ei'lsrnl'AL i.'ll I ' l;i 'II , Ih)\K|;, N. ]1. 






wtJf-tfM^ 




ST. JOHN '8 M. E. CHURCH, DOVER, N. H. 




RICKER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, I'lNi: IIII.L iKMETERY, 
DOVER, N. H. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 505 

Judge George L. If'liilelwiise was burn in Middleton, [an. 6, 1797; Iiis 
parents were Nathaniel and Anna ( Leighton) Wlntehouse. Tlieir son Cleorge 
remained at home on the farm until eighteen years of age. but during the tiuK- 
had attended the district school of his neighborhood, and had learned some- 
what of sur\eying. W hen he was sixteen years old he taught a winter district 
school, and did so several winters following. He supplemented his common 
school education by attending academies. 

He came to Farmington in 1^24 and engaged in the grocery busmess. 
He was deputy sheriff of StraftV,rd cunty from .Mav. 18J7, t.i Mav, 18^^; 
he was register of deeds fmm May. i,S,^_^. to August. 1830.' In the'fair'of 
that year he commenced his career as a civil engineer. 'bv constructing a 
canal thrce-ipiarters of a nnle long, at the headwaters of the Cochecho ruer 
in Middleton. Later he was assistant engineer for sometime in the construc- 
tion of the Cochecho railroad from Dover to Farmington. In 1851 he 
commenced the preliminary survey of the route for the Great b'alls and Con- 
way railway: later he sur\eye<l for the route of the Rochester and Nashua 
road and several other branch roads now a part of the Boston and Maine 
■systems up to 1871. In the later years he was chief engineer for the work. 
He was a])i)ointed associate justice of the court of common jjleas in 
i84[. which office he held lill 1853, when the courts were cbaugcd. |udge 
Whitehouse had a long, active and \ cry efficient iniblic career: .\" laud 
surveyor for sixty years: civil engineer, forty _\ears : justice of the peace and 
quorum throughout New Hampshire and notary public f(M- the States of 
New Hampshire and Illinois, forty years: jud.ge of the court of common 
pleas, fourteen years: deputy sheriff', six years; recorder of deeds, six years; 
captain of a militia company, several years; private soldier in the War of 
181 J, for which service he drew a pension in his old a,ge ; he held various town 
offices in Middleton and Farmin.gton ; and A\as rci>resentative from Farming- 
ton in the Legislature of 1830, and in that of 1850 and 1857. 

John F. Cloutiiian was born in New Durham. Dec. 27. 1831 ; he was 
a son of John F. Cloutman and Patience S. Edgerly his wife, who was 
a daughter of Andrew Edgerly. He received a limited school education, 
but what the schools failed to supply he acquired by general reading and 
careful and intelligent observation. He worked on the farm until he was 
thirteen years of age. then began to learn bow to manufacture shoes, and 
at twenty-two years of age was master of all departments of the business. 
In 1853 he be.gan manufacturing shoes on bis own account for Joseph Whitney 
& Co., of Boston, and did work for that firm nine years. 

In 1862 be changed from the Boston firm and began the manufacture 
of shoes at Farmington, in connection with the \^'allace Brothers, of Rochester, 



506 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

and was associated w ith them two years, and the following six or seven years 
manufactured on his own account. Later he was engaged with different 
firms but kept at the business as long as his health permitted. 

In 1862 and 1863 Mr. Cloutman represented Farmington in the Legisla- 
ture. In 1876 and 1877 he was State Senator. He held various town offices. 
Trustee and \ice-president of the Farmington Savings Bank. He was 
member of the Masonic fraternity in which he held various official positions; 
he was member of St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar of Dover. 
He was district deputy grand master of the first Masonic district in New- 
Hampshire. 

Hon. Alonzo Nutc was born in Milton, Feb. 12, 1826; he was a son of 
David Nute and Lavina Cook, his wife, who was daughter of Peter Cook 
of Wakefield. He worked on his father's farm until he was si.xteen years 
old, attending school in the winter time. In 1842 he went to Natick, Mass., 
where Henry Wilson had gone before him, who gave Alonzo a hint that it 
would be a good place for him to make a start in the world of work and 
business. Mr. Nute worked at the shoe manufacturing business there six 
vears, and mastered all departments of the business of making and selling 
boots and shoes. During two years of the time he was an employe of Mr. 
Wilson and lived in his family; so they were life-long friends and heart 
io heart politicians of the Free Soil, Republican stamp. He returned to 
Farmington in 1848 and became boss in one of the departments of Martin 
L. Hayes shoe shop. But in the fall of 184c) he set up business for him- 
self in the manufacture of shoes in company with his brother Jeremy O. 
Nute. In 1854 they dissolved partnership and he carried on the business 
successfully alone until his sons Eugene P. and Alonzo I. became of age to 
engage in the business with him ; then the firm name became A. Nute & Sons 
and so continued as long as he remained in the business. 

In the Civil war Mr. Nute was quartermaster for the Sixth New Hamp- 
shire Regiment for two years. He was representative from Farmington in the 
State Legislature in 1866, and State Senator in 1867-68. Later he was 
Congressman from the first district, and made a good record in the House at 
\Vashington. He was an able, courteous and successful man in business and 
in politics. 

Dr. Da^nd Taylor Parker was born in Bradford, Vt., April 10, 1813: he 
was a son of Reverend Clemens and Rachel fTaylor) Parker. His father was 
a Presbyterian minister, so the son was well born and well brought up. For 
a while the son was a student at the academy in Alfred, Me. When he was 
eighteen years old he commenced teaching winter district schools, and he was 
a good instructor. When he was twenty years old he began the study of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 507 

medicine with Dr. L. M. Baker at Great Falls, as Somersworth was then 
called. He graduated from Bowdoin College in May. 1836. He commenced 
the practice of his profession in Farmington, March 3, 1837, and was in 
successful practice there for more than half a century. The field of practice 
was not confined to that town, but his serN'ices were in demand in all the 
towns around, as the people had perfect confidence in his skill as a physician 
In 1864-65 Dr. Parker was the Republican representative in the Legisla- 
ture, although the general ticket of the Democratic party was successful by 
a large majority. He was president of the Strafford District Medical Society 
m 1842-43 : he was president of the Xew Hampshire Medical Society in 187' 
For many years he was a member of the American Medical Association as 
well as of several other important professional societies. He always kept well 
read up in the latest discoveries in the medical science, so that none of the 
fresh graduates from Harvard Medical School or any other school could 
compete with him in the treatment of dilificult cases. Dr. Parker was one 
of New Hampshire's great and good doctors. 



30 



CHAPTER LXVI 
HISTORY OP^ MILTOX (I) 

LOCATION IN THE COUNTY THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS AND BY WHOM 

Milton is the northeasternly town in Strafford county, and is situated 
upon the Sahnon Falls river, which forms its entire easterly boundary, and 
separates it from Acton and Lebanon in the State of Maine. It is bounded 
southerly by Rochester, westerly by Farmington, and northerly by Middleton 
and W^akefield. The west Ijranch of the Lebanon Falls ri\-er also runs through 
the town, making a junction with the east branch at the head of Northeast 
pond. 

The town has a territorial extent of about eighteen thousand acres. The 
surface is somewhat broken, but the soil is generally good and well adapted 
to farming purposes. The Teneriffe ^Mountain is a bold, rocky elevation, near 
the center of the town, affording excellent pasturage. The tdwn is abund- 
' antly watered, being tra\ersed by numerous streams and brooks beside those 
already named. The three ponds from which the principal village takes its 
name are a trio of beautiful ponds spread out at the base of the mountain, 
affording excellent boating and fishing, and are a favorite resort of the dis- 
ciples of the immortal Isaac. 

The early history of this town is identified with that of Rochester, it 
having formed a part of that town under the name of the Third or Northeast 
Parish prior to June ii, i8oj, at which time it was incorporated into a 
separate town by legislative enactment. On account of the destruction of the 
records bv fire, it has been found somewhat difficult to determine just when, 
where, or by whom the first permanent settlement was made in this town. It 
is. however, \ery certain that it was in the southern part and probably as 
early as 1760, or very near that time. 

The writer is of opinion that Jonathan Twombly is entitled to the honor 
of making the first settlement near the Twombly brook, and upon the farm 
now owned bv Hon. Luther Hayes, and sometimes called the Bragdon farm, 
Samuel Bragdon having purchased the farm from a son of Mr. Twombly 
in about 1800. Mr. Twombly and his wife and some of their children were. 

508 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 509 

no doubt, buried upon this farm. An ancient headstone records that Hannah 
Twombly died in I'ebruary, 1769. She was doubtless a daughter of Jonathan 
and this is behe\cd to be the oldest grave in Milton. 

Richard Walker was also a very early settler and a near neighbor ot 
Mr. Twombly; probably there was very little difference in the time uf their 
settlement. Mr. Walker died in 1813 at the age of seventy-seven years, and 
he and his wife are buried very near their old neighbors. The date of Mr. 
Twombly's settlement is obtained from the i^irth of his daughter, Betsey, 
who afterwards married James C. Hayes. She was born June 4, 1862. and 
is believed to ha\e l)een the first white child born in town. 

John Twoiubly, not supposed to lie a near relalive of Jonathan, made a 
settlement in what is now known as the Varney neighborhood in 1771 or 
1772, and had for nearest neighb(.ir une Jenkins, who li\-ed upon the Goodwin 
hill at that time. The Christian name of Mr. Jenkins is not known, and no 
subsequent knowledge is had of him. Mr. Twombly very soon removed to 
and made a penuanent settlement in the Lyman neighborhood, where he and 
his good wife died at a ripe old age. Our respected townsman, Theodore 
C. Lyman, was an adopted son of this worthy couple, and always spoke of 
them with much affection. 

The next settlement is believed to have been made uixjn Plumer's Ridge 
in 1772 or 1773. or very near that time, and probably by Benjamin Scates. 
Beard Plumer and his brother Joseph, sons of the Hon: John Plumer, of 
Rochester, however, were very early settlers, and it has been sometimes 
questioned whether they were not the first in this locality. James C. Hayes, 
David Wallingford, William Palmer, Elijah Horn, Moses Chamberlain, and 
others, very soon followed and opened up settleiuents in this neighliorhood. 
This was soon followed by quite a rush of settlers to the west side of the 
town, Daniel Hayes. Caleb Wakeham, Enoch Varney, Samuel Nute, William 
Wentworth, William Tuttle, Tchabod Hayes, James Hayes, Ebenezer Coursan, 
and Stephen Meseron being among the first. Jeremiah Cook, Dudley Rurn- 
ham, fotham Nute, Otis Pinkham, Ephraim Plumer, Jolui Twombly, James 
Varney, Tohn Varney, William Mathes, and others coming soon after. 

Early in the summer of 1776, Samuel Twombly, a nephew of the first 
settler, Tonathan Twombly, could ha\e been seen, with a pack well strapped 
upon his liack, wending his way u|) the side of Teneriffe, to search out a 
home for his ladv love, returning and bringing her to this wild region 
the next year. Stephen Wentworth very soon became a neighljor of the 
Twomblys. 

It does not appear that any settlement was made east of the West Branch 
river prior to about 1783 or I78'>. and among the earlier settlers there may be 



510 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

named, among others, Reuben Jones, Paul Jewett, Amos Witham, the Berrys, 
the Millers, Ephraim Twombly, Paul Wentworth, Caleb Wingate, David 
Coursan, John McDuffee, and soon after Hatwell Xutter, Thomas Applebee, 
William Applebee, John Hart, John Remick, Jr., Jonathan Dearborn, Joseph 
Dearborn, and many others. 

Among the first who settled at Three Ponds were Samuel Palmer, Levi 
Burgen, John Fish. Paul Jewett, Pelatiah Hanscom, Robert McGeoch, and 
others. Daniel Door and Jonathan Door settled at the head of the Pond quite 
early. The old tavern-house at Three Ponds, bumed a few years ago, was 
built by Robert McGeoch in 1786 or 1787, and was perhaps the iirst tavern 
in town. 

April 9, 1787, the town of Rochester "voted to raise a tax on the supposed 
first parish, to pay Rev. Joseph Haven his salar\% and also voted to raise an 
equivalent tax on the out parts of the town, to he laid out bv tliem at such 
time and place as they may agree." This was doubtless the origin of tlie 
dilTerent parishes which were afterwards established. 

On Oct. 15, 1787, Rochester "voted to lay out a road from the Branch 
bridge to Palmer's mill." This was the first public road laid out in Milton, 
and was from some bridge in the present town of Rochester, and not from 
what is now known as the Branch bridge in Milton, for. at a meeting held the 
31st day of the following March, they "voted to lay out a road from Palmer's 
mill to Wakefield line, if the owners will give the land." This road extended 
over Plumer's ridge, the Branch river, and what has since been known as the 
Branch hill, thus establishing a thoroughfare tlirough the entire town from 
Rochester to Wakefield. 

March 7, 17Q2, "Voted to lay out a road from Moses Chamberlin's to 
Haines' Mills." This is the old road leading from the Branch to Union 
village. 

March 5, 1793. "Voted to lay out a road from Shapleigh Upper Mill to 
Wakefield line, in accordance with the petition of Thomas Cloutman." 

James Hartford is said to have been the first trader or merchant in Milton. 
He was located at Three Ponds, but in what year is not known. He has 
been succeeded by something more than one hundred different merchants in 
that village. Elijah Horn was doubtless the first blacksmith, but was soon 
followed by Isaac Worster at the Ponds, and later by Solomon Land and 
Joseph Rines at Milton Mills. 

Stephen Drew settled at Milton Mills in 1818 or 1819, and after a year 
or two moved to the Three Ponds. He is supposed to have been the first 
resident physician in town. Before his time doctors were called from other 
towns when needed. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 511 

Very soon after the organization of the town it uas voted to use the 
capital letter M as the seal of Milton. The first town meeting was called by 
Wilham riumer. Esq., and held at the dwelling honse of Lieut. Elijah Horn 
on Aug. 30, 1802; Beard Plunier was chosen moderator; Gilman Jewett town 
clerk; W dham Plumer, John Fish and John Remick. Jr.. selectmen. Their 
hrst official act is on record as follows: 

State of New Hampshire. Stratford, ss: We. the Selectmen of Milton 
do by these presents license to Elijah Horn to keep a public tavern at his house 
in Milton trom this date under such Rules and Regulations as the law directs 
(jriven under our hand at Milton, this 30th day of August, 1802. 

William Plummer, 

John Fish, 

John Remick, Jr., 

Selectmen. 

At the first annual meeting held March 14. 1803. Beard Plumer was 
chosen moderator; Gilman Jewett, clerk; William Plumer, John Fish, Ezekiel 
Hayes, selectmen ; Beard Plumer, representati\'e. One hundred and thirty- 
four votes were ca.st for governor, of which John Taylor Oilman had 10:;; 
John Langdon 31. The following were appointed to locate the proposed 
meetmg-house, for church and town uses: Capt. Daniel Hayes, John Fish, 
Timothy Roberts, John Remick, Jr., William Plumer, and Beard Plumer;' 
these gentlemen being unable to agree called in council Joshua Allen, Daniel 
Wingate and Luther Dearborn, and the combined number of wise men decided 
in favor of the site on which the present townhouse stands. The town voted 
to accept the choice made by the committee. 

Then the town voted to build a meeting-house on that site, 52x42 feet, 
with a porch at each end eleven feet square and a portico in front. John Fish,' 
Gilman Jewett and Beard Plumer were appointed a building commitee. Its 
construction was to be completed on or before Oct. 3. 1804, and it was so 
completed. They sold the pews at auction for $19,083. They used two 
gallons of rum at the raising of the frame and putting on the ridge pole. 
The first town meeting was held in it Aug. 27, 1804. During the first four 
score years following its incorporation the following were moderators at town 
meetings : Beard Plumer, 6 years ; John Fish, i ; John Remick, Jr., 8; Joseph 
Plumer, Jr., 4; Levi Jones, 4; John Nutter, i; James Roberts, 8; Hanson 
Hayes, 10; Charles Swasy, 3; Thomas Chapman, 2; James Berry, 2; Eli 
Wentu orth. i : John D. Lyman, i ; Asa Fox, i ; Charles A. Varny, 3 ; Charles 
C. Hayes. 14: Charles Jones, 6; E. W. Plumer, 2: Abram Sanborn, 2; Luther 
Hayes, i. 



512 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

The following have been town clerks during the first eight years: i8o-'- 
06, Oilman Jewett; 1807-10, John I-'ish : i8ii-_'_', Levi Jones; 1823-39, 
Stephen Al. 2\lathes ; 1840, James M. Twombly; 1841-51, Robert Mathes; 
1852-53, Daniel E. Palmer; 1854-55, Ezra W. Twombly; 1856-68; Joseph 
Mathes; 1869, George W. Tasker; 1870-74, Joseph Mathes; 1875-84, Charles 
H. Looney. 

The representatives for the same period are as follows: 1803, 1805-08, 
Ueard I'lunier; 1S04, 1809-10, John h^ish ; 1811-12, 1818-19, Theodore C. 
Lyman; 1813-15. William Plumer; 1816-17, John Remick, Jr.; 1820-21, 
Daniel Hayes; 1822-24, Levi Jones; 1825-27. Hanson Hayes; 1828-29, 1835- 
36, Thomas Chapman; 1830-32, Stephen AL Mathes; 1833-34. Stei)hen Drew; 
1837-38. James M, Twombh- ; 1839-40, James Berry; 1841-43, John H. 
Varney; 1844-45, Charles Swasey; 1846-47, Ichabod W'entworth ; 1848-49, 
Asa Fox; 1850. Robert Mathes; 1851-52, Fbenezer Osgood; 1853, James 
Doldt, John D. Lyman; 1854, John D. Lyman, Samuel Washburn; 1855-56, 
Eli W'entworth, David Wallingford ; 1857-58. Luther Hayes, Lewis Plumer; 
1859-60. John E. Cioodwin, Daniel E. Plumber; 1861-62, Enoch \\'. F'lumer, 
Charles Varney; 1863-64. Charles Jones. Theodore Lyman; i865-()(>. Ambrose 
II. W'entworth, Thomas H. Roberts; 1867-68, John V. Simes, Hiram V. 
W'entworth: 1869, George Lyman, Samuel G. Chamberlain; 1870, George 
Lyman, Samuel \\'. Wallingford; 1871, Samuel G. Chamberlain, George W. 
Tasker; 1872, George W. Tasker, Bray W. Simes; 1873, Joseph Plumer, 
Elbridge W. Fox; 1874-75, Charles C. Hayes, George E. Simes; 1876, Sulli- 
van H. Atkins, Luther Hayes; 1877, Luther Hayes, William F. Cutts ; 1878, 
Luther F. Cutts, Samuel H. Roberts; 1879-80, Ira A. Miller; 1881-82, Asa 
A. Fox. 



CHAPTER LXVII 
HISTORY OF MILTON (II) 

CONCERNING MINISTERS AND CHURCHES 

It does not appear that they had any regular minister hefore the Congre- 
gational Church in 1S15. But ininiediatelv after the completion of ''the 
meeting-house in 1804 an effort was made to settle a minister, as a regular 
town mmister. At a meeting held Aug. 27. 1S04. it was: -Voted to choose 
a committee to treat with Rev. Mr. Nason. and see on uliat terms he will 
agree to settle in town." At a meeting on the 5th of November the com- 
mittee rendered the following report: "Miltnn, Nov. 5, 1804, Centlemen : 
We have, according to your desire, talked with Mr. Nason. and we find that 
if the town are agreed to give him the use of a decent parsonage during 
his ministry and $300 yearly, that he would settle with us on these conditions'! 

Counmttcc. Richard Walker 

Benjamin Scates" 

The town voted to accept this report. But Mr. Nason did iKjt settle there; 
he and others conducted services in the meeting-house frum time to time, 
but not regularly as settled ministers. The town accounts show that prior 
to 1805 the following persons had been paid to preach : Reuben Nason. $82; 
Mr. Brown, $4: Mr. Bunt, $24: Mr. Pillsbury, $55; Captain Plume'r for 
boarding the ministers. %2>o'^ in 1805 the town paid Christopher Page for 
preaching. $84; Reuben Nason, $34-15: in 1806, paid John Darrance for 
preaching. $54: in 1807 paid him for preaching, $21: in 1808 paid Mr. 
Preston for preaching, $5: in 1808 Mr. Papkin for preaching. $30: in iSio 
Asa Piper for preaching. $30: in 1811 Asa Piper. $2.50: Mr. Godiny for 
preaching. $5: in 1812 Asa Piper. '$2:~,\ Mr. Thurston. $3; in 1813 Asa Piper, 
$4.50: and Israel Briggs for preaching. ,$33. 

^larch 14. 1803. in town meeting, voted to raise 50 cents on a poll, 
and other ratable property in proportion, for support of the ministry. The 
same tax was voted to be raised March 12. 1805. and also "voted to tax all 
denominations alike, with the privilege of directing what teacher mav have 
their money." 

513 



514 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

March g, 1813, "Voted not to raise any money for the support of the 
ministry." And at a meeting held May 3, follow ing, a committee was chosen 
to ascertain what property there is in Milton which was given by the pro- 
prietors of Rochester to procure preaching of the gospel in said town. It 
does not appear on record that this committee made any report, but a com- 
mittee chosen March 10, 181 8, to ascertain the amount of all the parish and 
school property then belonging to the town did report March y, 1819, "That 
they can not ascertain the exact amount, but in their opinion $1,000 should 
be appropriated for the support of the gospel." 

April 8, 1820, "Voted to lay out $60 and the interest of the $1,000 called 
parsonage property for the support of the gospel, and that the same be divided 
between each society in the town petitioning for the same." 

March 8, 1831, "Chose a committee of three to assist the selectmen in 
making a fair and impartial division of all the notes belonging to the town ; 
and voted that notes amounting to $1,000, as be by them separated from all 
other town property, and kept separated as a special fund belonging to the 
town, as parish property, and that the same shall l>e managed as a fund entireh- 
separate from all other notes." 

It does not appear that this committee ever took any action in the matter; 
at any rate the record does not show- that any separation of the notes alluded 
to was had. At this time the town held notes against individuals amounting 
to $1,744.78, a large proportion of which were entirely worthless. 

These notes were carried forward from year to year until 1844, when the 
selectmen, in accordance with a vote of the town, selected those considered 
worthless, amounting to $635.98, and placed them in the town chest, where 
they doubtless now remain. 

What proportion of those worthless notes represented parish property 
has not yet been determined. 

No further action was taken in the matter until March 13, i860, when it 
was "\-oted to di\ide the ministerial money equally between the five established 
societies." 

March 10. 1863, "Voted to divide the ministerial money etjually among 
the several religious societies in town who shall hold meetings regularly four 
months in the year previous to the first day of January." 

These two latest votes would seem to indicate that it was the intention 
of the tow n to divide whatever money there might be that the societies could 
have any claim upon, and thus end the whole matter, but it does not appear 
that this was carried into effect, or that any efifort was made to determine 
what, if any, amount they were equitably entitled to. 

March 9. 1880, "Voted that the interest of the ministerial fund be divided 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 515 

equally among the several societies in town that support preaching four months 
in a year prior to January first." 

The First Congregatiomtl Church in the town was organized on Sept. 8. 
1815. and consisted of nine members, viz. : Barnabas Palmer, Hatevel Nutter, 
Benjamin Scales, Abigail Scates, Deborah Wentworth, Mary Chamberlain, 
Achsah Palmer, Mrs. Xutter, and Elizabeth Rolaerts. 

Benjamin Scates was the first clerk and deacon, and Rev. Curtis Coe 
the first pastor. The church remained under his care, and that of the Re\ . 
Dyer Burge until 1819, when Rev. James Walker was called, and continued 
in charge until his death in September, 1826. From this time until December, 
183-', the church had no settled minister, but was supplied by Rev. Clement 
Parker, E. S. Anderson, and others, whose names do not appear upon the 
church records. Re\', Benjamin C. VVilley was then settled, and remained 
in charge until 1846. He was succeeded by Re\s. b'dward F. Abbott, August, 
1846, to May, 1848: James Doldt, May. 1848, to January, 1870; Frank 
Haley, February, 1870, to April, 1874: John N. Lowell, August, 1874, to 
August, 1875; Sanuiel W. Clarke, April, 1876, to April, 1877; John N. 
Jewett, 1877 to 1880; George Sterling. October, 1881, to 1890. This 
church originally so small, and in a location sparsely settled, has made 
an almost unprecedented addition to its membership of 236, making a total 
of 247; of which number ninety-two are supposed to be now living: sixty-nine 
now active members. Sally Jones and Deacon E. W. Plumer are the elder 
active members, having united with the church in 1836, and held a continued 
membership up to this time. Ebenezer Osgood became a member in 1832, but 
asked and obtained a dismissal a few years ago for the purpose of uniting with 
the Second or Union Church. 

This church worshiped in the old meeting-house until 1835, when the 
house was built at Three Ponds, which has since been transformed into a 
"Classical Institute." After this time for several years the meetings were 
held alternately at the Three Ponds and Milton Mills. The present meeting- 
house of this church was built in 1860. and is a spacious and elegant edifice. 

The -first Christian Church" was organized Anarch 3, 1827, with ten 
members, as follows, viz. : Hapley Mesene, Joseph Goodwin, Anna Good- 
win, Joanna Meserve, Eliza Rines, Abigail Burnham, Ruth Burnbam, Mary 
Burnham, Dorcas Ricker, Mary Howe. 

The first deacons were Hapley Meserve and Sanuiel Ricker, and the first 
clerk was Hapley Meserve. The pastors ha\ e been Simeon Swett, John Davis. 
John T. G. Colby, Samuel S. White, Jotham S. Johnson, and A. G. Comings. 

The deacons have been H. Meserve, Samuel Ricker, Joseph Goodwin, 
Jonathan Howe, Joseph H. Nutt, James H. Twombly, and John C. Varney. 



516 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

and the clerks, Hapley Meser\e, Daniel B. Goodwin and ]\Iartin V. B. Cook. 
Two hundred and one members have been added to this church, and sixt}-- 
eight have died. Their house of worship, known as Union Chapel, was 
dedicated Sejjt. 2J. 1841. 

Baptist Church. — Prior to 1S34 a church existed, known as the Acton and 
Hilton l'.a])tist Church. This church had a large membership in Milton. 
On the jSth day of Octoljer. in said year, fifty-two members were dismissed 
from said church, and the 30th day of the same October they organized them- 
sehes into a new church, called the Baptist Church of ]\Iilton. The member- 
ship was as follows : Charles Swasey, Sarah Swasey, John Shackford, Eliza- 
beth Hart, Ann E. Hart. Hannah Xutter, Ruth Xutter, Samuel S. Hart, 
Daniel Jones. Xanc_\- W'itham. Ira Witham. Xathan J(ines. Mehital)le W'itham. 
Eunice Swasey, Harriet Fox, Widow Betsey Berry, Susan S. Xutter, Mary 
Ann Xutter, John W'itham, Jr., William S. Nutter, Aaron H. Hadsdan, 
Xathaniel O. Hart. Jnhn W'itham. b^rancis Berry. Josiah W'itham. Susan 
Jones, Martha \\'itham, l-'atima W'allingford, L\-dia Jewett, Susan Archabald, 
Eliza G. Berry, James J. Jewett, Lydia Witham, Xathan Dore, Climena 
W'itham, Alice Hussey, Mary W'entwcirth. Lyilia I''all, Sarah W'entworth, 
Sally Merrow, Eliza Merr(_iw, Mary Jdiies, Xancy Jewett, Asa Jewett, Betsey 
Berry, Mary W itham, Al>igail W'itham, Deborah Dore, Sarah Berry, Francis 
W'allingford, Sarah Dore, Elizabeth Xutter. William S. Nutter was chosen 
clerk, and Charles Swasey and John W'itham, Jr., were chosen and ordained 
as deacons. Of these fifty-two members nine only are now living. 

This church worshiped in the Union meeting-house at Milton Mills, which 
was built in 1834. The church for several years was in a very prosperous 
condition, and received an addition of twenty-three members. 

Tan. 25, 1842, David Earnham was ordained a deacon, and in May, 1855, 
Samuel S. Flart was also made a deacon. 

The pastors were Elders Emerson, Glover, Smith, Small, Chase, 
McGregory, Cox, Robbins, Jay, Daymond, Broadbent, Jones, and Hubbard. 
and perhaps some others. William S. Nutter held the clerkship from 1834 
to 1837, Asa Jewett from 1837 to 1850, David Earnham from 1850 to 1852, 
Samuel S. Hart 1852 to June 6, 1867, at which date the record closes. 

A Frcc-U'ill Bat^tist Church was organized at the house of Theodore 
Lyman, on the nth day of May, 1843, with seventeen members, viz. : Hazen 
Duntley, Daniel M. Ouimby, Luther Hayes, William Fernald, James O. Reyn- 
olds, Drusilla Jewett, Betsey Lyman, Mary H. Downs, Mrs. D. W^ Wedg- 
wood, William B. Lyman, Theodore Lyman, E. S. Edgerly, Dearborn Wedg- 
wood, Phrebe Duntley, Sophia Ouimby, Sally F. Downs, Mrs. A. Hubbard. 

Luther Haves was chosen clerk, and Theodore Lyman deacon. Rev. 



AND REPRESEXTATR'E CITIZENS 517 

William II. W'alilruii was the lirst pastor, lia\ iiig charge of the church about 
one year, and was succeeded hy Rev. Horace Stanton. Mr. Stanton's health 
failing he was soon obliged to resign the pastorate, and the Rev. L'riah Chase 
was called for a time. This church, ha\ ing no meeting-house or suitable place 
for public worship, soon discontnnicd Saliliath meetings, but kept up i>rayer 
and conference meetings until May i, 1S50. at which time the organization 
became extinct. There were ten memliers added to the church after its organ- 
ization. Although for the lack of pecuniar}' ability t(.) build a meeting-house 
and support the regular preaching of the gospel, this little church was ol)liged, 
for the time being, to give u]) its organization, many of its members continued 
to feel a lively interest in the cause, and in 1859 succeeded in building the 
present ver}- neat and tasty meeting-house, which was dedicated on the 25th 
day of December of that year. 

On the 17th day of May, i860, a new church was organized under the 
supervision of Revs. Daniel P. Cilley, li/sa Tuttle, and E. P. Gerrish, with 
twehe members. \iz. : Ezra Tuttle, Samuel Jones, X. B. Varne\-, Eli G. 
Downs, Eleanor Hubbard, Martha A. Varney, Luther Hayes, Benjamin 
Scates, Fred H. Tuttle, Mary H. Tuttle, b'rancis Jones. Mary A. Jones. 
Luther Hayes was chosen clerk, and has contiiuied in that position to the 
present time. Samuel Jones was chosen deacon, and Re\'. Ezra Tuttle was 
called to the pastorate, and remained in charge of the church nearly three 
years, resigning April 26. 1863. He was succeeded by Re\'. J. M. Bedell, 
May, 1864, to May 4, 1865; Rev. N. C. Lathrop, Dec. 3. 1865. to Dec. 2, 
1867; Rev. I. C. Guptill, May 2, 1868. to April 3, 1869: Rev. Ezra Tuttle, 
April 10, 1870, to Jan. 6, 1872; Rev. J. P. Jay, Aug. 31, 1872, to June C, 1874; 
Rev. E. G. York, Sept. 28, 1878, to April 3, 1879; Rev. C. L. Plunier, Aug. 
12, 1879, to July 2, 18S1. 

Rev. E. Owen, of Portsmouth, preached one-half the time from April i, 
1876, to Dec. 30, 1877, but was not settled over the church. His labors 
resulted in much good, sixteen members being added to the church during his 
term of service. 

The .Methodist Church at Milton Mills was organized in June. 1S69. The 
first officers were Asa A. Fox, clerk; John Brackett. treasurer; Harris Brown, 
sexton; Alpheus Remick, collector. Stewards, A. B. Shaw. John Brackett, 
E. C. Abbott, S. F. Rines, W. Hapgood, J. N. Witham, B. S. Butler, H. L. 
Mitchell. A. A. Plumer; trustees. A. B. Shaw. B. S. Butler. J. B. Dow. J. 
Brackett. S. F. Rines, J. Lewis. J. N. Witham. G. E. Hart. W. Patten. 

The pastors have been Revs. Ira J. Tibbetts. James Crowley, W. H. 
McDaniels, A. B. Carter, J. M. Bean, \V. C. Bartlett. and J. P. Frye. 



518 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

This church has a very neat and tasty house of worship, pleasantly located 
near the Union House. It was erected in 1871. 

The Union Congregational Church at Milton Mills was organized on the 
26th day of September, 1871, with a membership of sixteen, viz.: Benjamin 
G. Adams, Sophia Adams. Dr. Reuben Buck. Mary Buck, Mary E. Brown. 
Margaret Brierly. Sarah E. Fox, Tosiah Gerrish, W'm. McGibbon, Marv 



JklcGibbon, Betsey Hubbard, Helen Miller. Ebenezer Osgood, Ellen C. Osgood. 
Almira B. Osgood, Ann E. Simes. Among the first pastors were Revs. Almon 
T. Clark, D. B. Scott, George Muchael and C. F. Goldsmith. 



CHAPTER LXVIII 
HISTORY OF MILTON (III) 

MILTON SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL MATTERS 

Previous to the incorporation of the town the northeast parisli of Roches- 
ter was divided into eight school districts, and each district had a summer 
and a winter school of a few weeks. Most of these schools were held in 
private houses, as the town could not afford to build schoolhouses so easily as 
they could establish school districts. On the first day of December, 1806, the 
town was re-districted and the number was reduced to five, which arrange- 
ment continued until 1828, when the territory was re-districted into ten divi- 
sions. In 185 1 the number was increased to twelve. Subsequently other 
changes were made and so continued until the district system was abolished 
by the Legislature and the present town system was introduced. During the 
district period of more than a century the town, as a rule, provided good 
schoolhouses. and the teacher did good work for small pay. A few of the 
votes taken in the town touching school matters may be of interest in this 
connection. 

March 14, 1803. voted to leave the amount of school money to be raised 
to the selectmen. 

Nov. 5, 1804, voted to sell the timber on the school lot; and in accordance 
with this vote said timber was sold at public auction on the 13th day of the 
same month for the sum of $1,212.25. 

There is no record showing that this money was ever appropriated to 
school purposes. 

March 12, 1805, "Voted to leave the amount of school money to be raised 
discretionary with the selectmen." 

March 11, 1806, "Voted to raise half as much more money as the law 
requires for support of schools." But at a subsequent meeting, held in May 
following, "Voted to leave this matter to the selectmen." 

March 10, 1807, "Voted to raise, in addition to what the law requires, half 
as much more money for the support of schools." 

March 13, 1810, "Voted to lay out the interest due the town in schooling." 

519 



520 HISTOKV OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Marcli \2. iNii. "X'oted to add ^^loo to what the law rc(|uirt's lor 
scliooliii^-."' 

March lo. i8i_', "A'utcd tn add all the interest on notes due the town to 
what the law requires fur the support of schools for the ensuing \ear." 

March 14. 1815, a committee of fi\e was chosen to separate the school 
property from other town property and at the next annual meeting this com- 
mittee reix)rtcd $388 sch(jol property and $628 parish property. 

]\Iarch 10. 1818, a committee recommended that in their opinion $1,000 
should he a])i)ropriated for the support of the gospel, and $500, together with 
the school lot, which they considered worth $500 more, for the support of 
schools. 

I\Iarch 10, 1829, "Voted that the principle of the literary fund he funded 
with the town, and that the town raise the interest annually for the lienefit of 
schools." 

March 14. 1837, "Voted that all literary money over and above $500 be 
expended the present year, and all that may hereafter be received be expended 
the same year it is received." 

March 13. 1838, "Voted that the interest of the surplus revenue now- 
accrued l)e expended for support of schools."" 

July 28, 1842, "Voted that the selectmen dispose of the notes in the hands 
of Levi Jones and ajjpropriate the same towards the extinguishment of the 
debt due from the town ti) the se\eral school districts by paying over to each 
district its proportimi the present year."" .Accordingly, $186.46 was paid to 
the districts. 

March 13. 1877. "\^oted that the railroad money received from the state 
be app-ropriated for schools."' 

March 9, 1880, "Voted that the surplus dog tax be appropriated for the 
support of schools.'" 

The schools at Three I'onds and Milton Mills were the first to be graded, 
about 1870. Also there was a classical institute opened at Three Ponds after 
the close of the Ci\-il war. 

THE NCTE HIGH SCHOOL 

Milton has had good schools from the beginning, more than a century, but 
the best of its good fortune was when one of its loyal sons. Lewis Worster 
Xute. made provision in his will for a first class high schoolhouse and money 
enough to make a handsome annua! income to support first class teachers to 
run it. 

Mr. Nute was born in Milton, Feb. 17. 1820. He was son of Ezekiel and 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 521 

Dorcas ( Worster t Nt;te, natives of Milton, and grandson of Sanuicl Xute. 
a native of Back River, Dover, who settled in what is now Alilton, soon after 
the close of the Revolution. His ancestors were among the early settlers in 
Dover. Ezekiel Xute was a good farmer and for man_y j'ears a deacon in the 
Congregational Church at Alilton. His wife was one of the best of w(jnicn. 
They had four sons, the second of wliom was named Lewis Worster. He 
worked on the farm with his father until he was nineteen vears old. When he 
was a small boy he went to school summer and winter, si.x weeks each; when 
he was a big boy he went to the winter school only; all big boys attended the 
winter school. Those who think the "six weeks" schools were not of much 
account are greatly mistaken. The best of them, like that in Mr. Nute's dis- 
trict, were kept by college boys and tlie work done was first class and thor- 
ough. The boys went to these schools until they were eighteen or twenty years 
old. Mr. Nute made good use of the time and easily mastered all the text-books 
then available for school use. When he was nineteen years old he com- 
menced teaching winter schools in the back districts, and the committee .said 
he did good work. 

When he was twenty years old he left the farm anfl went to work in 
Boston as clerk in Mr. Simmons" ship-chandler store. When he was twenty- 
one he commenced work in the boot and shoe business with Elmer Townsend. 
Later he worked with the firm of T. P. and O. Reit & Company, remaining 
with them until 1848: then with .\!len, Harris & Potter, with whom he 
remained until May i, 1853, when he purchased an interest in the business, 
and the new firm became Potter, FJder «S: Nute. In 1837 the firm clianged to 
Potter, Nute, White & Bayley. In 1S63 Mr. Xute took the entire business 
and held it as long as he lived. His specialty for a long time was the manu- 
facture of brogans and plow-sh(jes. For a long time his wholesale store was 
at 2-j High street. Boston. He had an extensive manufactory at Natick, Mass. 
His career was a remarkable one: strict in his business methods, honest in 
his dealings with his emplo}-ees. and a large-minded citizen wdio lo\ed and 
did not forget his old home in Alilton. His wife, to whom he was married 
Aug. I, 1845, was Priscilla Farrow of Cohasset, Mass. They had no 
children. 

Mr. Nute died in 1888 and in hi-^ will gave to the town .$125,000 to estab- 
lish a high school, and an additional $25,000 left in trust to a relative as long 
as slie lived. She died a few years ago and the scho(_)l now has it. From the 
funrl a first class schoolhouse was constructed anfl the remainder in\-ested, the 
income used for support of the school. The investments now amount to 



522 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

about $100,000. The trustees have managed to keep first class teacliers and 
for years past it lias ranked among the best educational institutions in New 
Hampshire. It goes without saying that Lewis W. Nute ranks among Mil- 
ton's foremost and most highly esteemed sons. 



CHAPTER LXIX 
HISTORY OF MILTON (IV) 

VARIOUS BUSINESS ENTERPRISES 

On the 14th day of March, 1837, the town voted to receive its proportion 
of the surphis revenue, and at a meeting held June 4, 183S, a vote was passed 
authorizing the town agent to expend that money in tlie purchase of a farm 
to be used for a liome and the support of the poor. 

Although there was a large majority in favor of this action, the nunority 
felt very much aggrieved thereat, being of the opinion that this money should 
be divided per capita. 

These malcontents immediately took measures intended to frustrate the 
action of the majority. They at once asked for a meeting to be called to 
reconsider the vote for the purchase of a farm, and being again defeated at 
this meeting, and the farm being soon purchased, they at once petitioned for a 
meeting to sell the farm and divide the money. They were again defeated, 
but with a persistency worthy of a better cause they continued to ask for 
meetings for the same purpose as often as they could legally be called, until at 
last the selectmen refused to notice them further. They then applied to a jus- 
tice of the peace to call a meeting, and on the 31st day of May. 1842, a meeting 
was held at which a vote was passed to sell the farm and stock, and divide the 
proceeds equally between all the inhabitants of the town, and a committee 
chosen to carry this vote into effect. 

This committee at once advertised the farm and stock to be sold at public 
auction on the 4th day of July following, at which time all was struck ofi' to 
the highest bidders. 

At a meeting held on the 28th of the same month a resolution was passed 
declaring the former meeting and the action of the committee illegal and 
void, and instructing the selectmen to demand of said committee all the prop- 
erty, both real and personal, taken into their possession. 

In accordance with these instructions, the selectmen commenced a suit 
against the committee for the recovery of said property. This suit was prose- 

31 

523 



524 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

cuted to final judgment and execution. The farm continued to be used as an 
alms farm until a county home was prepared for the poor. 

MILLS, M.\NUFACTORIES. ETC. 

The first saw-mill was built by Samuel Palmer at the Three Ponds village, 
and near where the present dam is located. This was \ery early, probably 
about 1775 to 1780. Mr. Palmer subsequently built another saw-mill and a 
grist-mill farther down stream, where the Varney mill was afterwards located. 
This part of the town was known for many years as "Palmer's Mills." \'ery 
soon after this a saw-mill was built at Miltmi Mills hv a Mr. Xock. This mill 
soon went into the hands of Paul Jewett, and was sul)se(|uentlv known as the 
Jewett mill. This place was known for a long time as Shapleigh ]\Iills. Mills 
rapidly increased, so that in 181 3 there were no less than twehe mils of \ari- 
ous kinds in town. \iz. : Lyman's saw- and grist-mills. (iwne<l by Theodore C. 
Lyman and others. Thomas I^ayton's wool-carding mill. Ira I-'ish's fulling-mill, 
Isaac W'ooster's grist-mill, owned by Isaac \\'ooster and others, Paul Jewett's 
saw- and grist-mills. Nathaniel Jewett's saw-mill, owned by Xathaniel Jewett 
and others, Stephen Watson's saw-mill, owned by Ste])hen Watson and others, 
the lower saw-mill, with \-arious owners, Horn's saw- and grist-mills, owned 
by Benjamin Horn. The last-named mills were situatetl at the ujjper end of 
the town, on a narrow point of land which has since been annexed to Wake- 
field. This number was soon increased by the erection of Berry's mill, Hayes' 
mill, and others. Thomas Layton's factory was erected in 181 6, and was used 
as a woolen-mill until 1837, after \vhich b'rancis Looney used it for the manu- 
facture of cotton for fourteen years. It was subseipiently burned. 

The ]\Ii!ton iMills Manufacturing Com])any was organized in 1837. and in 
that and the following year built their mill, and after running it a few years 
transferred the business to Durgin & Co. In 1845-46 the whole property was 
bought by John Townsend. and was run successfully by him for seyeral years. 
The mill was burned, and rebuilt by Mr. Townsend. being considerably 
enlarged. It was soon after sold to Mudge, Sawyer & Co., and subsequently 
to the Waumbeck Company, and has continued to do a \-ery successful busi- 
ness. This company has a capital stock of $100,000, and the nu'll has ten 
sets of woolen machinery. They enqiloy 175 operatiyes. with a monthly pay- 
roll of $3,200. They use about 240.000 pounds of wool and 160.000 pounds 
of cotton. 725 cords of wood and 500 tons of coal annually, and produce 396,- 
000 yards of cloth and 27,550 pairs of blankets. 

In 1844 a cotton factory was built at Three Ponds, and after running a 
few months was burned in September, 1845, the watchman, Mr. Caleb Varney, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 525 

perishing in the flames. This mill was soon rebuilt, but was ne\er put in 
operation, it being subsequently taken down and carried away. 

William Sargent succeeded Ira Fish in the fulling-mill business in i8jo, 
and carried on the business until 1S25, when he was succeeded by John H. 
Varney, who, after some twenty-two years of successful business, sold out 
to Joshua Holland in i^4y. 

Mr. Holland went into the manufacture of woolen goods, which Inisiness 
he carried cin w ith success for some ten or Iwehe years. The mill was subse- 
quently burned. 

Edward Brierly estaljlishei] a block printing business at Milton Mills in 
1850, and after a few years of successful business purchased a saw-mill and 
pri\'ilege on the site of the present lirierl)- mill, where he soon Ijegan the 
manufacture of felt goods. The rapid increase of his business soon compelled 
him to make extensive additions and in a short time he had extensi\e mills on 
both sides of the ri\er. doing a \ery reniunerati\e l)usiness. 

In the summer df 1S73 these mills were entirely destroyed by hre, thus 
sweeping away in an hour the accumulations of years of hard labor. Mr. 
Brierly soon began the erection of a new mill, but losing largely by the 
insolvency of insurance companies, he became somewhat emliarrassed and was 
obliged to compromise with his creditors. His health soon after failing, he 
was unable to recover his former financial position and at his death the prop- 
erty went into other hands and has since been operated by other parties. 

In 1873 Henry H. Townsend & Company erected a mill in the village for 
the manufacture of felt goods, which has been continued to the present time. 
In 18S0 they erected a new and much larger mill at the Three Ponds. There 
was at one time quite an extensive shoe manufacturing business in Milton, but 
as the methods of shoemaking changed the business was given up. D. & S. 
\\^ashburn. L. Berry and J. Layward have each at times done quite an exten- 
sive manufacturing business at Three Ponds. Murray Brothers, after the 
close of the Civil war, did quite an extensive business for several years in the 
manufacture of tin goods at Milton Mills. Lewis Plumer & Son for many 
years after the war did an extensive lumber business at the Hayes mills. 
Luther and C. H. Hayes did a prosperous business in the manufacture of 
boxes at their mills at South Milton. Since 1S98 new industries have been 
introduced and Milton has had much prosperity in various ways. 

milton's mii.it.\ry record 

During the Revolution there were not inhabitants enough in the northeast 
parish of Rochester to furnish soldiers to fight King George's "Hessians," but 



526 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

in the War of 1812-15 Milton furnished a company wliich was raised in the 
fall of 1 814 and did duty at Portsmouth in response to the urgent call and 
command of Governor Gilman. The muster roll of that company shows the 
following names, under date Sei)t. 1 1, 1814: 

Capt. William Courson, Lieut. Jeremy Xute, Sergt. John Museron, Sergt. 
Jacob Xute. Sergt. David M. Courson. Corp. Thomas Wentworth ; Musician 
Benjamin Dare: Musician Lewis Hayes. Private soldiers: Ephraim Went- 
worth, Thomas Baker, Samuel Xute, Daniel Wentworth. John C. \'arney, 
Ichabod Dodge, James Bragdon, Ezekiel Xute, George Dow. Daniel Hayes, 
Jr., James Twombly, Henry Miller, James Goodwin, William Downs, John 
Foss, Haplev Vaniey, Thomas Chapman, Amos (ierrish, Webster ]^Iiller, 
James Varnev, Jr., Ebenezer Adams, John L. Varney. William Gerrish, W il- 
liam Foss, William Burroughs, John Remick, Xorton Scates, James Hayes. 
Dowar Dow, Richard Plumer, Ambrose Tuttle, Xatlianiel Pinkham, Isaac 
Hayes, Aaron Twombly, John :\Iills, William Drew, James Merrow, Jr., 
Phineas Wentworth, Beard Plumer, Andrew Dow, Dodivah Plumer, John 
Boise, Sergt. Patrick Hanscomh. Corp, Joshua Jones, Charles Recker and 
Lieut. Hanson Hayes. 

IN THE CIVIL WAR 

From the time when the report of the first gun fired by the rebels m 
South Carolina was in Milton till the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox 
Court House, the town furnished 150 men, who served in various regiments of 
New Hampshire volunteers. Following are excerpts from the town records 
of votes passed from time to time which show the spirit and patriotic senti- 
ment which prevailed among the voters as well as in the men who went to the 
front on fields of l)attle: 

May 16, 1861, "Voted to raise on notes of the to\\n one thousand dollars 
for procuring such articles as may be needed for the personal safety and 
comfort of those who may enlist as volunteers from Milton, and for the sup- 
port of their families while absent." 

Dec. 21, 1861, "Voted to raise on notes of the town fifteen himdred dol- 
lars in addition to the one thousand for the same purpose." 

March 11, 1862, "Voted to hire four thouand dollars to be applied to the 
aid of the families of volunteers." 

Aug. II, 1862, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to pay a bounty of two 
hundred dollars to all resident volunteers on or before August, 15th int." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire two thousand dollars for that 
purpose." 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 527 

March lo, 1863, "Voted to autliorixe the selectmen to liire live thousand 
dollars to aid families of volunteers now in ser\ice (if the L'nited States." 

July II, 1863, "Voted to pay each man who may he drafted from the 
town into the service of the United States three hundred dollars." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire on notes of the town such a 
sum as may be necessary for that purpose." 

Sept. 7, 1863, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to pay each drafted man 
the sum of three hundred dollars within ten days after he, or his substitute, 
shall have been mustered into the U. S. ser\ice." 

'"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire six thousand dollars for that 
purpose." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire one thousand dollars to aid the 
families of drafted men." 

Dec. 5, 1863, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to procure volunteers to 
fill the cjuota of the town, paying each man a bounty of five hundred dollars." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire eleven thousand dollars for that 
purpose." 

Dec. 8, 1863, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to procure volunteers to 
fill said quota, and to pay such sums in addition to the fi\e hundred dollars as 
may be necessary." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire four thousand dollars for that 
purpose." 

March 8, 1864, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire five thousand 
dollars to aid families of soldiers in the U. S. service." 

July 18, 1864, "Voted to fill the cjuota of this town for the ne.Kt call of 
the President for soldiers, and pay a sum agreeably to an act passed June 
session, 1864." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire ten thousand dollars for that 
purpose." 

Aug. 6, 1864, "Voted to pay each man who may enlist under the call of 
July 18, 1864, who has been a resident of this town three months next preced- 
ing said enlistment, the sum of two hundred dollars for twelve-months' men, 
two hundred and fifty dollars for two-years' men. and three hundred dollars 
for three-years' men. in addition to the bounties already \-oted." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire twelve thousand dollars for 
that purpose." 

Dec. 7, 1864, "Voted to pay a bounty to volunteers or persons furnishing 
substitutes, counting on the quota of Milton in anticipation of a future call 
for men." 



528 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire twehe thousand dollars to pay 
said bounties." 

March 14, 1865, "Voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars each to 
men who may be drafted from this town." 

"V'oted to pay each re-enlisted man a bounty of two hundred dollars and 
interest from time of re-enlistment until paid." 

"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire five thousand dollars to aid the 
families of volunteers and drafted men." 

This making a total appropriation for war purposes of seventy-nine thou- 
sand five hundred dollars in four years, and showing a readiness to contribute 
freely to the support of the go\ernment in its time of peril. 



CHAPTER LXX 
HISTORY OF MILTOx\ (V) 

INTERESTING TRADITIONS 

The Indians had made a permanent treaty of peace with Xew Hampshire 
white men before many settlements were made by white men in tlie northwest 
parish of Rochester. So far as Milton is concerned, they are all good Indians ; 
they say dead Indians are always "good." There is a tradition, however, that 
some time before a settlement was made here a small party of hunters were 
encamped near where the upper end of the Three Ponds village now is, and that 
while tending their traps in the vicinity of Northeast Pond tiiey one day dis- 
covered unmistakable signs of the presence of Indians. This discovery put 
them upon the alert, and a watch was set for their stealthy foes. Very soon 
two of the red rascals were seen prowling about the camp with evident hostile 
intent, but believing their presence unsuspected they failed to use their usual 
caution, and before they had a chance to carry out their nefarious purpose 
two well-directed leaden messengers summoned them to the happy hunting- 
grounds. Their bodies were buried upon the bank of the river, and the 
hunters were molested no more. 

But although the Indian trail was no more seen in the forest, or his moc- 
casin-track upon the sand, and the blooming maiden could meet her bashful 
lover upon the mountain-side or by the rippling stream without fear of moles- 
tation, yet these early settlers were not entirely free from the trials incident 
to forest life. Bears were for a time somewhat plenty and troublesome, often 
feasting upon the succulent corn, and occasionally upon a tender lamb, pig, or 
calf. Not a few amusing stories have been told of them. Mrs. David Walling- 
ford used laughingly to tell of a fright she once received from one of these 
prowlers. She was berrying some distance from her home, and being anxious 
to fill her basket and return home in good season for her afternoon duties, she 
had briskly plied her fingers without taking any note of her surroundings. 
After stripping the shadowy side of a fine bunch of bu.shes of their delicious 
treasures she stepped softly around to the other side, anrl there in the bright 
sunshine lay Bruin quietly taking his afternoon siesta, having evidently gorged 

529 



530 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

himself with the luscious fruit. Mrs. Wallingford did not long watch his 
slumher, but sped carefully but swiftly homeward, being anxious only to 
place as great a distance between herself and the sleeping beast as possible in 
the shortest space of time. 

A somewhat amusing story used to be related by a lady, who was one of 
Milton's early settlers, in which her husband was mistaken for a bear, and 
somewhat disturbed the equilibrium of a young man "who would a-wooing 
go." It appears that the husband of this lady was a \ery industrious man, as 
indeed most of the early settlers were, and w as always up betimes in the morn- 
ing and busy with his daily labors. 

The young man alluded to had been visiting his sweetheart in the neigh- 
borhood one evening, and no doubt the happy hours had fled nnich more rap- 
idly than he took note of, so that the head of the family had already left his 
l)ed and was busy killing weeds in his cornfield before the over-zealous lover 
had mounted his good horse for his homeuanl ride. 

As he approached the good farmer's cornfield he heard a rustling of the 
cornstalks. Curbing his hungry steed and standing erect in the stirrups of 
his saddle, he discovered what he felt sure was a big, black bear gathering his 
breakfast of sw eet, juicy corn. A capital idea at once seized his brain : "I 
will call the farmer and we will catch that bear." Thus thinking and happy 
in the thought, he carefully wended his way to the farmhouse door. Gently 
tapping on the wide panel his call was answered by the appearance of the 
farmer's good wife, much to the young man's surprise. However, recover- 
ing his composure, he said : "Madam, there is a big, black bear in your corn- 
field and I have called to get your husband to help me capture him." The 
good housewife put on a winning smile and replied; "Oh, that animal is 
already captured ; that is mv hushand killing weeds." They young man blushed 
to the top of his ears. Mentally he wished there was someone near to kick 
him for being such a fool. l)ut bidding her good morning he mounted his horse 
,-111(1 rode away, happy in the thought that he had escaped a fierce fight with a 
liig liear. 

Tlie bears that came down iningry from Middleton mountains were always 
fond of pig pork. They were shrewd fellows and knew just where to go when 
they wanted an early breakfast. Caleb W'akeman was one of the most thrifty 
and prudent of the nineteenth century Milton farmers. He got wise to the 
habits and tricks of those bears. He had a pen of fine pigs ; he built a high 
fence of logs around that pen, and felt sure it was bear-proof. Notwithstand- 
ir.g this precaution he was aroused from a sound slumber one night by a 
tremendous squealing in his pig-pen. Hastily donning his out-door garments 
he rushed to the garrison of his porcine friends. He found conditions some- 




a 
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l^ll 


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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 533 

what mixed and quite serious. The Middleton bruin had selected the fattest 
pig of the lot for liis l)reakfast and was having a difticult job to get him ii\er 
that log fence. Mr. W'akeham at once took a hand in the fight, Ijut the big 
bear lield his grij), mounted on the top of the fence, and in spite of all the 
farmer could do. old Bruin escaped, carrying the i>ig to his mountain den. 
where Mr. and Aladam liruin and all the cubs had a fine breakfast while 
Mr. Wakeman was making improvements on his log fence around the pig pen. 




HEXEY K. PARKEB, M. D. 



Representative Citizens 



HENRY R. PARKER, M. D.. formerly one of Dover's best known and 
most highly honored citizens, who passed from life's stage, December 29th, 
1909. when in his 74th year, came of a long line of sterling New England 
ancestry, whose virtues were brightly reflected in his own life and character. 
The history of the family has been traced back in England to early in the 
fifteenth century, as the records show that a certain William Parker died 
chamberlain to the King (Henry VI) in 14J3, and that this William "had 
an excessive i>edigree." At subsecjuent periods many of the Parkers were 
prominent in church or state affairs. Sir John Parker, second son of the 
William above mentioned, was in 1470 canon of the church of Covingham. 
Sir John's eldest son, Matthew, in 1504 was master of Bene College, Cam- 
bridge. His son Matthew was archbishop of Canterbury in 1564. The 
latter's eldest son, John, was a captain of the King's guard in 1600. Henry, 
son of the above mentioned John, was of the Queen's household in 1624. 
Matthew, another son of John, was custodian of Stoke Clane College in Suf- 
folk. John (2), son of John ( i), was director of the Suffolk corporations. 
Stanley Hugh, son of John (2), for bravery in war, was made Itaron in 1681. 
Hugh (2), son of Hugh (i), was commander of the Channel fleet in 1720. 
Sir Hyde Parker, son of Hugh (2), was a gentleman of prominence; his son. 
Sir Hyde (2), commander of the British fleet in the East Indies, was, with 
his vessel and all his crew, lost at sea in 1768. Sir Hyde Parker (3) dis- 
tinguished himself on the English side in the .\merican revolution in 17S2. 
Sir William Parker (2) was a British admiral in 1810; and his son. Sir Wil- 
liam (3) received a baroncy in 1844, was made admiral of the blue in 1851, 
admiral of the white in 1853, and admiral of the red in 1858, and rear- 
admiral of the United Kingdom in 1862. He died in 1866. 

From this family sprang the Parkers of America. Six male scions of 
this old English family came to New England during the 17th century and 
settled promiscuously about Massachusetts Bay. At the surrender of Com- 
wallis at Yorktown two brothers by the name of Parker remained in this 
country, and later, on the captured "Frolic" another Parker remained in 

537 



538 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

America. Tlie former six are the founders of the registered Parker famihes 
in this country. 

Coming to the genealogical line of the subject of this sketch it appears that 
William Parker, an arti.san, second son of Hugh Parker, an alderman of 
London in 1681, "sailed in ye ship Hellen for the wilds of America in ye 
springe of 1696," where he became the father of a large family. 

The record shows that \\'illiam Parker, a tanner, came o\er from England 
in the latter part of the 17th century and settled in Portsmouth, X. H. He 
married and had four children. That his eldest son, William became a law- 
yer, then a judge of note and record. The judge's fourth daughter, Lydia, 
married Samuel Hale of Portsmouth, whose son John Parker Hale, became 
the father of John P. Hale, United States senator from New Hampshire, 
and free soil candidate for President in 1852. 

Matthew Stanley Parker, fourth son of Judge \\illiam Parker, was born 
in Portsmouth in 1749. In 1773 he married Ann Rust, daughter of Captain 
Henry Rust. Here is where the Parker and Rust families mingle. He re- 
moved to Wolfeboro, bought the most of Wolfboro Neck and built the first 
house on it. Later he moved to "Slab City" and operated lumber mills there. 
He was a promoter of Wolfeboro. He was the father of seven sons and one 
daughter. 

Matthew Stanley Parker's fourth son was Henry Rust Parker. He was 
born at Wolfboro, February 6. 1728. He married Hannah, granddaughter 
of Col. Henry Rust. For a while he operated a hotel at j\Iink Brook. He 
was one of the founders of the Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro Academy, and 
died Monday, September 15, 1848. His children were John Tappan, Sam- 
uel Sewall and Matthew Stanley. 

John Tappan Parker, son of the above mentioned, was born September 
25, 1804 and died September 2^, 1S4S, at the age of 44 years. He married 
Sally L. Seavey and they had three children. Eliza Frances, Ruth Ann and 
Henry Rust Parker. Eliza Frances, born July 30. 1S26, married first Asa- 
Perkins and had children. Hartley, John and .\sa. She married for her second 
husband, Clark Collins. Ruth Ann. born August 9, 1832, married Moses 
Thompson and had children, Roland. Charles and Nellie. 

Henr}- Rust Parker, third child of John Tappan and Sally L. (Seavey) 
Parker, was born in Wolfeboro, N. H., January 24. 1836. He began his educa- 
tion in the public schools, where he usually stood near the head of his class. 
When but twelve years of age he had the misfortune to lose both of his parents, 
and was thereby thrown wholly upon his own resources. Realizing the need 
of a good education in order to insure his future, he worked with a persistent 
energy that was bound to win success. Before many years had passed he 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 539 

was a student in the Wolfeboro Academy, and later liis name was enrolled 
among those of the noted instructors of that institution. While performing 
his duties as a teacher Mr. Parker devoted his free time to the study of medi- 
cine, for which he had a predilection. Afterwards he entered the medical 
department of Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in ]86>6. 
He began the practice of medicine in his native town and continued there 
until 1881, when he came to Do\er. Here he made rapid strides in his chosen 
profession until he occupied an assured position among the leading medical 
practitioners of this section of New England. He was examining surgeon 
for pensions in Strafford County under both the administrations of President 
Cleveland, he being president of the board. He was for several years one 
of the trustees of the estate of the late Hiram Barker of Farmington. He 
was a member of the Do\'er Medical Society, which he served as president; 
a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, and a member of the 
Strafford County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1891 and 
1892. He was a member of the medical staff' of the Wentworth Hospital. 
He also served as a member of the State Executive Committee of the Y. M. 
C. A. of New Hampshire and Vermont. 

Dr. Parker was elected mayor of Dover by the Democrats in 1890, after 
the most exciting campaign in the city's history and the following year was 
re-elected, his period of service comprising the years 1891-2. He gave the 
city one of the best administrations on record, bringing about an era of re- 
form on financial lines. He was a 32d degree Mason, a past master of the 
Blue Lodge and a member of St. Paul's Commandery, K. T. He was one 
of the incorporators of the New Hampshire Genealogical Society, wdiich he 
served for a while as vice president and president. Pie was a member of the 
Northam Colonists, the Society of Colonial Wars of New Hampshire and 
the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a member and vestryman 
of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, and president of the Men's Club of that 
parish. 

Dr. Parker was married, May 27. 1866. to Miss Ella M. Thompson, of 
Wolfboro, N. H., and by this union there were three children— Nathalie S., 
wife of George B. Harper, of Montreal, Canada, whose children are Helen 
Louise and John Tappan; Alberta T., wife of Harry P. Henderson, of Dover. 
N. H., who has two children— Maud C. and Ella P. ; and Henry R. Parker, 
Jr.. who died December 27, 1894, at the age of nineteen years. 

Dr. Parker died December 29, 1909, after being sick about a week with 
pneumonia. As soon as the sad event was known, Mayor George J. Foster 
published the following announcement : 



540 HISTORY OF STR.'\FFORD COUNTY 

TO THE PEOPLE OF DOVER 

City of Dover, Mayor's Office, 
December 30, 1909. 

Death has removed from our midst an honored citizen of Dover, one who 
has been identified with its progress and de\elopment, and who worthily filled 
the office of Chief Executive of our city during the years 1891 and 1892. 

As a mark of respect to the late Dr. Henry Rust Parker, I earnestly re- 
quest that our merchants close their places of business during the progress 
of the funeral on Saturday, January i, 1910. between the hours of i 130 and 
2 130 p. m. George J. Foster, Mayor. 

This request was generally respected, uni\'ersal sympathy being felt and 
shown for the bereaved family. Dr. P'arker was both an able and conscien- 
tious man. Devotion to duty was one of his chief characteristics ; but he 
went beyond that in often accepting responsibilities involving onerous labor 
from which nianv would have sought to be excused. He had an attracti\-e 
personality and made many warm friends, whose esteem he never forfeited. 
He had his reward in the approval of his own conscience, and he will long 
be held in affectionate remembrance l)y all who knew him. 

HON. ARTHUR GIOIAN WHITTE.MORE, attorney-at-law, banker, 
and one of Dover's best known and most popular citizens, was born in Pem- 
broke, N. H.. in July _'6, 1856. His parents were Hon, Aarun and Ariannah 
( Barstow ) Whittemore, and he is a descendant in the eighth generation of 
Thomas Whittemore, who came from Hitchin parish, Plertfordshire, Eng- 
land, and settled in Cambridge, Mass., in 1642. Mr. Whittemore's great- 
great-grandfather on the paternal side was Rev. Aaron Whittemore, the 
first settled pastor of the Congregational church in Pembroke ( formerly Sun- 
cook), who was a graduate of Harvard College in 1732 and was ordained 
pastor March 2, 1738. The great-grandfather, son of the above-mentioned, 
served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Tlie father and grandfather 
of the subject of this sketch were associate justices of the Court of Common 
Pleas for Merrimack county. On the maternal side ]\Ir. Whittemore is a 
descendant of Elder William Brewster, one of the Mayflow er [lilgrims. 

Arthur Oilman Whittemore was educated at Pembroke Academy and 
Harvard Law School, being adnu'tted to the bar in March, 1879. For nine 
years he was associated in law practice with Judge C. W. Woodman, in 
Dover, the partnership continuing until the latter's death in 1888, since which 
time Mr. Whittemore has practiced alone. By strict application to his chosen 
profession he has gained an extensive and lucrative practice and with it the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 541 

confidence and respect of tlie whole community in wiiich he Hves. He is 
attorney for and vice president of the StraiYord Savings Bank, one of the 
largest and strongest savings banks in the state, and is also a director in the 
Strafford National Bank. When the Dover National Bank failed in 1895, 
Mr. Whittemore was appuinted receiver, and although the defalcation of 
its late cashier exceeded the capital stock, Mr. \\'hittemore so successively 
liquidated the remaining assets as to pay the depositors in full, with interest 
and a substantial dividend to the stockholders. 

At various times Mr. Whittemore has taken an active jiart in some of the 
more important public enterprises of Dover. In 1887, when the new water- 
works system was installed, he was elected one of the water conimissiuners 
and held that important office thirteen years, by tri-annual elections l>y the 
city councils. In the management of the business he always manifested g(.iod 
judgment in financing the great work and in its up-keep and extension. 

At the No\-emlier municipal election, in i<)00, Mr. Whittemore was elected 
mayor, and re-elected in Novemljer, igoi, and also iqoj, serving three \-ears. 
He was installed in office on the first Wednesday in January, iqoi. During 
his three years of service some of the most important improvements the city 
has undertaken were inaugurated. They were not easv joI)s. l)ut reipiired a 
good deal of shrewd but honest management to bring about. Ma\or Whitte- 
more had a cpiiet, yet forceful, Inisiness-like way of taking hold of and carry- 
ing forward any scheme, so that most of the citizens were astonished, as 
well as delighted, when they saw what he had actuallv accomplished. 

During his first year in office he was the chief promoter in securing a dona- 
tion of $30,000 from Andrew Carnegie for the construction of a public library 
building. When the proposition was first mentioned to Mr. Carnegie he did 
not seem inclined to comply with the request, and interposed various objec- 
tions, all of which Mr. Whittemore shrewdly and successfully removed from 
the generous Scotchman's mind, and the gift was secured for the city. The 
trustees of the public library for the year 1902 in their annual report say: 
"The wide and animating beneficence of Andrew Carnegie has not overlooked 
Dover. We have touched the edge of one of his golden showers. Plans arc 
maturing for a new library building. * * * j^ noble lot has been donated 
by the trustees of the Franklin Academy, being a part of their estate called the 
Hale lot on Locust street." 

Mayor Whittemore in his inaugural address in January, 1902, said: "The 
city has bad placed at its disposal a large and valuable lot for school and 
library purposes, situated in the heart of the city, near the city hall, and 
known as the William Hale estate. * * * j would recommend that you 
take immediate action in reference to the construction of a new high school 



542 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

building. Having the lot the building can be advantageously erected in con- 
junction with the new public library." 

Mayor Whittemore's recommendations were adopted. But what a lot of 
judicious and persuasive work had to Ije done to remove the encumbrances on 
the north side of the Hale lot, to secure a clear opening to St. Thomas street. 
Most mayors would have folded their hands and given up in despair. Not so 
Mayor Whittemore. He talked, argued and advised with all interested 
parties, and success crowned his labors. Of course he had able assistants, 
but he took the lead and held it to the end of his three years' term. 

The chief contest after the land claims were disjwsed of was what plan 
should be adopted for the high school house; the settling of that question 
required the concurrent action of the school committee and the city council, 
but Mayor Whittemore proved to be a good manager and the school com- 
mittee finally adopted his views and selected the plans he favored and the 
work of construction was begun; but the completion was left to his suc- 
cessor in office. The library building was completed during his third year, 
in accordance w ith plans he favored. These public buildings are monuments 
to his good judgment and a credit to his financeering ability. His adminis- 
tration was creditable in every resiicct, and that he was popular with the 
people is manifest by the fact that he was elected by the largest majority ever 
given any mayor of Do\er. 

In the summer of his first year in office Mayor Whittemore had the honor 
of entertaining, as the guest of the city, P'resident Roosevelt, who paid its 
citizens a brief visit in August, on his way to Maine. The President left 
the train and was escorted to the large platform erected on Franklin Square, 
where he delivered a stirring speech. Mayor Whittemore presiding and intro- 
ducing him to the vast throng. 

For eight years Mayor Whittemore was one of the three railroad commis- 
sioners ; during the three years of the closing of his temi he was chairman of 
the board; his term of service was cut short somewhat by action of the 
Legislature, which established a Public Service Commission, which took the 
place of the railroad commissioners. But in the performance of the duties 
of his office during his eight years he was efficient and judicious in render- 
ing decisions between the railroads and the public. During the last three 
years he w'as in office he was chairman of the board, when they were given 
some pretty hard problems to solve. When any complaint was entered he 
was always prompt in starting an investigation and never slow in finishing it. 
One of these important questions was regarding the express rate charges. 
Numerous complaints were made that the charges were exorbitant. The 
board instituted a thorough investigation and established an equitable rate. 




CHRISTOPHER H. WELLS 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 543 

but they were deprived of the right of enforcing their rates, as the Legis- 
lature estabHshed the Public Service Commission, displaced the railroad 
commissioners, and nothing was done to enforce the order. 

Mr. W'hittemore is president of the Dover Board of Trade. He is a 
member and one of the organizers of the Bellamy Club, a business man's 
social club. He is a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and one of 
its staunch supporters. Above all he is a courteous and agreeable gentleman 
to meet on any occasion. 

Mr. Whittemore was married June ij. 1887, to Miss Caroline B. Rundlett, 
and they have two children, Manvel and Caroline. The son graduated from 
Dartmouth College in 191 1, with honors, and is now a student at law. Mrs. 
Whittemore is a woman of marked ability. She has been president of the 
Dover Women's Club, and is a jwpular leader in society. 

CHRISTOPHER HENRY WELLS, judge of the Probate Court, was 
born in Somersworth, X. H., July 6, 1853, son of Nathaniel and Eliza 
(Thom) Wells. He was graduated from Somersworth High School in 
1871 and from Bowdoin College in 1875. On August 15, 1878, he was 
admitted to the bar and entered into the practice of law with W. R. Burleigh. 
February 10, 1883, he bought out the local printing and publishing plant 
which publishes the Somersworth Free Press, a weekly newspaper, and does 
a general printing and publishing business, and is now owner of and controls 
the business. On March 15. 1898, he was appointed judge of probate for 
Strafford County, N. H., and was appointed January 11, 1900, justice of the 
Somersworth Police Court. The latter position he held until July i, 19 13, 
when the police courts of the state were, for partisan purposes, abolished 
and district police courts substituted by the Democratic majority in the Legis- 
lature. March 28, 1901, he was appointed as chairman of the commission 
selected by Governor Jordan to prepare rules of practice and procedure in 
the probate courts of the state, and uniform blanks for use in those courts, 
this commission taking two years for its work. From 1881 to 1883 he was 
a member of the New Hampshire Legislature, and he was also a member 
of the New Hampshire Constitutional Convention of 1889. He ser\'ed as 
aide-de-camp on the staff of Gov. Charles H. Sawyer, with the rank of colonel, 
in 1887 and 1888. 

Judge Wells was president of the Strafford County Republican Club 
for four years. From 1894 to 1898 he was mayor of Somersworth, also a 
member of the Executive Committee of the State Republican Club, and from 
1876 to 1880 he was captain of the Independent Company of Cadets, of 
Somersworth, one of the best drilled companies in New England. Judge 

32 



544 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Wells is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, the New Hamp- 
shire Historical Society, the New Hampshire Society of Sons of the American 
Revolution, president of the First National Bank of Somersworth, trustee 
and first vice president of the Somersworth Savings Bank, and trustee of 
the Somersworth Public Library. He was one of the first to inaugurate the 
movement which resulted, in 1893, in obtaining a charter and establishing 
the city of Somersworth, and was chairman of the committee which con- 
structed waterworks for Somersworth, from 1893 to 1896. Judge Wells 
is a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, is a Scottish Rite Mason, a Ivnight 
of Pythias, and member of Somersworth Grange, P. of H. He is also a 
member of the Somersworth Club, the Derrj'field Club of Manchester, the 
New Hampshire Weekly Publishers" Association, and the Suburban Press 
Association of Massachusetts. He married in Dover, June 15, 1887, Oriana 
Hartford. 

Such in brief, is a simple statement of Judge \\'ells' career, but he deserves 
something more than that. His father, Nathaniel W'ells, Esq., who was born 
in Wells, Me., in 1805. and graduated from Phillips-Exeter Academy in 1826, 
has a record that shows where the son received his inherited ability from. 
After graduation he edited a newspaper at Brunswick, !\Ie., three or four 
years and then, in 1830, came to Somersworth and commenced study of the 
law in the office of Winthrop A. Marston, and at the end of the usual three 
years' course was admitted to the Strafford County Bar. and became a part- 
ner of 'Mr. Marston in the practice of his profession. Later he was partner 
with Hon. Charles H. Bell, and when in 1854 George William Burleigh pur- 
chased Mr. Bell's interest, the firm of Wells and Burleigh was fomied, which 
continued two years, when ]\Ir. Burleigh withdrew and Mr. Wells took as his 
partner his law student. Royal R. Eastman, which partnership continued 
until 1873. when Mr. Eastman withdrew on account of ill health. Mr. 
Wells' last partnership was with William R. Burleigh. The latter died August 
16, 1878. He was attornev for the Great Falls Manufacturing Comiiany, 
director of the Great Falls National Bank and trustee of the Somersworth 
Sa\-ings Bank. He was an able and successful lau ycr. 

Judge \\"ells has performed with credit to himself and benefit to the 
public the \arious duties that ]ia\'e ]>cen assigned to his keeping bv his towns- 
men and by the higher authorities of the state; a good lawyer, a just judge 
and a discreet councillor in the management of public affairs. Beyond that 
Judge Wells is a first class newspaper man. an inherited trait of his father 
which was never fully developed in the parent, as he was in that business 
only three years before he began the study of law, and not under favorable 
circumstances for encouragement to continue. On the other hand the son 



AND RKPRESEXTATR'E CITIZENS 545 

began newspaper work four years after lie took the law business, and under 
favorable conditions, February lo, 1883; for thirty years Judge Wells has 
conducted a model weekly newspaper, "The Somersworth Free-Press." Dur- 
ing those three decades no item of local news worthy of record has escaped 
being recorded in "The Free-Press;"' its files give a complete history of what 
has happened. That is not all; his editorial comments on affairs, local, state 
and national, have a crisp good sense and appreciative humor which wins 
the favor of his readers, regardless of their politics or religious belief. At 
three score years Judge Wells is in the prime of his usefulness, and it is 
hoped "The Tattler" will furnish two columns for the first page of the "Free- 
Press" during another decade, at least; then he can dispense with his "Forty 
Years Ago" column. 

JOEL FITHIAN SHEPPARD, proprietor of the National Wood- 
working Machine Company, Dover, N. H., an important industry of this 
place, was born at Quincy, Mass., April 15, 1884, and is a son of Eben Wallen 
and Frances (Pratt) Sheppard. The parents reside at Quincy, where the 
father is a coal merchant. 

Joel F. Sheppard prepared for college in the public schools and was grad- 
uated at Cornell University in the class of 1907, earning his degree of mechan- 
ical engineer, and in the same year engaged with the International Steam 
Pump Company, of Cambridge, Mass., being engineer in charge of tests and 
inspections. He continued with that company until April, 19 10, when he 
bought the wood-working machinery plant of the John A. White Company, 
at Dover, N. H., and operated it until June, 191 1, in September of the same 
year starting the Dover Machine Works. In February, 191 3. he purchased 
the National Wood-working Machine Company's interests at Manchester, 
moving the plant to Dover and establishing here what promises to be an 
industry of the utmost importance to this section. 

Mr. Sheppard married Miss Francis Bather, a native of England, and 
daughter of George Bather. Mr. Sheppard has many pleasant social con- 
nections, which indicate a genial disposition and a large measure of popu- 
larity, tliese including membership in the Portsmouth Country Club, the 
Bellamy Club, his old Greek letter college fraternity, the Quincy Yacht Club 
of Quincy. 7\Iass., and the Middlebrook Golf Club, in which last named organ- 
ization, as a member of the executive committee, he has charge of all match 
games. 

EDGAR A. LEIGHTON, who for the last thirteen years has held the 
responsible position of cashier of the Somersworth National Bank, is a scion 



546 HISTORY OF STR.-\FFORD COUNTY 

of an old New England family, both his paternal and maternal ancestors 
having been among the earliest settlers of Dover. Among them was Thomas 
Edgerly, who was prominent among those who resisted the Mason claims 
in 1684, an account of which controversy may be foimd in an early chapter 
of this volume. 

On the paternal side the immigrant ancestor of the subject of this sketch 
was Thomas Layton (or Leighton), who was born in 1604, probably at 
Edinboro, Scotland, as his father was Prof. Ale.xander Leighton, of Edin- 
boro University, a distinguished theologian. He was a brother to Robert 
Leighton, Archbishop of Glasgow, distinguished in English history. 

Dr. Ale.xander Leighton, the father of Thomas, a Scotch divine and 
physician, was born at Edinboro in 1568. He l^ecame professor of moral 
philosophy in that university, but afterwards went to Leyden and took his 
doctor's degree. He then visited London, where he had a rectorship, until 
he lost it by incurring the displeasure of King Charles L through his opposi- 
tion to that monarch's tyrannical methods of raising money and his tyranny 
in matters of religion. He ]>uljlished two books, one entitled, "Zion's Plea 
Against Prelacy." and the other an appeal to parliament. "The Looking 
Glass of the Holy War." This so angered the King that Dr. Leighton was 
summoned before the "Star Chamber Court" and there convicted. He was 
fined $10,000 and degraded from the ministry. He was sentenced to stand 
in the pillory, to be publicly whipped; he had an ear sliced off, his nostril 
slit, and the letters "S. S." (sower of sedition) burned into his cheek, and 
then, after a week of ]iain anil fever in jail, was again let out to undergo a 
similar mutilation on the other .side. Nor was that all. Scorched and bleed- 
ing, he was sent back to prison, where he remained eleven years, or until the 
tyranny which had crushed him had fallen before the growing power of the 
puritans. He died insane in i^>44. 

In the histories of England by Fronde and Hume frequent mention is 
made of a Richard Leighton, who, it is thought, was the father of Ale.xander, 
and who was one of the commissioners appointed under Thomas Cromwell, 
in the reign of Henry VIII, to investigate the monasteries, with a view to 
their suppression — a scheme of Henry's, which was ultimately carried out. 
380 of the smaller monasteries being put down by act of parliament, and their 
revenues of 100,000 [lounds placed at the King's disposal. 

Robert Leighton, son of Alexander, and brother of Thomas, was born 
in Edinborough (or possibly London) in 161 1. He was educated in Edin- 
borough and in 1643 .settled as minister of Newbottle. near that city. He then 
quitted the Presbyterian church for the Episcopal, was successively principal 
of Edinburgh University, bishop of Dunblane, and archbishop of Glasgow. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 547 

and died in 1OS4. He was a good theologian, an eloquent preacher, and a 
pious and disinterested man. On one occasion he made this statement : 
"They forget a main part of the glory of the church w ho do not pray daily 
for the conversion of the Jews." 

Thomas Layton (or Leighton) came to this country in i'>33, landing at 
Salem, Mass., Octulier 10th, from the ship "JanK's," with about thirty colo- 
nists for the plantation at Hilton's I'oint, having been eight weeks on the 
voyage from Gravesend, England. The company was umler charge of Capt. 
Thomas W'iggin, and was sent out by Lords Say and Brooke, ("ieorge Willys, 
William Whiting and others, who in the previous year had bought a grant 
of the Pascataqua plantation (including Northam, or what is now Dover) 
from the Bristol Conip^any. They proceeded at once to the settlement at 
Dover Point. In the record of those who received grants of house lots from 
Capt. ^Viggin, on the high and beautiful lands, a mile up from the Point, 
appear the names of John Dame, Richard Waldern, Thomas Layton, and 
Rev. William Leverich, the last mentioned coming as minister of the settle- 
ment. 

That Thomas Layton was a prominent man in the colony is evidenced by 
the fact that his name frequently apijears in important transactions connected 
with the affairs of the colonists. He was a member of the "Combination I'or 
Government by ye people of Pascataqua," in 1640, witl: forty-one others 
entering a ])rotest to the King against the efforts of Capt. Underbill to force 
a union of the colonists with Massachusetts. In 1648 he was the largest 
tax payer in the settlement, with one exception. He was selectman in 1647. 
1648 and 1658. He received several grants of land, but continued to reside 
at Dover Neck until his death, January jj, 1672. leaving one son and several 
daughters. In his will he gave property to his only son and heir, Thomas 
(second), and to his daughters. Mary Elizaljeth and Sarah. His widow, 
Joanna, married for her second husband, July 16, 1673, Job Clement. She 
died January 15, 1703. 

Thomas Leighton, jd, was born at Dover Neck, date of birth not given. 
Later records read that he resided at "Leighton's Hill," north of Clement's 
Cove, old Pascataqua Bridge, near the site of what was planned to be, the 
great commercial center, "Franklin City." This was one of the original 
grants given his father, Thomas, ist, in 1642, and transferred by his will to 
his son Thomas, 2d. Thomas Leighton, 2d, married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Elder Hatevil Nutter. The daughters married as follows: Mary married 
Thomas Roberts; Elizabeth married Capt. Phillip Cromwell: Sarah was 
single in 1672, but may have married Philip Chesley later. Other members 
of the Leighton family who came to America at an early date were: John 



548 HISTORY OF STR_\FFORD COUNTY 

Leighton, 1645, who settled in Saco, Me., and Capt. Wni. Leighton, 1650, 
settled in Kittery, Me. 

Thomas, 2d, died at Leighton's Hill, and was succeeded by his son 
Thomas, 3d, who lived with his father at Leighton's Hill. Jt is said that 
the property remained in the Leighton family for 200 years, or until a com- 
paratively recent tlate. 

Thomas Leighton, 3d, was born about 16S5. He left several children, 
among them David, who is in the direct line of descent to the subject of 
this sketch. 

David Leighton at the family homestead at Leighton's Hill, October 

14, 1730. He married Anne Chaml)erlin. who was born July 18, 1733. He 
died December 14, 181 1. and his wife Anne died September 29. 1816. They 
left ten children, namely : Dorothy, John, Jacob, Ephraim, Jonathan, William, 
Elizabeth, Nancy, David, and Moses, of whom Jacob is the ancestor next in 
direct line. 

Jacob Leighton was born July 12, 1757. He married Mary Townsend, 
bom July 2^. 1761. They had nine children — Betsey, :Mary, Dorothy, Jacob, 
Lydia, Rhoda, Ephraim, and Hannah. 

Ephraim, above mentioned, the next direct ancestor, was l)orn November 
8, 1798. When a young man he, with two companions, went to the almost 
unbroken wilderness of what was then known as the Second Division of 
New Durham, near "Merry Meeting Pond," and took up land and began to 
clear it for farming purposes. The cave, or what is familiarly known as 
"Devil's Den," was on the farm belonging to him. He married Nancy F. 
Edgerly, born September 23, 1796. At this point the union of the Leighton 
and Edgerly families brings the subject of this sketch, E. A. Leighton in 
straight line of descent from Col. Thomas Tash, who sensed in the French 
and Lidian wars, leading a battalion against Crown Point. He was later 
an officer in the Revolution, thus making Edgar A. Leighton eligible as a 
Son of the American Revolution, as Nancy F. Edgerly, his grandmother, 
was a granddaughter of Col. Tom Tash, her father having married Elizabeth. 
the second daughter of Col. Tash. 

Ephraim Leighton died May 18, 1847. from the effects of being thrown 
from a horse that he was riding. His wife, Nancy, died in Dover, November 
4, 1882. They left children as follows: Nahala D., Everett W. (father of 
E. A. Leighton), William A., Hiram, Caroline A., and Mary E. F. 

Everett W. Leighton was born ]\Iay t6, 1820, on the old Leighton home- 
stead in New Durham. He was a member of Company C, 13th Regiment, 
N. H. Volunteers, in the Civil War, and died ^larch 14, 1863, from disease 
contracted in the service. He was engaged in the hard fought battle of 



AND REPRESE\"TATI\'E CITIZEXS 549 

Fredericksburg and in several other smaller engagements. He married Alice 
O. Edgerly, a straight line descendant of Thomas Edgerly, who settled at 
Oyster River in 1665, thus making our subject a "Northern Colonist" by 
both lines of descent. They left eight children, namely: Sarah L., Edgar A., 
Clara E., Alice A., Warren E., Adraanna, Isora Alma, and Clara B., only two 
of whom are now living — Edgar A. of Somersworth and Warren E. of 
Lewiston, Me. Clara B. (Mrs. Davis), died recently. 

Edgar A. Leighton, whose name appears at the head of this article, is, 
as shown above, the tenth in line of descent from Richard, the pioneer. He 
was born March 14, 1849, on the old homestead in New Durham, N. H. 
When he was about two years old the family removed to Alton, N. H., where 
they lived for about six years, thence moving to Farmington. In 1S71 he 
came to Somersworth to take charge of one of the departments in Nute 
Brothers shoe manufactory, later being associated as a partner in the general 
insurance business of Crawford, Tolles & Co. For the last thirteen years, as 
elsewhere stated, he has been cashier of Somersworth National Bank. He 
was married to Clara Eva Rand, of Portsmouth, N. H., in iSji. He and 
his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, while he is a member of 
Washington Lodge, I. O. O. F. They move in the best society of Somers- 
worth and Mr. Leighton is widely known as a successful business man, an 
able financier, and a patriotic citizen whose aid and influence can always be 
enlisted in any good and worthy cause. 

Dl'DLEY L. FURBER, shoe manufacturer, and president of the Mer- 
chants' National Bank, of Dover, was born in Northwood, N. H., August 
18, 1848, .son of Samuel H. and Mary (Leavitt) lnirl)er. The father was a 
farmer by occupation, and he and his wife were the parents of seven children, 
including the subject of this sketch. 

Dudley L. Furber acquired his elementary education in the |)ublic schools, 
and afterwards attended Northwood Seminary. He then learned the trade 
of shoemaker, which he followed until 1883, at which time he engaged in 
the clothing business, meeting with good success. Lie continued thus occupied 
until 1890, when he entered into the shoe manufacturing business. He located 
in Dover in 1893, at which time he established his present up-to-date plant, 
which is doing a good business. In 1903 he became a director in the Mer- 
chants' National Bank, and in 1910 was made its president, which position he 
has since held. His connection with this bank has proved beneficial, and it is 
widely recognized as one of the most solid financial institutions in this part 

of the state. 

Mr. Furber is a member of the Democratic party; he belongs to the 



550 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COL'XTY 

Masonic Order and to the Knights of Pythias, also to the Bellamy Club. He 
married Miss Cora Carleton, a daughter of Captain Ralph Carleton, who 
served with distinction in the Civil \\ ar. The family residence is at Xo. 213 
Washington street. Dover. 

HERBERT \\". OWEX, general superintendent of the Pacific Mills, 
Cocheco Department, at Dover. X. H., was bom in the state of Connecticut. 
December 14, 1871. a son of Oscar G. and Harriet M. ( Roljbins | Owen. The 
father, Oscar G. Owen, was identified with the manufacture of cotton and 
woolen goods, holding a position as superintendent until a few years l>efore 
his death in 19CK). 

Herbert W. Owen, who is one of a family of three cliiMrcn. was educated 
in the public schools of Massachusetts, and when he grows to maturity he, 
like his father, became identified with the cotton interests. In irjoi he came 
to Do\er. being engaged as superintendent of the cotton nulls, and he continued 
in that position until 1908, when he was promoted to be general superintendent 
of the Cocheco Department of the Pacific Mills, which position he still holds. 
These mills, w-hich are a branch of the Pacific IMills of Lawrence. Mass.. are 
engaged in the manufacture and [)rinting of cotton goods and gi\'e employ- 
ment to a large number of peo^jle. He is a trustee of the Strafl:'ord Savings 
Bank. He belongs to the ^lasonic order and also to the Odd Fellows. 

Mr. Owen married Miss Hattie E. French, of r-'all River. Mass., and they 
have two children. \'era H. and Oscar C. The fanuly ha\e a comfortable 
home on Locust street, and are affiliated with the L'nitarian church. 

I'RED X. BECK\\'ITH. superintendent of the Beckw ith Box Toe Com- 
pany, Dover, N. H., was boni at Wooster, Mass., December 9, 18S6. Li the 
public schools and at Adams academy, Mr. Beckwith was educated, and his 
first business experience was in the retail shoe line in which he continued 
three years. He then became interested in the present enterijrise and has so 
continued. 

The Beckwith Box Toe Company w as established in 1904. at Boston. Mass.. 
by Harry H. Beckwith. w ith eight employes and an output of 5000 pairs of 
box toes a day. Later h'red X. Beckwith. his brother, entered the business 
and in September. 1909, the plant was remo\"ed to Do\'er. where excellent 
facilities for enlargement could be secured. Here a four-story imilding is 
occupied, this company utilizing two floors and hax'ing 26,000 scpiare feet 
of floor space, and in contrast to the first year of business, there are now ninety 
people employed and the normal output is 80.000 pairs a day. The sale 
territory covers the entire L^nited States, Canada. England, France and 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 551 

Germany. The company is incorporated with a paid in capital of $-'5,000. 
H. H. Beckwith is president and treasurer and I'red N. Beckwith is super- 
intendent. 

Harry H. Beckwith was born in Nova Scotia liut was educated in the 
United States. He began work in a New luigland shoe factory and Later 
became a traveling salesman in the same line and so continued until he estab- 
lished his present enterprise. He married Isabel Doris, of Somerville, Mass., 
and they have two children, Ivlwin and Isabel. They reside at Brookline, 
Mass. Mr. Beckwith and family attend the Baptist LJiurch. 

I'Ved X. Beckwith devotes himself almost entirely to the affairs of the 
'Beckwith Box Toe Company but has additional interests and is on the direct- 
ing board of the Dover Realty Company. His social tastes are indicated bv 
his membership with the Portsmouth Country Club, the I'ellamy Club and the 
Middlebrook Golf Club. 

ELWILL S. SHORTRIDGE, of the C. E. Brewster Compan>-, svlmlesale 
druggists. Dover, N. H., was born in Brookfield, N. H., September jo, i86(}, 
son of John L. and Susan E. (Mitclicll) Shortridge. the father being a pros- 
]:)erous farmer. He began his educatinn in the ci)untr\- schools, suljsequentlv 
attended the public schools of Dox'er, frcmi which he was grailuatcd in 1S74, 
and then returned to his father's farm, .\fter remaining at home for awhile 
he became a shoe operator, at which occupation he wurked for iln-ee vears. Me 
then entered the drug business as tra\eling salesman for C. I'^. Brewster, and 
was thus employed until 1894, when, in company with Charles H. Bradley, he 
purchased the business, Mr. Brewster dying in April of that 3'ear. The 
business was then re-organized and conducted as the C. E. Brewster Company 
until 1900, when it was incorporated, with a capital stock of $20,000. The 
present officers are: C E. Cartland, president; E. L. Corson, vice president 
and secretary; E. S. Shortridge, treasurer and general manager. The concern 
occupies a three-story building, on a site 40x90 feet, and sells to the trade 
within a radius of 75 miles around Dover. Mr. Shortridge is also a trustee 
of the Strafford Savings Bank and president of the Dover Realty Company. 
He is a 32d degree Mason, belonging also to the Mystic Shrine, to the Knights 
of Pythias, and to Lodge No. 1S4, B. P. O. E. 

E. E. ROBERTS, one of Do\'er's most highly respected citizens, now living 
somewhat retired and occupying his comfortable residence on Sixth street, was 
born at Lumber City, in Telfair county, Ga., February 4, 1837, and is a son 
of Elijah and Susan G. (Taylor) Roberts. 

Elijah Roberts was bom in Ossipie, N. H., and came to Rochester in earlv 



552 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

manhood. He was a natural mechanic and akhough he never had the chance 
to learn the trade of millwright, followed the same successfully for many 
years. It was during the fixe years that he and wife lived in Georgia, where 
he built mills throughout Telfair county, that his son, E. E. Roberts, was 
born. He was employed for many 3-ears in the factories and saw niills at 
Rochester, Somersworth and Dover, spending the greater part of his life in 
Strafford county. He died in 1857, at Oxford, Me. He married Susan G. 
Taylor, wlio was l)orn in Maine ami li\ed to be eighty-three years of age. Of 
their eight children there are two sur\i\'ors : E. E., of Dover, and ]\Irs. Anna A. 
Hurd, of Rochester. 

In early boyhood E. E. Roberts attended the \illage school at Rochester,' 
afterward studied one year at Saco, Me., and subsequently was gi\en three 
academic terms at Lebanon, Me. \\'hen fifteen years of age he began to gi\e 
his father valued assistance in his mill-building work, helping during the sum- 
mer seasons and attending school in the winters. He continued this work 
under his father's supenision until the latter's death, when he engaged with 
other lumber men. For three years he worked under Burges & Butterfield 
and was then made foreman at East Rochester in the work of installing ma- 
chinerv. He went then to Hyde I'ark and built the tube mill there, remaining 
one year, returned then to East Rochester and during the following year built 
a mill there. In the ne.xt year he built a mill at Gonic, for five years being 
continuously engaged in constructing these important mills. In 1871 ^Ir. 
Roberts came to Dover and for three years worked as a journeyman with the 
Cocheco Company. He then spent one year in the meat business at Lawrence, 
Mass.. and in 1875 became a master mechanic for the Cocheco people, con- 
tiiuung in that capacity w itli the same conipau}-, for twenty-one years, severing 
this relation on August 8, 1896. Since then 'Sir. Roberts has been interested 
in handling timber tracts. He is a self-made man, assuming heavy responsi- 
bilities when only a boy which he subsequently honorably discharged, among 
these being the paying off of a mortgage on his father's farm, which amounted 
to $650. 

Mr. Roberts married ]\Iiss ^lartlia L. Herrick, who is survived by two 
chiklren: Fred E. and JMrs. Clara L. York. He was married (secondly) 
in 1894, to Miss Ellen N. Cavenaugh. He has always been a man with settled 
religious convictions and attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically 
he is a Republican and fraternal!}- a Mason. 

ALBERT P. SHERRY, attomey-at-law and city solicitor of Dover, was 
born in Dover, N. H., February 28, 1879, one of the family of two children 
of Michael and Ann (McLin) Sherry. The father, JMichael Sherry, is a 



AND REPRESENTATR^E CITIZENS 553 

native of Englaml of In^Ii descent. Tiie snljject of this sketch graihiated 
from both the public and parochial schools of this city. To earn a livelihood 
he then learned the trade of barber at which he worked until 1903. He began 
the study of law under Dwight Hall in kjoj and in 1903 was admitted to the 
bar. After practicing law for two .and a half years in Nebraska, he came 
to Dover in 1909, where he has since continued in the practice of his profession, 
having an office in the Stratford National Bank Building. A Repul)lican in 
politics, he was elected city solicitor of Do\er, on that ticket, in 191 1 and 
has ably administered the affairs of the office. He has achie\ed a gratifying 
success, which has been self-earned, and is widely respected as a citizen. 

Mr. Sherry married Miss Abbie E. Sullivan, a native of Ireland and 
daughter of I>ter and Julia ( Sullivan ) Sulliwui. 1 le and his wife arc members 
of the Catholic church, and they reside at No. 662 Central .Vvenue. Mr. Sherry 
is also affiliated with the Knights of Columbus; Div. i, A. O. H., and the 
Royal .\rcanuni. 

REV. THOMAS E. REILLY, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of 
Dover. N. H., was born at Concord, N. H., Decemlx-r 23, 1838, one of the 
family of five children of Bernard and Mary (Lynch) Reilly. Both parents 
were natixes of Ireland. 

The subject of this sketch began his education in the public schools of his 
native town and later attended the seminary in Montreal, and also the St. 
Theresa Seminary at Three Rivers. Imniediatelv after finishing his classical 
course he was ordained to the priesthood, at Portland. Me., by the Rt. Rev. 
Bisho]) Heal_v. He was first stationed at Concord. N. H.. in the capacity of 
assistant priest, under the Rev. J. E. liarry, remaining there until October, 
1884. He was then assigned to the cathedral at Manchester, N. H., this being 
in December, 1886, and from thence he was assigned to a parish at Newmarket. 
On October i, 191 1, he was assigned to his present position as pastor of St. 
Mary's Catholic Church. Do\-er, and has since remained here. Tliis church 
has a very fine interior. The church contains a population of 3 125 people, wdiile 
the parochial school, taught by the Sisters of Mercy and Christian Brothers, 
has between five and six hundred pupils. 

HON. JOHN RILEY VARNEY, in former years one of Dover's most 
noted citizens — a man whom all delighted to honor — was born in Dover, N. H., 
March 26, 1819. His parents were James Bowdoin and Sarah ( Byles) Varney, 
and he was a descendant in the eighth generation of William Varney, or Varnie, 
of Ipswich, Mass., the immigrant ancestor of the family, who died in Salem, 
Mass., in 1654. William's son, Humphrey, was "received an inhabitant" in 



554 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Do\-er, X. H.. August 4. i'i59. He luarricd Sarah, ilau!j;liter nf Ivlik-r lulward 
and Catherine ( Starhuck ) X'arney. Their son, I'eter \'arney. married Mary 
Hussey as earh* as 1720. Their son, Moses Varney, born about 17-4, was 
married in 1750 to I'lstiier Chick. Among their cliildren was ^b)ses \'arney, 
liorn May 10, 1762, who married in 1^82, ?\Iercy I'ioutman. Of tiicir ten 
ehil(h"en was James Rowdoin Varney, Imrn in Rochester, X. H., July 17. 1784. 
wlio died in Dover. Marcli 12. 1838. He married Sarah Byles, ihuighter of 
Jolni and Mary (Hanson) Riley, of Do\er, and they were the i)arents of 
seven children, of whom the fourth-born was John Rilev A'arney, the suljject 
of thi,s-sketch. 

John Riley \'arney was born in a house that stood on what is now the 
extension of Washington street, opposite the new Xo. i mill, .\fter ac(jniring 
an elementary education in the public schools of Do\er, he became a clerk in 
the store of Messrs. Alden & Morse. Before long, howe\'er, he determined 
that he woukl have a college education, and, after preparator}- studies at 
Franklin .Academy, Dover, went to Dartmouth, where he was graduated in 
1843, holding the first or second position in his class for scholarship. While 
in college he taught school during the \'acations. and after his graduation 
taught in the Franklin Academy for two years. He then took up the occupa- 
tion of civil engineer, in which he continuetl for ten ye.nrs. This was a work for 
which he was particularly well fitted, his mind ha\ ing a strong mathematical 
lient, and he showed marked ability in the solution of those problems which 
enter into the laying out of railroads, b'or a considerable time he was employed 
in making sur\eys and measurements for a route through the great forest 
region of New York. 

In 1856 Mr. Varney became clerk of court for Strattord county, remaining 
in office four years. He was then chosen professor of mathematics in 
Dartmouth College, in wliich i^osition he remained three years. He was a 
man of wonderful powers in this department of science. His mint!, working 
with great intuiti\e rapidity, reached conclusions by over-leaping wide spaces 
that ordinary mathematicians would ha\e found it necessary to bridge by 
successive stages of proof anil reasoning. In this respect he was the peer 
of such men as Prof, Chase, of Dartmouth, and Benjamin Pierce, of Harvard. 

For some time during this period Mr. Varney had pursued legal studies, 
and in 1863 being admitted to the bar, he became the partner of Hon. John P. 
Hale of Dover. Even before this he had become one of the most ])rominent 
men in the county, both in social and public life. He served as postmaster of 
Dover for four years. He w as a member of the Legislature in 1856 and 1857, 
and was secretar)- of the Xaval Committee at Washington in 1862 and 1863 — 
a position which at that time was no sinecure, but which called for men of a 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 555 

high degree of ability and patriotism. He was register of probate from tlie 
death of VVilham C. Woodman until 1874, and two years after was reappointed 
to the office. He also served the city as its police judge for five years and as 
a member of the Board of Education for four years. In 1868 Mr. Varney 
became a joint proprietor and editor of the Dover Enquirer, and subsequently 
of the Daily Republican. These last three positions he was filling at the time 
of his death. He was also a deacon of the First Church. 

Mr. Varney, at the age of sixty-two, on May 2d, 1882, in the full 
maturity of his powers and usefulness, met death in an instant, under the 
falling walls of the Washington Street Free-Will Baptist Church, which had 
been burned a few hours before. This tragic e^'ent was a great shock to the 
community. The great respect in which he was held and the deep sorrow- 
felt by all classes was strikingly manifested at his funeral, which took place 
at the First Church three days later and which was attended by a great con- 
course of people, e\ery place of business in the city being closed. Yet of such 
a man it may well be said that thiuigh dead he still liveth. not only in the 
hearts and memories of those who knew and loved him, ])ut in the lasting 
impression made by his deeds and works, the influence of which is still felt 
in the community and will doulHless be felt for many years to come. Mr. 
Varney was married first to Susan Kimball; secondly, on Dec. 25, i860, 
to Isabella C Kimball, a daughter of Richard (no relation to first wife) 
Kimball, now deceased, who in former rlays was well know^n throughout this 
section as an able attorney. Of this marriage there are two daughters — Mar- 
garet P. and Harriett O. P... who reside with their mother at No. 8 Hanson 
street, Dover. 

WILLIAM H. KNOX, one of the substantial men of Dover, where he is 
engaged in business on Middle street, dealing in flour, feed, grain, cement, 
hay and fertilizers together with farm implements, was born in 1870, at 
Charlestown, Mass. His father was William P. Knox, long a member of the 
police force of Boston, Mass., whose death occurred in 191 1. 

William H. Knox attended the Charlestown public schools, after which 
be went into the teaming business and still has interests there. In 1903 he 
came to Strafford county and bought a farm in Madlniry, and in 1908 embarked 
in his present business at Dover. In politics a Republican he served four 
years as a representative from Madliury. He has been town treasurer for five 
years and chairman of the lioard of selectmen for one year and at present 
is sen-ing in the office of forest fire warden. 

Mr. Knox married Miss Elizabeth E. Berry, of Charlestown, Mass., and 
they have four children, namely: Warren P., who is a student in the New 



556 HISTORY OF STR-\FFORD COUNTY 

Hampsliire State College: and Henrj' B., Alice R. and William E., all three 
of whom are students in the Dover High school. I\Ir. Knox and family attend 
the Universalist church. He is a man of social instincts and belongs to the 
local Grange and to the Odd Fellows. 

COL. THOMAS HAIXES DEARBORN was born August -m, 1860, at 
Nortfield, N. H. He is eighth in descent from the immigrant ancestor, Godfrey 
Dearborn, who was born in Exeter, England, about 1605 and came to New 
England ajjout 1636. He was one of the company that started the settlement 
at Exeter, N. H., under the leadership of Rev. John Wheelwright. His name 
appears among the signers of the Combination for Good Government in 
1639, in that town. Settled in Hampton before 1648 and became a large 
property owner there and was one of the prominent citizens. 

His son Thomas was born in Exeter, England, in 1634 and came over with 
his parents. His son Jonathan was born in Hampton in 1686; he is known 
in histor}' as "Cornet" Jonathan Dearborn, as during the Indian wars he held 
that office in a company of militia that served in the wars. His son Shubael 
was born in Hampton in 17 19, May 17th. He married Sarah Fogg of 
Hampton. He rcmmed from Hampton to Northfield in 1770, and was one of 
tho first settlers in that town ; in fact it was not set oft' from Canterbury and 
made a township until after that date. He was a soklier in the last colonial 
war with the French and Indians, under King George, against whom he after- 
wards rebelled. He also was a soldier in the siege of Louisburg, under com- 
mand of Sir William Pepperell. At the capture he secured for himself and 
brouglit home a good F'rench musket. At Northfield he was a prosperous 
farmer. His son Shubael was born at Hampton, July i-'. 1753. and came 
to Northfield with his parents. In 177*) he marrietl Ruth Lea\itt of Hampton 
and they commenced housekeeping in a log house in Northfield, but before 
long he liuilt a new frame house, all the materials for which, except the 
chinnic\- and wnod-wnrk. he hauled from Portsmouth with an ox-team; it 
was a nice, good-ste]iping team of young iixen that coukl walk as fast as a man 
could walk. But before marriage he served in the Revolutionary army. 
]\Ir. Dearborn was 22 years old when the war began. His father, too old to go," 
took down from the hooks o\er the fire-place his b'rench musket, which he 
had kept bright and shining ever since he "gobbled it up" at Louisburg, and 
putting it into his son's hands told him to join the New Hampshire troops and 
use it for the defense of his country against the attack of King George's 
Hessians. The son obeyed. He enlisted in Captain Jeremiah Clough's com- 
pany of Canterbury and Northfield men, which company became a part of 
Col. Enoch Poor's regiment, which marched from Exeter to Cambridge, June 



AND REPRESENTATRT. CITIZENS 557 

27, 1775; the next ten days after the hattle i>( lUink'er Hill his com[iany tnok 
part in the siege of Boston, whieh continued until March, 1776. He continued 
ser\'ice in Colonel Poor's regiment in later campaigns. He brought that gun 
home and it was useil again in (he War of 1812-15 liy another memher of the 
Dearborn faniil_\-. Il is now in the possession of Shuliael Dearliorn (_)f Concord. 
This second Shubael has a son he named Shubael ; he was born in 178^^, on 
the old farm on Dearborn Hill, Northtield. He was twice married; his secon<l 
wife was Sally Glines. 

Their son John S. Dearborn was Iiorn Sept. 8. 1824. He married Hannah 
Haines in 1850. He inherited the farm of his grandfather and was a pros- 
perous farmer on Dearborn Hill His health failing, he removed to l)o\er, 
where he died in i89r>. blis wife survi\ed him se\'eral years, living to fie 87 
years of age. She died at Exeter, being at the time with her son-in-law, 
Hon. VV. H. C. Follansby. Their son, Colonel Thomas H. Dearliorn, is the 
subject of this sketch. 

Colonel Dearljorn is eighth in the descent from Thomas Lea\itt, by his 
great grandmother, Ruth Leavitt. Thomas Leavitt was one of the founders 
of E.xeter and his name appears as one of the signers of the Exeter Combina- 
tion of 1639. Thomas Leavitt w^as one of the prominent men of Exeter. 
Another immigrant ancestor of distinction was Roger Shaw, who came from 
England in 1636 and settled at Cambridge, Mass. Later he removed U> 
Hampton, where he held various town offices, and was representati\-e in the 
Massachusetts General Court in i(>^\. 1O52 and i'^>53. Culonel Dearborn's 
mother, Hannah Haines, daughter of Thomas Clough and Deborah (Rogers) 
Haines, was of the seventh generation from Samuel Haines, who was one of the 
original settlers on Dover Neck, and his name appears among the signers of 
the Combination for Good Government in Di;)\er. in 1640. Later he renio\ed 
to Greenland. 

Colonel Dearborn was educated at three of the best schools in the state — 
Tilton Seminary, New Hampton Academy and Philiiis Exeter Academy. .\t 
the conclusion of his school w ork he w as engaged for a few years in the West 
in the stock-raising business. Returning to the East, he commenced his life 
work in the dr}' goods business as clerk in a store at Exeter. In 1884 be 
removed to Dover and opened the large doulile store in the National Block, at 
the corner of Second Street and Central Avenue, under the firm name of 
Thomas H. Dearborn & Co. It at once became the leading dry goods estab- 
lishment, the firm doing an immense business. He managed this concern 
for more than a score of years, when he retired from that business for 
a brief period, and was at the head of the State Commission for the sup- 
pression of the brown tail moth and gipsy moth pests, in which he did 



558 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

good service. In 1908 he took cliarge of his present dry goods establishment, 
"The Fashion." At the age of 53 years he is in the prime of life to do big 
business; and lie is doing it. 

Notwithstanding Col. Dearborn has been a very busy and industrious dry 
goods man, he has in these later years taken considerable interest in political 
affairs. He served as alderman from Ward 4 in 1901 and 1902, during which 
time important improvements for the city were undertaken and carried our, 
and Col. Dearborn was always on the progressive, prudent, business side of 
the (|uestions that came up for decision. 

In 1903 he was appointed by Go\ernor Nahum J. Bachelder member of 
his staff, with the rank of colonel. It was during this period — 1903 to 1905 
— that an attempt was made in the legislature to divide the town of Northfield 
and annex the village part of it to Tilton. In that contest Colonel Dearborn 
was influential in helping defeat the bill. ^ 

It was during the 1903 session of the legislature that a police commission 
w as granted to Dover, and Colonel Dearborn was appointed one of the three 
commissioners, and the board elected him chainnan, which position he held 
for ten years. During that term the police force has been maintained by a 
high standard class of efficient men who have been i)rompt in the performance 
of the duties. 

.\s a society man Col. Dearborn is a member of Moses Paul Lodge of 
Masons; Lodge No. 186 of the Elks, and Wecohamet Lodge of Odd Fellows. 
He is a member of the New Hampshire Society Sons of the American 
Revolution and the New Hampshire Historical Society. He is a member of 
the First Parish. 

September 15, 1884, he was united in marriage with May R. French, 
daughter of Mr. Sperry and Harriet Robinson French of Exeter. Children : 
John Sperry, Ruth French, Thomas Arnold and Eleanor Follansby; all are 
living, except the elder son. Mrs. Dearborn is a lineal descendant (seventh 
removed) of John Alden. 

CHARLES WOODMAN for many years was one of the representative 
men of Dover and as a financier was known all over Strafford county. For a 
long period prior to his death in 1885, he was treasurer of the Strafford Savings 
Bank at Dover. He was born in this city in 1822, a son of Charles Woodman 
who died at the age of thirty-two years. 

Charles \\'oodnian never knew his father, as he was a babe of six weeks 
when the latter died. He attended school and Greenland Academy at Dover 
and afterward was a clerk in a store in Boston, still later was employed in a 
railroad office. He returned then to Dover and became identified with the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 559 

StrafYord Savings Bank witli his uncle, William Woodman, and so continued 
untd his death. He was widely known in financial circles and his advice was 
sought and his judginent accepted by those making investnients. Like his 
father, he was to some degree interested in public affairs, although not a 
politician, as was the older Charles Woodman who, before his death, had been 
nominated for Congress. Voting the Republican ticket, Mr. Woodman was 
elected alderman and held other civic offices. He was identified with the 
Masonic fraternity and attended the Congregational church. 

Mr. Woodman was twice married, first to Miss Hannah Coffin, and they had 
three children: Alice, William and Sarah, the last named surviving. Mr. 
Woodman's second marriage was to Miss Annie E. Allen and they had two 
children, Charles and Alice, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Woodman 
resides in the old family homestead at Dover, which was erected loo years ago. 
She is a member of the Congregational church and is a lady much esteemed. 
Mr. Woodman died December 20, 1885. 

EDMOND N. CARIGNAN, M. D., of Dover, is one of the younger mem- 
bers of the medical profession in this city, but who, well qualified for his pro- 
fession, has already laid the foundation for future success. He was bom in 
Canada, October 7, 1881, his parents being respectively Zephirin and Mary 
(Blais) Carignan. The father, a native of Canada, was a carpenter by 
occupation. 

The Carignan family is of French origin, and the subject of this sketch was 
educated in the Catholic schools of Canada, graduating from St. Ann's Col- 
lege in 1906 with the degree of A. B. He then entered Laval University of 
Quebec, where he remained two years, taking his B. M. degree there. He then 
went to Baltimore Medical College for two years, being graduated in 1910. In 
the same year, after taking a post-graduate course, he located in Dover, N. H., 
where he is now recognized as one of the rising young physicians of the town. 
His practice lies largely among the French population of Dover, but he has also 
a considerable clientage among those of American birth. He is a member of 
the local, County, State, District and American Associations. His political 
affiliations are with the Democratic party. In January of the present year 
he was elected city physician of Dover. 

Dr. Carignan married Miss Graziella Lavoie, a daughter of John Lavoie, 
who was also of Canada. He and his wife are the parents of two children^ 
Roland and Charles E. The Doctor's family residence is at No. 31 Atkinson 
street, his offices being located at No. 1 14 Washington street. 



560 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

PATRICK McGILL, funeral director and undertaker with well apix>inted 
rooms at No. 12 Third street, is a native of Dover, born in 1876, a son of 
Thomas and Ann (Rossiter) McGill. 

Thomas McGill was born in Ireland but spent almost his whole life of 
fifty-nine years in the United States, his death occurring at Dover. He mar- 
ried Ann Rossiter, who survives, and they had three cliildren : James, a Cath- 
olic priest, pastor of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at East 
Manchester, N. H. ; Julia, and Patrick. Re\'. James McGill is the only Dover 
boy ever ordained to the priesthood. He was born in Dover and ordained 
here by the Rt. Rev. Dennis M. Bradley, bishop of this diocese. 

Patrick McGill attended the public and parochial schools in boyhood and 
subsequently was graduated from St. Anselni College at Manchester. He then 
became an employe in the Roberts Bros." shoe store and continued until he 
embarked in his present business on November i, 1907, preparing for the 
same by a course in the Barnes" School of Sanitary Science and Embalming, 
Boston, under the direct supervision of Professor Dodge. Mr. McGill married 
Miss Genevieve M. Sherry. In politics he is an independent voter, doing his 
own thinking and asking no political favors. 

LOUIS WARNER FLANDERS, M. D., who for the past twenty years 
has been identified with the medical fraternity of Dover, N. H., as a specialist 
in diseases of the eye and ear, is a native of Rhode Island, having been born 
.\pril 2-j, 1864, in Wickford, Washington county, that state. He is a son of the 
Rev. Alonzo B. Flanders, D. D., and a grandson of James Flanders. The latter 
w as a man of some prominence in Vermont, where he died at the age of seventv- 
six years. 

The Rev. A. B. Flanders was born in Chelsea, Vt.. December 6, 1829, and 
acquired his early education at Exeter. X. H. Having studied for the ministry 
with Bishop Carleton C. Chase, of this state, he was duly ordained at Claremont, 
N. H., in June, 1853. For twelve years subsequently he was rector of St. PauKs 
church at Wickford, R. I. Enlisting in the Fourth Rhode Island Volunteer 
Infantry, at the outbreak of the Civil War. he served as chaplain at the front 
for two years, during which time he was twice stricken with malarial fever. 
The second attack was so severe that his life was only saved by the devotion of 
his wife, who bravely made her way through the lines and nursed him back to 
health. After his return home, on the advice of his physician, he went to Ver- 
mont, in the hope of benefiting his health l;y a stay in the mountains. In 
December, 1868, he settled in Chester. Vt., where he afterward founded St. 
Luke's church, of which he was rector for fifteen years. Then, after a short 
residence at White River Junction. Vt.. he moved to St. .Albans. .\t his death. 



AND REPRESENTATRE CITIZENS 561 

whicli took place in April, 1898, he was one of the oldest and most highly 
esteemed ministers of Vermont. His degree of Doctor of Divinity was con- 
ferred on him by Vermont University. He was a member of the standing 
committee of the dioces<;, an examining chaplain, and ser\ ed as delegate to the 
General Convention several times. 

Rev. A. B. Flanders married Sarah A. Ide, who was born in Windsor, Vt., 
a daughter of Simeon Ide. Her father, a widely known editor, publisher and 
politician, was the founder of the Vermont Journal and the American Yeoman, 
both of which he established in 1818. Three years previously he had printed 
in an old blacksmith shop the first edition of the New Testament ever printed 
in New Hampshire. Mr. Ide was a man of very forceful character. He was 
described as a leader among men, was extensively acquainted with the most 
prominent politicians of his native state, and was a member of the State militia. 
He lived to the venerable age of ninety-four years. 

Louis W. Flanders began his education in the common schools of Chester, 
Vt., and subsequently attended the Stevens High School at Claremont, N. IT. 
Later he entered the Lni\ersity of Vermont and was graduated from the med- 
ical department in the summer of 1885. Soon after he Ijegan the practice of 
general medicine at Highgate, Vt., but after a short stay there removed to 
Brandon, Vt., and in the following year was associated with A. T. Woodward. 
He then went to Castleton, Vt., where he continued in practice until 1890. He 
now gave up general practice antl removing to Burlington, in the same state, 
became assistant to J. H. Woodward, ?vl. D., professor of Ophthalmology and 
Otology. Dr. Flanders was professor of the materia medica in the University 
of Vermont. After a three years' stay in Burlington, during which Dr. Flan- 
ders became especially well skilled in those branches of his profession to which 
he was devoting his particular attention, he came to Dover — in 1893 — and 
opened an office here as an oculist and aurist. He has been successful in build- 
ing up a large practice, both in Dover and for a circuit of twenty miles around. 
His office is located in the Masonic Temple. 

Dr. Flanders has attained a high rank in Masonry, belonging to Burlington 
Lodge. No. 100, F. & A. M., of Burlington, of which he is past master; Burling- 
ton Chapter, R. A. M. : Orphan Council, R. & S. M. ; St. Paul Comniandery, 
K. T., and to the N. H. Consistory. .\. .\. S., Northern Jurisdiction. Polit- 
ically he is a Republican, but takes no acti\e part in public affairs. 

He was married December 23. 1890. to Miss Annie Miriam Hilton, of 
Chester, who was a companion of his early childhood and a schoolmate. They 
reside at No. 14 Hamilton street, Dover. They have one son, Walter Louis, 
bom May 11, 1897. 



562 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ROSCOE G. BLANCHARD, M. D., a very prominent member of the med- 
ical profession, at Dover, N. H., has been estabhshed in his profession here 
for twenty-nine years, during which time he has buik up a fine practice and 
has won the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. He was born in West 
Cumberland, Cumberland County, Me., July 24, 1853, a son of Joseph Y. and 
Abbie N. (Libby) Blanchard. When he was six years of age his father died 
and his mother removed to Saco, Me., and here he acquired his elementary edu- 
cation in the district schools. He subsequently attended the Biddeford High 
School, from which he was graduated in 187 1. 

He then took a commercial course at Gray's Business College in Portland, 
after which he found employment as bookkeeper and cashier with the firm of 
Chadboum & Kendall, dry goods merchants of Portland, with whom he re- 
mained seven years. During the latter five years of this period he occupied his 
spare hours with reading medicine with Dr. Edward Preble and attending lec- 
tures at the Portland Medical College. Having by close ecenomy accumulated 
a little money, he now gave up his position and entered the Portland Medical 
School, where he took a two years' course. This was followed by a full course 
in the medical department of Bowdoin College, from whicli he was graduated 
M. D. with the class of 1884. A few months later he located in Dover, where 
by dint of hard and conscientious work he has achieved a pronounted success 
as a physician and surgeon. He is an active and prominent member of the 
Maine Medical Society, the New Hampshire Medical Society (of which he was 
president one year), the StrafTord District Medical Society, which he has served 
as secretary, and the Dover Medical Society, of which he was secretary five 
years and president two years. 

A Mason of high rank, being one of the four 33d degree Masons residing 
in Dover, Dr. Blanchard has done much to promote the good of the order in 
this city. He is a member of Strafford Lodge and Belknap Chapter, has served 
for nine years as illustrious master of Orphan Council, and is a knight of St. 
Paul's Commanderj', of which he was eminent commander for two years. In 
1895 ^^ ^'^s invested with the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish 
Rite; also belongs to Beacon Lodge, I. O. O. F,, of Portland, and to Port- 
land Encampment. He was advanced to the 33d degree rank in the Masonic 
order ten years ago. His office is located in the Masonic Temple. 

Dr. R. G. Blanchard was married September 4, 1877, to Miss Laura B. 
Hodgdon, a daughter of Z. H. Hodgdon and Orinda (Reed) Hodgdon, of 
North Boothbay, Me. They are the parents of a daughter, Florence L. The 
family residence is at No. 630 Central Avenue. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 563 

JUSTIN A. EMERY, attorney at law. with offices in the McDuffee Block, 
Rochester, is one of the younger members of the Strafford county bar but is 
recognized by his associates and the public as a lawyer of marked ability. He 
was bom June 22, 1880, at York, Me., and is a son of Joshua and Abbie A. 
(Baston) Emery. 

Toshua Emery was born in South Berwick. Me., where the family is an 
old settled one. His occupation throughout life was mainly farming. Shortly 
after the birth of his son, Justin A., he moved to Rochester, N. H., purchasing 
a farm on Rochester Neck, and resided there until his death, at the age of 
eighty years. He married Abbie A. Baston and they had four children. 

Justin A. Emer}' attended school at Rochester. N. H., and afterward, for 
several years, was in the life insurance business, subsequently accepting a gov- 
ernment position as letter carrier, in which he remained for seven and a half 
years. Such a position affords little leisure but Mr. Emery took advantage of 
his free time and applied himself so closely to the study of law that he succeeded 
in his ambition and in June, 191 1, was admitted to the New Hampshire bar, 
later being admitted to practice in the United States District Court. In Sep- 
tember, 191 2, he opened his present office and has won and maintains honorable 
standing in the profession. 

Mr. Emerv married Miss Mary E. Stillings and they have tv>o children: 
Elfreida C. and Esther L., whose ages are respectively eight and three years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Emery attend the Congregational church. In politics he is a 
Democrat and has uften |)roved his party loyalty. Fraternal life has interested 
him and he belongs to the Masons, the Order of Eastern Star and to the Odd 
Fellows and Rebekah lodges, being officially connected with these organizations. 

MI.'\H BUCK. WON SULLIViVN, M. D., one of the most prominent 
members of the medical profession in Dover, N. H., was born May 29, 1857, one 
of the family of ten children of Jeremiah and Rebecca ( Gillman) Sullivan. He 
began his education in the public schools, afterwards attended the Towle Acad- 
emy, and later the I'niversity of New York, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1881. Beginning the practice of his profession in Lewiston, Me., 
he remained there, however, but a short time, removing in the same year to 
Dover. Here he has built up an excellent practice and is widely recognized, 
both in and out of the profession, as one of the most able physicians and sur- 
geons in the county. He is a member of the Medical Society of New Hampshire 
and of the Strafford County Medical Society, and is fraternally identified with 
the Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He is also a director in the Merchants 
Savings Bank. He served as chairman of the committee of credentials, and 
also as one of the committee on Work at the Elks' convention held at Mil- 



564 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

waukee, Wis. In addition to the societies above named Dr. Sullivan belongs 
to the New York Medico-Legal Association and to the American Medical 
Society. He is a close student and keeps well abreast of his profession at all 
times, investigating every new discovery in medical or surgical science and 
using the most modern methods in his own large practice. He has been very 
successful and as a citizen is held in high esteem. 

Dr. Sullivan was united in marriage, February 2, 1897, with Miss Mary X. 
Holden, a daughter of William Holden, a prominent citizen of Baltimore. Md. 
They have two children — Marie T. and James H. He and his family are 
members of the Catholic Church, and they have a pleasant and commodious 
residence at No. 61 Silver street. The Doctor's office is located at 430 Central 
Avenue, Dover. Dr. Sullivan's daughter unveiled the Elks monument at Pine 
Hill cemetery, November, 19 13. 

EVERETT J. GALLONS' AY. a member of the well known law finn of 
Pierce & Galloway, lawyers, of Dover, N. H., was born in Lynn. Mass., March 
29, 1877, a son of John H. and Julia (McCarthy) Galloway. His father was 
an expert shoe operator in one of the large shoe factories for which the city of 
Lvnn is famous. The subject of this sketch, after attending the common 
schools, completed his literary education in the Portsmouth ( N. H.) high 
school, where he made a good record in scholarship. For a short time he fol- 
lowed his father's occupation, but in 1903 he began the study of law in Dover 
in the office of W. S. Pierce. Admitted to the bar in 1908, he has since been 
successfully engaged in general law practice, becoming a member of the finn 
of Pierce & Galloway in 1908. This firm has a good reputation in the pro- 
fession, and a considerable amount of law business passes through their office 
in the course of the year. Mr. Galloway is affiliated fraternally with the 
Knights of Pythias (Lodge No. 89) ; the Benevolent and Protective Order of 
Elks, No. 184, and the New England Order of Protection. July 13, 1903, he 
married Miss Myrtie E. Smith, a native of Dover and daughter of Newton C. 
and Laura A. Smith. 

HENRY DOW, now deceased, for many years was one of the substantial 
and representative men of Dover. He was born at Dover, on the site of the 
old Strafford bank, and always made his home in his native place, where he died 
in 1889. at the age of eighty-nine years. He came into life with the beginning 
of the century that was notable in many respects, and throughout his long 
period of existence took a deep interest in the progress and development made. 

In the schools of Dover Mr. Dow received his boyhood educational training 
and from there entered Exeter Academy, later becoming a student at Harvard 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 5-65 

College. Subsequently he engaged in the study of medicine but when the time 
came for him to begin the practice of his profession he discovered that his incli- 
nations lay in a different direction, in fact that agriculture made a greater appeal 
to him. Therefore the collegian and physician became a farmer and for many 
years interested himself in the cultivation and improvement of his fertile acres 
lying in the vicinity of Bellamy, Strafford county. He was never an active 
politician but gave his continued support to the Republican party. 

Mr. Dow married Airs. Mary Edna ( Hill) Ciray, a daughter of Nathaniel 
R. Hill, of New Hampshire, and widow of George Frederick Gray, to whom 
Mrs. Dow was married in October, 1875. ^'^^- Gray was born at Dover, N. H., 
where he died in 1S80, survived by three children: Cleorge, who is an illus- 
trator, with a studio in Boston. Mass. ; and Ruth and Charles, twins. George 
Frederick Gray was prominent in politics in Strafford county and was once a 
member of the state senate. He was w idely known also in journalism and as 
editor of the Dover Gazette and as contributor to the Herald, was one of the 
pioneer and progressixe newspaper men of this section. 

HON. JAMES WALTER TW'OMBIA', formerly a member of the New 
Hampshire State Legislature and a leading factor in [jolitics in Strafford 
county, is the oldest contractor engaged in the business at Dover, a member of 
the firm of Nathaniel Twombly & Son. He was born at Dover, N. H., August 
2, 1859, and was educated in the public schools and at Reedfield College, where 
he was a student in i877-'78. 

After his return from college, J. W. Twombly, in 1882, became a.ssociated 
with his father in contracting and building, at Dover, under the firm name of 
Nathaniel Twombly & Son. He has continued in the business ever since and 
has erected many of the most substantial business houses and residences at 
Dover. He has ever been an active and interested citizen, zealous for Dover's 
good name as a business situation as well as an ideal location for homes, and 
during his two years as city alderman and two years as a member of the city 
council, lent his assistance to every movement of a public-spirited character that 
promised substantial results. His record was appreciated by his fellow cit- 
izens and he was elected a member of the General Assembly from the Fourth 
Ward, Dover. 

In 1882 Mr. Twomlily married Miss Juliet I'erkins of Wells, Me., a daugh- 
ter of Charles and Susan E. Perkins, the former of whom was a retired sea 
captain and hotelkeeper of \\'ells Beach, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Twombly had one 
child who died in infancy. He is a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge, F. & A. M., 
and belongs also to the Elks and the Royal Arcanum. 



566 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

FRANK P. COLEMAN, who has been the efficient suiierintendent of 
Pine Hill cemetery at Dover for the past twenty-two years, is well known over 
Strafford county. He was born at Durham, N. H., in 1852, the youngest of a 
family of twelve children, his parents being Oliver and Mehetable (Clark) 
Coleman. The father died when aged f ony-seven years, having been a farmer 
all his mature life. Frank P. Coleman was reared by his mother, being but four 
years old when his father died. He attended school at Durham and Dover, 
N. H., and at Linden, Vt., and then was variously engaged prior to being 
appointed a member of the police force at Dover. In 1889 he was made super- 
intendent of the tract set apart for cemetery purposes and Pine Hill cemetery 
has practically been entirely de\eloped through his care, taste and good judg- 
ment. Its beautiful hillside situation was recognized by early settlers and in 
171 7 the second meeting-house ever constructed at Dover was built on this 
hill, by public subscription. When Mr. Coleman took charge of the cemetery 
he had only seven lots under special care, while now he has a fund of $60,000 
to make use of for cemetery improvement. It is a beautiful spot, one that 
reflects credit both on Mr. Coleman and the city. 

Mr. Coleman married Miss Lillie Philpot. who died in 1888, leaving one 
daughter, Florence R., who died when nineteen years old. His second mar- 
riage was to A. Minnie Hall, who died in 1901, leaving one child, Francena H., 
who is the wife of Eddie Gill, of Melrose, Mass. In politics Mr. Coleman is a 
Republican. He I)elongs to the Odd Fellows at Mt. Pleasant and the Encamp- 
ment and is major of the order of Patriots Militant of New Hampshire. He is 
a member and a trustee of the Pierce Memorial church at Dover. 

HON. CHARLES H. FOSS. mayor of Dover, N. H., is one of the 
prominent business men of this town, being interested extensively in real 
estate and insurance, and acting also as agent for the foreign steamship 
companies. He was born in Rochester, N. H., April 2, 1851, one of a family of 
two children bom to Andrew and Abigail (Place) Foss. The father, Andrew, 
who was a farmer, died December 29, 1904, his wife, the mother of our subject, 
having passed away nearly four years previously, on February 4, 1901. Their 
remains rest in the old farm cemetery at Rochester. N. H. 

Charles H. Foss, after attending the public schools for the usual period, 
became a student at Austin Academy, at Strafford, N. H., and afterward at 
the Eastman National Business College, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. On reach- 
ing maturity he found employment in the office of Sawyer Woolen Mills, 
at Dover, N. H., where he was soon made cashier and paymaster, and he 
remained connected with that industry for twenty-seven years, or until 1899. 
He was then for three years collector of taxes, after which he engaged in his 




CHAKLES H. Fuys 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 569 

present business. He has been successful as a business man and has also taken 
a prominent part in local politics, having been elected on the Republican ticket 
to various important ofKces. He served on the common council of Dover 
during the years 18S3 and 1884; was alderman in 1891 and 1892; a member 
of the school board from 1895 to 1900 and collector of taxes in 1900, 1901 and 
1902. He was twice elected to the Legislature from the Fourth Ward, ser\- 
ing during the sessions of 1909 and 191 1. He also served as street and park 
commissioner, being appointed in March, 1912, by the Hon. Dwight Hall for 
a three years' term and when elected mayor resigned from that body, being 
elected in November, 19 12, and taking office in January. 1913. 

Mr. Foss is also prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being a member 
of StrafTord Lodge No. 29, A. F. & A. M. ; Bclknal Chapter No. 8, R. A. M. ; 
Orphan Council No. i, R. & S. I\L, and St. Paul Cummandery, K. T. ; also 
of Major W'aldron Council No. 989, Royal Arcanum. He was married Sep- 
tember 20, 1875, to Miss Carrie Garside, daughter of Walter Garside. and he 
and his wife are the jiarents of a son, Walter. The family attend the Methodi.-^t 
Episcopal Church and are identified with \arious social activities of Dover. 

RALPH HOUGH, a well known and respected resident of Dover, now 
retired, who for forty-five years was an active factor in the industrial life of 
the city, was born August 15, 1824. in Manchester, England. His parents, 
Thomas and Catherine (Keniston) Hough, came to America with their family 
in 1S26, landing here after a voyage of nine weeks in a sailing vessel. Locating 
in Dover, Thomas Hough found em])loyment in the Cocheco Print Works, and 
afterward died. The children of the famih- comprised eight sons and two 
daughters. 

Ralph Hough, who was but a babe of two years at the time of the family's 
advent in this country, was well brought up and actjuired Iiis education in the 
common schools of Dover. He began industrial life at the early age of 10 
years, beginning a five years' apprenticeship in the Cocheco Print Works. Dur- 
ing the first year he was paid at the rate of fifty cents per day, sixty-two cents 
during the next two years, and a further increase during the succeeding two 
years. The next eighteen years of his life were spent as a journeyman in the 
same establishment, during which time he acquired a thorough and accurate 
knowledge of the entire business. Having by his industry and ability gained 
the confidence of his employers, he was then appointed foreman of the print 
room, which position he held for twenty-two years, acquitting himself with 
fidelity to his charge and earning the good will of his associates and those over 
whom he had super\'ision. He then retired after forty-five years of consecu- 



570 HISTORY OF STPLAFFORD COUNTY 

ti\e service with this company, a record of which he mav justly be proud. 
He has also been a director of the Cocheco National Bank-. 

A stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Hough formerly took an active part 
in inililic life. His wide popularity was made manifest on various occasions, 
f'rom 1859 to 1866 he was a member of the Common Council of Dover, rep- 
resenting Ward J, which is now called Ward i. In 1884 he was a member of 
the State Legislature, and in 1885 and 1886 he served as countv commissioner, 
being chairman of the board. For several years he was a lieutenant in the 
Strafford Zouaves, a i>opular military organization. He is a Blue Lodge 
Mason and also belongs to W'ecohamet Lodge, I. O. O. F.. of Dover. 

On February 4, 1849, Mi"- Hough married Miss Sarah Delan}-, a fair 
English girl, whose birthplace was but a few miles from hi> own. She came to 
this country in 1825 with her parents, John and Margaret (Farrell) Delany. 
who settled in Do\er. It is an interesting and noteworth_\- fact that "Sir. Hough 
and his w ite. w hen babies, were rocked in the same cradle. They have been the 
parents of four children, namely: Belle, who married Otis V.. W'aitt; Harry: 
-\lice, wife of James Harrison, who resides with her parents at No. 16 Fifth 
street. Do\er: and Sarah J., who is now deceased. Mr. Hough, who is now in 
his ninetieth year, is still hale and heart}-, a cotispicuous example of the \alue 
of good habits, backed by a sound heredity. Fie and his wife are members of 
the Episcopal church, he being the only survivor of those who were members at 
the time he joined it. He is also the only one now alive of those public ofScials 
who served the city of Dover contemporaneously with himself. 

b'RED M. BUNKER, a leading business man of Dover, conducts his gro- 
cery store at No. 10 Broadway, and a second store at No. 67 Fifth avenue, 
where he deals in coal, wood, hay, grain, lime, cement, sewer pipe and fami 
implements. He was born at Durham, N. H., in 1861, and is a son of William 
Henry and Abbie (Thompson) Bunker. The father was a fanner in Straffortl 
county, where he was born and where he died at the age of forty-nine years. 
He niarried Abbie Thompson and they had two children, Mrs. Mary J. Delaney 
and Fred M. 

Fred M. Bunker was reared on the home farm and attended school in Dur- 
ham and Dover. For the past four years he has been in the grocery business 
but it is fifteen years since he embarked in the coal business, which he has 
e-xpanded into a local industry of importance, giving employment to a number 
of men. 

Mr. Bunker married Miss Edna Demerritt and they have two children, a 
son and daughter. The former, Ralph Bunker, who is associated with his 
father in business, married Bernice Home and they have one son, Kenneth. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 571 

The daughter, Blanche, is the wife of Paul Knowlton. In politics Mr. Bunker 
is a Republican and formerly was town supervisor of Durham. He is a 
member of the Knights of Malta and of Dover Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. 

E. K. VARNE^^ who is a member of the firm of Swett & Varney, elec- 
trical contractors, at No. 26 Third street. Dover, is doing an excellent business, 
the firm meeting the demands of a large trade. He was born at Madbury, 
Strafiford county, N. H., in 1870. and is a son of Albert and Antoinette 
(Crockett) Varney. The father was also bom in New Hampshire and was 
engaged for some years in farming but now lives retired, on Belmont street, 
Dover. His family consisted of three children : Annie, E. K., and Effie. 

E. K. Varney attended school in his nati\e place and then went to work on 
the farm but not feeling satisfied, secured a place with the General Electric 
Company at Lynn, Mass., and remained there seven years. When he returned 
to Dover he found employment with the Dover Electric Eight Com])any and 
continued with them until 1909, when he started his own enterprise, being asso- 
ciated with E. H. Swett. Mr. Varney married Miss Clara Hill, and they have 
two children, Gladys and Viola. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Politically he is a l\e])ul)lican and fraternally an Odd Eellow and 
Knight of Pythias. 

HON. GEORGE SE^^^\RD EROST was born at the Frost homestead, on 
the west side of Oyster River, July 4, 1844. He was son of William Pepperrell 
and Mary (Hoole) Frost. His maternal grandmother was of the distinguished 
Prince family of Massachusetts, and a lineal descendant of Elder William 
Brewster, the Pilgrim minister. The ancient spelling of the name was Ffrost, 
and was so used by the generations down to Judge George Seward Frost, who 
dropped the use of the small "f." 

Judge Frost is seventh in descent from the immigrant ancestor. Nicholas 
Ffrost, who was born in Tiverto, ".April ye 25th, 1585," and came to New- 
England in 1632. In an old family Bible is the record of his parents in England. 
which says: "John Ffrost, Borne Nov'br ye 17th, 1558, near Carnbre Hill, 
Cornwall, Anna Plamden, Borne Oct'r ye 8th, 1563. John and .'Anna Married 
May ye loth, 1587." 

Nicholas Ffrost settled on the east shore of the Pascataqua River, in what 
is now Eliot, directly across the river from Dover Point, in 1634, known as 
Leighton's Point. His wife's name was Bertha Cad walla. He resided there 
until he received a grant of land in 165 1 on the south side of what is known 
as Frost's Hill, in Eliot, at the head of Sturgeon Creek, which is opposite the 
"Upper Neck" in Dover, Sturgeon Creek being on the east side of tlie New- 



572 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

chawanncx-k river. The hill received its name from him. and has remained in 
possession of the Frost family to the present time (1913). He held various 
town offices. He died in 1663. leaving a large estate to his family. 

IMajor Charles Frost, his eldest son, was bom in Twerton, England, 30th 
of July, 1633. His wife was Mary Bowls, daughter of Joseph and Mary 
(Howell) Bowls of Wells, Me. He resided on Frost Hill, where he was killed 
by the Indians, July 4, 1697, as he and his family were returning from meet- 
ing on the Lord's day. The place where he was killed is marked with a bronze 
tablet placed on a boulder. Major Frost was one of the prominent and influ- 
ential men of the town and owned much land. 

Hon. John Frost, third child and second son of Major Charles, was born 
March i. 1680-81 ; married September 4, 1702, Mary, daughter of William and 
Margery ( Bray) Tepperrell, and lived in Newcastle, N. H. He died February 
25, 1732-3. In his younger days he ser\ed in the British navy and rose to be 
commander of a British war ship. Afterward he was a merchant at Newcastle, 
and was a man of influence in political circles, and was member of the gover- 
nor's council. His grave is still pointed out in the graveyard in that town. 

Mary Pepperrell. his wife, was sister of Sir William Pepperrell. Their 
father settled at the Isles of Shoals in 1676, then a good fishing station. Later 
he came over to Kittery, married Margery Bray, and built the historic Pep- 
perrell mansion, which his son. Sir William, inherited. Margery's father, John 
Bray, built the house now standing east of the Pepperrell house. The Bray 
house is said to be the oldest house in ^^laine. Mary Pepperrell Frost was 
born in the Pepjierrell mansion. 

Judge George Frost, fifth son of Hon. John and Mary ( Pepperrell) Frost, 
was bom April 26, 1720. He married Margaret Weeks, daughter of Major 
Weeks of Greenland. He resided at Durham. He was appointed one of the 
justices of the Court of Common Pleas when Strafford county was organized 
in 1773, and for a number of years was chief justice; he was in oftice until 
1 79 1. He was delegate to the Continental Congress in \'/-/(\ 1777 and 1779- 
He was one of the council in 1781, 1782 and 1783. 

George Frost, Esq., son of Judge George, was born at Durham. 3d of 
December, 1765. He married, April 3. 1797, Mehitable Burleigh, daughter of 
James and Mehitable (Sheafe) Burleigh. He was a merchant, shipbuilder and 
leading citizen of Durham for many years. He died in i84rx 

William Pepperrell Frost, son of the last named George, was bom in 18 u. 
He married October 18, 1842, Mary Hoole. He died in 1886. He and his 
brother George were in partnership together at Durham many years as mer- 
chants and were noted for their energy, integrity and business capacity. 

Judge George Seward Frost, the subject of this sketch, is one of two sons. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 573 

of whom William Edward died at the age of 17 years. Born June 4, 1844, 
George S. Frost was educated in the pubHc schools of the town, Durham Acad- 
emy and Phillips Exeter Academy, which latter institution he entered the last 
tenn of the junior class of 1861. Graduating that year, he remained another 
year at Exeter and entered the sophomore class of Harvard College, from 
which he was graduated in 1865 with the degree of A. D. He received the 
degree of A. M. in 1868. He commenced the study of law at Dover in the 
ofifice of Judge Keremiah Smith, in 1866, where he remained tv\ o years. Grad- 
uated from Harvard Law School in 1868, he was admitted to the Suffolk 
County bar in Boston, July 7. 1868: practiced in Boston. July 30, 1872, he 
was appointed trial justice for West Roxbury, which office he held until that 
district was annexed to Boston in 1874 ; June 9th of that year he was appointed 
associate justice for the Boston Court for the district of West Roxbury, but 
declined the appointment. He was member of the Boston School Committee 
in 1874 and 1875, for Ward 17; declined a re-election. 

November 6, 1875 he was appointed assistant district attorney of the 
United States for the district of Massachusetts, which office he held until 
November, 1877, when he resigned on account of ill health produced by over 
work. In all these various positions Judge Frost showed marked ability to 
such a degree that he received recommendations from several of the leading 
lawyers of Boston for an appointment as justice of the Superior Court. Had 
his health not given out, no doubt he would have received the appointment for 
which those big lawyers regarded him highlv (jualified. Up to this time his 
family had resided at Jamaica Plain. 

He removed his family to Dover, N. H.. in the winter of 1877-78, since 
when he has resided in this city. He was obliged to live a quiet life for two 
years to regain his health. In 1881 he was elected representative of Ward 4 
for the Legislature, in which he held a high position on the Judiciary Com- 
mittee. June Ji, i88j, he was appointed judge of the Police Court for 
Dover, which office he held continuously thirty-one years, until he was abolished 
July I, 1913, by the District Court of Dover, w hich had been established by the 
General Court of 1913. Governor Felker appointed him judge of this new 
court, he and Associate Justice Edw. H. Adams of Portsmouth being the only 
two Republicans in the state who received such an honor from the Democratic 
governor. During his long service of more than thirty years Judge Frost was 
called upon to render many decisions of great importance, from some of which 
appeals were taken, but it was only in a very few instances that his decisions 
were over-ruled by the higher courts. He has a good, clean, high-nu'nded 
record from beginning to end of his service of police court judge. 

Judge Frost was delegate from Ward 4 in the Constitutional Convention 



574 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of 1905, and served on important committees. November 8, 1888, he was 
elected member of the School Committee for Ward 4, and lield the otfice con- 
tinuously until January, 1897, when he declined a re-election. He was chair- 
man of the School Committee 1895 and 1896. He has been senior warden of 
St. Thomas Episcopal Churcli about 27 years and declined a re-election. He 
has been a director of the Strafford National Bank 27 years ; charter member of 
the Bellamy Club; also a charter member of Moses Paul Lodge, A. F. & A. M.. 
and is a 32d degree Mason. He has been a member of the New Hampshire 
Bar Association for more than thirty years and has done a large amount of 
work as a consulting lawyer. Those who consult him feel sure they will get 
the law straight and sound. He is one of the incorporators of the Wentworth 
Home for the aged, and has been one of its trustees continuously from it;, 
opening in 1898. In a w ord Judge FVost has been a very busy man and a \ery 
useful citizen in a nuiltitude of ways. 

On the 6th of December, 1870, Judge Frost was united in marriage with 
Miss Martha Hale Low, at Dover, N. H. She is daughter of Dr. Nathaniel 
and Mary Ann (Hale) Low of Dover, in which city she was born the 13th 
of June, 1841. Her father, a distinguished physician, was born 4th of July, 
1 792; her mother was born nth of November, 1798; they were married 1 8th of 
November, 1818; residence, Dover. He died April 2, 1883: she died October 

7, 1882. She was daughter of Hon. William Hale, who married April 30, 
1794, Lydia Rollins, daughter of Judge Ichabod and Ruth Thilpot Rollins. 
Mr. Hale was born in Portsmouth, August 6, 1765 ; he died in Dover, November 

8. 1848. He was son of Major Samuel Hale, who married May 23, 1751, 
Mary Wright, daughter of Capt. Thomas Wright of Portsmouth. Major 
Hale died in that city, July 10, 1807, and his wife March 11. 181 1. Both are 
i unicd in the North Cemetery, near the railway station in Portsmouth. William 
Hale lived in Dover. He was a merchant and ship builder and ship owner 
with his brother, Judge Samuel Hale of Barrington. He was State Senator 
from 1797 to 1801 ; member of the Governor's Council, 1803 to 1805: repre- 
sentative in Congress six years 1809 to 181 1 and 1813 to 1817. The father 
of his wife was one of the first judges in the courts of Strafford County 
Mrs. Frost is a worthy descendant of such excellent ancestors. 

The children of Judge George S. and Martha Hale (Low) Frost are: 
Mary Pepperrell, born at Dover, Sept. 18, 1871. Margaret Hamilton, born 
at Jamaica Plain, Mass., Nov. 21, 1873. Sarah Low, born at Dover, Oct. 
7, 1875. Elizabeth Rollins, born at Dover, Dec. 29, 1881. Of these daughters, 
Mary Pepperrell graduated from Smith College, 1894; married June 10, 1897; 
James Cowan Sawyer ; lives in Andover, Mass. Their children are : George 
Frost Sawyer, born June 25, 1902; Charles Henry Sawyer, born Oct. 20, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 575 

1906. Miss Elizabeth Rollins l'"rost graduated from Smith College in 1903; 
graduated from the Albany Library School; was assistant librarian at Butfalo, 
N. Y., and at the Carnegie library at I'ittsburgh, Pa., is now reference librarian 
at Waterbury, Conn. Saraii was assistant librarian Doxer Public Library a 
number of years. Slie is also librarian for Phillips Andox'er .Vcadeuiy, 
Ando\er. Mass. 

WILLIS IMcDCI'J'EI*]. president and editor of the L'ourier Publishing 
Company, of Rochester, X. H., a citizen well known and highly esteemed all 
over Strafford County, was born in Rochester, X. H., March 15, 1S68, a son 
of Franklin and Mary Frances (Hayes) McDuffee. Ancestors of the McDufTee 
family were among the first settlers of Do\er, and for generations representa- 
tives of the family have been among the best known and most useful citizens 
of the count}-. The paternal grandfather of our suljject, John McDut'fee, was 
a well known Ijanker. founding the first Inmk in this section. Franklin 
McDuffee, father of Willis, graduated from Dartmouth College and studied 
law, but instead of practicing that profession, went into the banking business 
with his father, and it remained his occupation throughout the rest of his life, 
which terminated in 1880. His widow now resides in Rochester, this county. 
They had tw o sons, Willis and John Edgar, the latter of whom died in igoo. 

Willis iVlcDuft'ee began his education in the schools of Rochester and then 
attended Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. 
After six months spent in foreign travel, he formed a partnersliip, in 1891, 
with William W. Lougee (now |)racticing medicine in Massachusetts) in the 
journalistic enterprise of which he is now the head. In 1894 the present stock 
company was formed. Charles G. Janness is now business manager, the 
stockholders being Gov. Samuel D. Felker, Ex-mayor R. V. Sweet, N. T. 
Kimball, Charles G. Janness, and the subject of this sketch. This enterprise 
has achieved a pronounced success. The Courier is a bright, newsy journal, 
up-to-date in all its departments, and deserving of the large circulation to which 
it has attained. It is neat in appearance, reliable in its news, and its editorial 
page usually contains some timely clean cut thoughts on the leading topics of 
the hour. 

For a number of years Mr. McDuffee has lieen actively interested in politics. 
He formerly served on the school board for three years, was representative 
to the state legislature in 1895, and for some time was a member of the Repub- 
lican State Committee. In 1906 he was one of the men to start the progressive 
movement in the state, but declined to enter the third party movement in 1912. 
presiding at the meeting of the Progressi\-es at Concord in opposition to this 



576 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

movement, which was responsible for carrying the state for Taft at the 
primaries. He is a Knight Templar Mason. 

Mr. McDuffee was married July 22, 1897, to Miss Dora Haley, of Barring- 
ton, N. H., who is well known throughout the State as a vocalist of great talent. 
They have two children — Franklin and Maude Chase. The family are affiliated 
with the Congregational church and are prominent in the best society of 
Rochester. 

GEORGE A. TOLMAN, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon, in 
successful practice at Dover, N. H., was born in Maine, July 6, 1867, the 
only child of George and Eliza A. (Spofford) Tolman. His father, who was 
a merchant, is now retired, and both parents reside at the home of our sub- 
ject. 

George A. Tolman, after acquiring his elementary education in the public 
schools, attended the Westbrook Seminary. He was graduated from Bowdoin 
College in 1890 and Maine Medical College in 1893, and graduated from New 
York Post-Graduate Hospital and became assistant to Dr. Carl Beck a noted 
New York surgeon. He began the practice of his profession in Dover in 1894, 
and has since built up for himself a large and profitable clientage. He belongs 
to a number of medical societies, including the American Medical Association, 
the State of Maine Medical Association, the New Hampshire State Medical 
Association, the District and Strafford County Aledical Association, and the 
New Hampshire Surgical Club and Dover Medical Society. He is a 32d 
degree Mason, belongs also to the Royal Arcanum, and in politics is a Repub- 
lican. As a citizen he is held in high esteem. 

Dr. Tolman married I\Iiss Clara E. Rounds, a daughter of George H. 
Rounds, of Portland, and they have one child, Eloise P. The family affiliate 
with the Congregational Church, and reside at No. 37 Summer street. Dr. 
Tolman's office is located in the Strafford National Bank Building. 

CHARLES H. PrfMAN, one of the substantial citizens of Farmington, 
who carries on a satisfactory business in insurance and real estate, was born 
July 13, 1844. at Bamstead, N. H., in the neighborhood of which he spent the 
first twenty-five years of his life. He is a son of Henry and Druzilla (Miles) 
Pitman, the former of whom was born in New Hampshire and the latter in 
Vermont. Both have rested for many years in the family lot in the old 
cemetery at Barnstead. 

Charles H. Pitman was the third member of his parents' family of four 
children. He attended the public schools of Barnstead and an academy at 
i'ittsfield and continued to assist his father on the home farm until the fall of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 577 

1869, when he came to Farmington. Here he entered the employ of James E. 
Fernald, with whom he remained for thirteen years, during this time assisting 
Mr. Fernald to establish the Farmington "News." Subsequently he embarked 
in the insurance business and also opened a job printing office, conducting the 
latter enterprise for twenty-two years and then selling it. Since then he has 
devoted his entire attention to insurance and real estate. He has made property 
investments here and is a stable and dependable citizen of the town. 

In 1872 Mr. Pitman was married to Miss Emma J. Crosby, a daughter of 
Ebeneezer H. Crosliy. The one daughter of this marriage died in 1907, at the 
age of thirty-three years. She was the wife of Fred W. Holmes and is 
survived by one son, Charles Leslie Holmes, who is a young man of twenty-one 
years and is of a literary turn, at present being correspondent for Dover 
newspapers and the Boston "Globe." In 1885 Mr. Pitman was married (sec- 
ondly) to Miss Carrie L. Pearl, a daughter of Charles L. Pearl, of Farming- 
ton. Mr. and Mrs. Pitman are members of the Order of Rebeckah and of 
the Pythian Sisters, and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, to the Odd 
Fellows and the Masons. I'^or eleven years Mr. Pitman was a memljer of the 
New Hampshire National Guard, holding rank as second lieutenant, first lieu- 
tenant and then captain, for eight years being captain of Company F, of the 
Second Regiment and then resigned. He was elected major of the Second 
Regiment, but declined to serve on account of business. A Democrat in 
politics, he has frequently been sought for public office, including that of state 
representative, and has ser\ed four years as town clerk, si.x years as a member 
of the school board, three years ;is tax collector, and in 1912 was town treasurer 
of Farmington. He also served as clerk of the Fannington Village Precinct for 
seventeen years. 

CURTIS W. BLAISDELL, one of the well known residents of Strafford 
county, residing on his valuable farm of thirty-eight acres, situated in Rollins- 
ford, was bom January 21, 1S58, at Lebanon Center, Me., and is a son of 
John and Sarah (Drew) Blaisdell, and a grandson of Enoch Blaisdell, all of 
the same state. The father was born at Lebanon and the mother at Newfield 
and both are now deceased. 

Curtis W. Blaisdell continued to live in his native town until he was 

nineteen years of age. attending school in the meanwhile. He then came to 

Strafford county and for two winters afterward attended school in Rollinsford. 

By trade he is a carpenter and follows the same when not engaged with his farm, 

on which he settled in 1877. On December 5, 1893, he was married to Miss 

Belle Randall, who was born at North Berwick, Me., July 5, 1864, and is a 

daughter of Isaac S. and Olive (Coffin) Randall. The father of Mrs Blaisdell 
34 



578 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was a native of North Berwick, where the family is an old settled one, and 
he still lives there, being now in his Sjd year. The mother died May 17, 1909, 
having passed her seventy- fourth birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Blaisdell have one 
daughter, Edna M., who was born June 20, 1895, and is a student in the Dover 
High School. For several years Mr. Blaisdell has been a director of the 
Salmon Falls Bank. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Calvin 
Baptist church of South Berwick, while Mrs. Blaisdell is a member of the 
Old School Baptist church. 

HARLAN P. LORD, dairyman and milk dealer, who has resided on his 
present farm near Rollinsford, N. H., since 1909, was born May 30, 1880, 
at Effingham, Carroll county. N. H., and is a son of Thomas B. and Harriet P. 
(Burbank) Lord, and a grandson of Thomas and a great-grandson of Thomas 
B. Lord. It was the great-grandfather who came from England very many 
years ago, settling at Berwick, Me., where he reared his family. One of his 
sons, Thomas Lord, subsequently located in Carroll county, N. H.. and founded 
a settlement which perpetuates his name as Lord's Hill. There the father of 
1 larlan P. Lord was born and there he died when the latter was three years old. 

Harlan P. Lord attended the public schools of Efifingham and for two years 
was a student in a seminary at Parsonfield, Me. He was eighteen years old 
when he began to work in the milk business and for five years was in the 
employ of Childs' Bros., a large firm of Waltham, Mass. Later he was with 
H. P. Hood & Sons, well known wholesale and retail milk dealers, for four 
years, in their milk depot at Charlestown, Mass. He tluis had a large amount 
of practical experience in this industry and was well prepared to embark in it 
when he came to Rollinsford in May, 1909. He has built up a fine trade and has 
a paying milk route in Dover. His farm of fifty acres is devoted mainly 
to dairying and his sanitary and well equipped buildings are always ready 
for inspection. 

In June. 1909, Mr. Lord was married to Miss Celia R. Mudgett, a daughter 
of the late Willie Mudgett, of Conway Center, N. H. They have one son, 
Almon M., who was born June 18, 191 1. Mr. Lord is a very intelligent and 
progressive man and in his views on public questions is inclined to identify 
himself with what is known as the Progressive party. He belongs to the 
Hiram R. Roberts Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. 

IRA W. DUNTLEY, who is one of Milton's best known citizens, holds a 
record for continuous work in one line, having been engaged in horseshoeing 
for fifty-four years, in his own blacksmith shop, after three years' similar 
service during the Civil war, as a member of Company K, First R. I. Cavalry, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 579 

and of Company K, First N. H. Cavalry. He was born in the village of Milton, 
N. H., March i6, 1842, and is a son of Hazen and Phoebe (Laughton) Duntley. 

llazeu Duntley was reared in Vermont and New Hampshire, probably at 
Farmington, in the latter state, as he tlicre married Phoebe Laughton, who dierl 
when aged fifty-eight years. Tliey had eleven children, six of whom are still 
living. In 1838 Hazen Duntley built his blacksmith sliop on almost the same 
site as that now owned by his son, Ira \V., and followed the blacksmitli trade 
during all his active life, during the Civil war serving as a blacksmith for three 
years in the same regiments as his son. He was an expert workman and a 
dependable, honest man. In politics he was a Democrat and religiously was 
affiliated with tlie Free Baptist church. He died in 1884 in his eightieth year. 

Ira W. Duntley attended the \illage school and learned his trade with his 
father. After serving three years in the army, as noted above, he w as honorably 
discharged December 4, 1864, in Virginia, and returned then to Milton, where 
he has carried on his work as horseshoer and blacksmith to the present time. He 
is a member of and at times has been an official of Eli Wentworth Post, G. A. R., 
No. 89, at Milton and is greatly interested in Grand Anny aiTairs. In politics 
he gives support to the Democratic party but does not call himself a politician. 
Mr. Duntley married Miss Sarah A. Hodgeman, who was liorn near Lowell, 
Mass., and they have two datighters: Ada C, who is the wife of Robert 
Mcintosh, of j\IiIton; and Hattie M., who resides with her parents. Mr. 
Duntley and family attend the Free Baptist church. l<"br forty years he has 
been identified with the Milton lodge of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member 
of the Madokawando Tribe, No. 21, Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. 
Duntley is highly regarded as a neighbor and citizen, being a man of upright 
character and cliaritable impulses. 

DANIEL A. GAGE, a substantial and progressive farmer of Dover and 
a member of a well known family of this section, was born in the town of 
Dover, N. PL, February 25, 1853, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah ( Hersum) 
Gage, and a grandson of James Gage. Grandfather Gage established the 
family in the section known as Gage's Hill and there Daniel Gage resided all 
his life, dying some years since. He was a well known and respected citizen. 
His wife survived him for a few years. They had two children: Walter F., 
who is deceased ; and Daniel A. 

Daniel A. Gage was reared in the old home on Gage's Hill and continued to 
live there until he was thirty years of age. He attended the public schools 
and also Franklin Academy at Dover. About 1885 he located on his present 
valuable farm of 120 acres in the Blackwater District and gives attention 
to general farming and stock raising. In politics he votes with the Republican 



580 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

party and has served two terms as selectman from the First Ward. For 
many years he has taken a deep interest in the grange movement and belongs 
to Cocheco Grange No. 8i, Patrons of Husbandry, in which he has filled the 
office of steward, and also to Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange 
and to the New Hampshire State Gi-ange. Mr. Gage attends the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 

HON. PAUL LA BONTE. mayor of Somersworth, who conducts an 
up-to-date grocery store at No. 183 Main street, that city, was born at Salmon 
Falls, this county, in Feb. 1 1. 1876, a son of George and Margaret (Guilmette) 
La Bonte. The father was a native of Canada who came to the United States 
and Located at Gt. Falls, later removing to Salmon Falls, this county. He 
died here at the age of 82 years. He and his wife were the parents of 16 
children. 

Paul La Bonte began his education in the common school at Salmon Falls. 
N. H. He subsequently attended college at Levis, in the Province of Quebec. 
Canada. Returning to New Hampshire after his graduation, he entered the 
grocery business in Somersworth as clerk and applied himself to learn the 
trade. About nine years ago he bought out his employer and started his 
present business, dealing in a general line of groceries. He has always kept 
a high grade stock and has a large patronage. 

A Democrat in politics, he has been quite active in public affairs and has 
been elected to some important oflRces by his fellow citizens. He served as 
councilman from the Fourth Ward for four years, was city clerk four years, 
sanitary ofificer one term, and was elected mayor of the city in March, 19 12, 
in all of which positions, as well as in some others, he has served with efficiency 
and with an eye to the public interest. His society affiliations include member- 
ship in St. Jean Baptiste Society; Court Rochambeau, Catholic Order of 
Foresters ; Court St. Martin, A. C. A. : L'Union St. Jean Baptiste. of America; 
Artisans Canadiens Francais, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. 

Mr. La Bonte married Georgiana La Bonte. of Somersworth, N. H. They 
have had two adopted children — Eva, who died at the age of 16 years, and 
Raymond, who survives. The family belong to St. Martin Catholic church. 

A. NOEL SMITH, M. D., is one of the oldest medical and surgical prac- 
titioners in Dover, where he has successfully practiced his profession for 
the last thirty-five years. He was born in Meddybemps, Me.. July 29. 1851. 
a son of Dr. Samuel M. and Mary E. (Nickerson) Smith, the father, a 
graduate of Bowdoin. being a well known physician. I>r. Smith's elementarj- 
education was acquired in the public schools, and he subsequently attended 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 581 

Calais, Me., Academy, where he was graduated in 1868. From there he 
went to the medical school at Bowdoin college, graduating in 1872. After tak- 
ing a post-graduate course at Harvard in 1872- 1873, he began the practice of 
his profession in the year last mentioned at Silver City, Idaho, remaining 
there until 1878. He then returned east and located in Dover, where he has 
since remained. He is a member of the Dover, County, State, and American 
medical associations, and has served as president of both the Dover and 
County associations. He belongs also to the Masonic order and to the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a Republican, and was a 
member and chairman of the school board. 

Dr. Smith was first married, in 1874, to Miss Hattie M. McCann, whose 
death occurred in 1885. Three children blessed this union, namely: Arthur 
Thad, Laura H. and Ina E. Smith. In 1886 Dr. Smith married for his 
second wife. Miss Ella Dame, a daughter of Moses Dame. Dr. Smith is one 
of the best known and most popular medical men in Dover. Since coming 
here in the late seventies he has built up an excellent practice and made many 
fast friends. As a citizen lie is interested in every movement calculated to 
promote the moral or material welfare of the community in which he lives. 
He has a pleasant and commodious residence on Mt. Vernon street, while his 
office is located at No. 430 Central Avenue. 

FRANK L. HAYES, one of the reliable business men of Rollinsford, 
N. H., who is in the dairy business and operates a milk route in Dover, was 
born in South Farmington, N. H., May 14, 1852, and is a son of Charles C. 
and Elizabeth W. (Pollard) Hayes, and a grandson of Levi Hayes, who was 
a native of Barrington, N. H. 

Charles C. Hayes was born and reared at South Farmington, N. H. He 
married Elizabeth W. Pollard, who was born at Acton, Me. In the spring 
of i860 Charles C. Hayes moved to Rollinsford. N. H., settling on the fann 
which his son now owns and occupies. He followed farming and dairying and 
for 25 years during his early manhood taught winter terms of school. He 
was a man of solid character and educational acquirements, having enjoyed 
advantages at both Strafford and Gilmanton academies. For some years he 
was superintendent of the public schools of Rollinsford. In his political 
views he was a Republican. For a considerable period he was a member of 
the Masonic fraternity. His death occurred on his fanii July 7, 1888. He had 
survived his wife for sixteen years, she passing away March 14, 1872. She 
was the mother of two children: Nellie F.. who is the wife of Albert Elliot, of 
Rollinsford : and Frank L. 

Frank L. Hayes was eight years old when his parents settled in Rollinsford, 



582 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

where he attended the public schools and, later, Franklin academy at Dover, 
N. H. He was reared to farm pursuits and has made dairying a specialty. 
After many years of business association with his fellow citizens his record 
shows that he is respected and esteemed by them and is held as a man of 
sterling character. 

Mr. Hayes married Miss Jennie S. Home, who died December 2^, 1912. 
Her parents were Augustus E. and Rebecca (Carley) Home, formerly of 
Rochester, N. H., but both now deceased. Mrs. Hayes was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, attending church at Dover. In politics Mr. Hayes 
is a Republican. He takes much interest in progressive agriculture and is a 
charter member of the Hiram R. Roberts Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. 
Mrs. Hayes also belonged to this organization. 

HON. ALBERT F. SEAVEY, now deceased, for many years was closely 
identified with the business life of Dover and with public affairs in Strafford 
county. He was born December 29, 1843, in the town of Rochester, Strafford 
county, N. H., and died at Dover, December 14, 1909. His parents, Samuel F. 
and Eliza (Ham) Seavey, were lifelong residents of New Hampshire. 

Albert F. Seavey grew to manhood on the home farm, where he gave his 
father assistance while attending the public schools and the Rochester 
Academy, and then came to Dover, where he was an employe of a shoe factory 
for four years. Afterward, in association with his brother, J. F. Seavey, 
he established the clothing firm of J. F. Seavey & Co., with which he remained 
connected during life. During the last eight or ten years of his life he was 
also owner and proprietor of the Albert F. Seavey Co., dealers in lumber. He 
Charles H. Seavey & Co., dealers in lumber. While his business concerns 
profited by his judgment and foresight, he yet found time to take part in 
public affairs, for which his natural gifts well fitted him, and he served in 
numerous responsible elective and appointive positions. In politics he was 
a Democrat and in 1874 and 1875 served as a member of the common council 
of Dover, representing the Fourth Ward, and in 1876 and 1877 was a member 
of the New Hampshire legislature. In 1874 he served as a member of the 
staff of Governor James A. Weston. In every position he sen'ed with the 
integrity that marks the honorable and unselfish public man. 

On July 31, 1883, Mr. Seavey was married to Miss Marietta Fogg, a 
daughter of Charles F. and Rebecca F. (Webster) Fogg, of Dover, and they 
had five children: Alice Mary, Marion Webster, Harold Leon, Helen Grace 
and Katharine Fogg. The family attend the St. Thomas Episcopal church. 
Mr. Seavey was a thirty-second degree Mason and belonged also to Olive 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 583 

Branch Lodge No. 6, Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank; to the Knights of 
Honor and to the Improved Order of Red Men. 

CHARLES ALBERT FAIRBANKS, M. D., was born in Portsmouth, 
N. H., December 17, 1849; removed to Dover with his parents in 1855, and 
has since resided here. He was a student in the Dover High School for 
three years and entered the Chandler Scientific Department of Dartmouth 
College, from which he was graduated in the full course in 1871. He studied 
medicine in the ofiice of Dr. John Randolph Ham and in the Harvard Medical 
School, from which he was graduated in 1877. 

He is son of Albert Augustus and Lydia L. (Brock) Fairbanks, the former 
of whom was born in Dedham, Mass., October 21, 1821, and died in Dover, 
February 19, 1890, where he had resided for thirty years, the larger part 
of which time as an expert machinist for the Cocheco Manufacturing Company. 
His wife was born in Barrington, N. H., September 21, 1821, and was daughter 
of Ralph and Dorothy (Young) Brock. She died in Dover, January 19, 1892. 

Dr. Fairbanks is ninth in descent from Jonathan Fairbanke ( Fairbank, 
Fairbanks) of Dedham, Mass., the immigrant ancester, who was born in 
England before 1600, came with his family to Boston in 1633, and settled in 
Dedham in 1635, where he resided until his death, December 5, 1668. The 
large two-story mansion house which he built in that town is now the property 
of the Fairbanks Family Association. 

Dr. Fairbanks' grandfather, Capt. Abner Fairbanks, lived in Forborough, 
Mass. He served in the War of 1812. He was son of Abner Fairbanks of 
Dedham, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary anny, serving several years. 
These two ancestors were substantial citizens and well-to-do farmers. The 
ancestors intervening between these and the immigrant were John 5th, Joseph 
4th. Joseph 3d, John 2d. They were all born in Dedham and resided there, 
good, reputable, prosperous citizens. Former Vice President Fairbanks is 
8th in descent from the same immigrant ancestor, and the list of his descendants 
contains the names of many illustrious men. 

On graduating from Dartmouth College in 1871 Dr. Fairbanks engaged in 
mechanical drafting at Boston, in the employ of the National Bridge and Iron 
Works, and after a year and a half went to work in the same capacity for the 
Flint & Marquette Railroad Company, at East Saginaw, Mich. After three 
years of this kind of work he concluded to give it up and take up the study 
of medicine. On returning to Dover he was appointed station agent here for 
the Portsmouth Railroad Company, and a year later began the study of 
medicine in the office of Dr. John R. Ham, reinaining with him one year. He 
then entered Harvard Medical School, from which he was graduated M. D. in 



584 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

the class of 1877. After a brief stay in Fall River, Mass., where he began the 
pracuce of his profession, he came, on March 18, 1878, to Dover and opened 
an office here, where he has since remained. For thirty-six years he has 
occupied the same office rooms continuously; no other physician has a like 
record in one office apartment. 

In 1878 Dr. Fairbanks was elected county physician and held the office 
successfully and satisfactorily four years. He has sen'ed as city physician 
fifteen years; a member of the Board of Health ten years. He has been a 
member of the School Committee continuously since 1882, and chairman of 
that committee six years and at present holds the position ; his long experi- 
ence and good judgment in school matters and progressive education make 
him one of the most valuable members of the board. He was secretary of the 
board fourteen consecutive years, and his records are models of neatness and 
correctness. He has been trustee of the public library three years; trustee of 
the Pine Hill Cemetery three years; moderator of Ward Three for sixteen 
annual elections. He has been water commissioner twelve years, being a 
member of the original board when the works were established by the city and 
holding the office continuously. He has served as a member of the Pension 
Board since 1897. 

Dr. Fairbanks became a member of Strafford County Medical Society in 
1878, and has been its secretary twenty years, but not continuously. He has 
served as president of it two years and has read several valuable papers 
before it. 

Dr. Fairbanks was mayor of Dover three years, 1898, 1899 ^"<^ 1900. 
In his first year many improvements were made in streets and sewers and 
extension of the water pipes into new territory, but the chief contest was 
over the question of purchasing a steam road-roller. After several trials in 
the councils the proposition was defeated. The chief event of Mayor Fair- 
banks' third year was the construction of the new engine-house on Broadway 
fo- '' fire department, to take the place of the Lincoln hook and ladder house 
on First street. There was the usual amount of discussion as to location and 
plans, but it was finally placed on Broadway, where the Free Baptist Church 
stood at a cost of $9,200. It is a model of convenience for fire purposes and 
is centrally located. Mayor Fairbanks veiT properly felt proud of his achieve- 
ments in this work. His three years' service make a record of prudent man- 
as^ement of city finances, so far as he could control business, and many improve- 
ments \vere made iii many iiarts of the city. 

In the later years Dr. Fairbanks was representative from Ward Three 
in the General Court in 1907-8 and ic)09-io, serving on important committees 
with credit for his good judgment of bills and public measures and his readv 



AND REPRESKNTATIYI': CITIZENS 585 

and intelligent discussion in committee meetings, and he is a ready and inter- 
esting speaker. He was member of the Republican State Central Committee 
for eight years, during important campaigns. He has been chairman of the 
Republican City Committee ten years or more. So it is apparent that Dr. 
Fairbanks has been a very busy and very useful citizen during his thirty-six 
years of professional life in Dover. He is an orator of exceptional ability, 
and a ready debater when it becomes necessary to enter into a contest on 
any cjuestion of public policy. He is a very entertaining conversationalist, and 
as a public official, conservative, capable and of rigid probity- 
October 21. 1884, Dr. Fairbanks was united in marriage with Miss Emma 
Belle Caswell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Caswell. She was a 
woman of marked ability, and before marriage had been a successful teacher 
in the public schools; a most excellent lady in every way. She died May -'X, 
1888. They had no children. 

CHARLES W. EVANS, one of the representative men of Strafiford 
county and chairman of the board of assessors, is in the sixth generation of 
his family. He owns fifty acres of land located one and one-half miles from 
the city of Rochester. He was born on the old farm in January, 1842, and 
is a son of William and Hannah (Shannon) Evans. The father spent his 
entire life on this farm and died at the age of seventy-nine years. 

Charles W. Evans is one of a family of eleven children born to his parents 
and all of those who reached maturity attended the Rochester schools. He 
remained with his father until he was thirty years of age, after which for 
some years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in other sections, spending 
ten years in Belknap county, after which he returned to the old home town. 

Mr. Evans married Miss Clara A. Young and they have two sons : William 
J., head bookkeeper for the S. S. Pierce Company, Boston, who married 
Ethie Calnan; and Fred A., with the Grimes Wholesale Produce Company. 
Dover, who married Mary Martin. In politics Mr. Evans is a Republican and 
he has been elected to many local offices, many years ago serving three terms 
as selectman. Since January, 1910. he has been a member of the board of 
assessors, of which he has been chairman for two years. Fraternally he is 
identified with the .\. O. U. W., the Red Men and the Patrons of Husbandry. 
^^'ith his family Mr. Evans attends the Baptist church. The family residence 
is at No. 115 Charles street, Rochester. 

EDWARD C. BATCHELDER, M. D., one of Dover's physicians and 
surgeons, was born in New Hampshire. October 17, 1878, one of the two 
children of Nathaniel M. and Clara (Carpenter) Batchelder. The subject 



586 . HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of this sketch was graduated from the public schools of Pittsfield, and after- 
ward attended Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1898, and in 1904 
was graduated from the Dartmouth Medical School. He was subsequently, 
for two years, a surgeon in Bellevue Hospital, New York, where he had 
abundant opportunity for becoming acquainted with the practical part of his 
profession. In 1906 he located in Dover, where he has since remained, and 
where he has already built up a good practice, having offices in the Masonic 
Temple. He is identified with the Masonic Order, and in politics is a 
Republican. 

November 17, 1905, Dr. Batchelder married Miss Gertrude Kaime, a 
daughter of Frank E. Kaime, of St. Louis, Mo., and of this union there is 
one child, Edna G. Dr. Batchelder and family are affiliated with the Episco- 
pal church, their residence being at 250 Washington street, Dover. 

HARRY P. HENDERSON, one of Dover's most progressive citizens, 
who is identified with the insurance and real estate business, including surety 
bonds, having offices at 478 Central Avenue, is one of a family of two children 
bom to his parents, John H. and Maria Henderson. The father, now deceased, 
was formerly extensively engaged in the manufacturing business in this county. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Dover, N. H., October 30, 1872. 
Graduating from the public schools in 1891, he then engaged in the inanufac- 
ture of brick and was thus occupied until 1897, when he entered into his present 
business, in whicii he has been very successful. He is a member of the 
Masonic order and has been eminent commander of St. Paul Commandery, 
K. T., since 1910. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Aside from 
his regular business above mentioned, he is a director in the Merchants' 
National Bank and a trustee of the Merchants' Savings Bank. In politics he 
is a Republican. In 1895 Mr. Henderson married Miss Alberta Parker, a 
daughter of Dr. Henry R. Parker, of Dover, and he and his wife are the 
parents of two children — Maud O. and Ella P. 

JOHN D. O'DOHERTY, one of Dover's prominent physicians and sur- 
geons, was born in Ireland, August 15, 1867, a son of William and Jane 
(Agnew) O'Doherty. His father was also a native of Ireland, where he fol- 
lowed the vocation of a farmer. 

The subject of this sketch acquired his elementary education in the public 
schools of his native town. He then for some time attended the University 
of Dublin, Ireland. After coming to America he became a student at Harvard 
College, and later, in 1888, was graduated from the Georgetown University, 
with the degree of A. M. For a short time subsequently he resided in Boston, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 587 

whence he came to Dover. After remaining here awhile, however, lie returned 
to Boston, residing there three years. Returning again to Dover in 1890, he 
has since remained a resident of this city. He l>elongs to the local medical 
society, the Strafford County Medical Society, and the American Medical 
Association. He was city physician of Dover for two years, and is now serv- 
ing as county physician. As a physician and surgeon he ranks among the 
foremost in this county. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks and the Eagles, 
and politically he is a Republican, but has ne\er found time to take part in 
public affairs. He has a conxenient olfice at No. 5 Locust street. 

FRANK E. HUSSEY, a representative and useful citizen of Rochester, 
who is setn'ing in the office of city clerk, is a native of California, born at 
Vallejo, May 9, 1870, a son of Daniel and Mary (Evans) Hussey. Daniel 
Hussey. a blacksmith by trade, was born in New Hampshire and moved to 
California prior to the birth of his son. In 1882 he returned to his native 
state and died at Rochester at the age of seventy-nine years. 

Frank E. Hussey was twelve years old when his parents returned to New 
Hampshire from California, where he had attended the public schools. His 
first employment was in the office of a manufacturing company at Rochester, 
where he remained three years, after which for seventeen years he was with 
the C. F. Trask Manufacturing Company. His election to the ofiice of city 
clerk, in January, 19 13, showed public recognition of his general reliability 
and high standing as a citizen. In politics he is a Republican and at times he 
has served as a member of the school board. Mr. Hussey was married in 1897 
to Miss Emma Wentworth, and they have two children, Charles D. and Frank 
W. Mr. Hussey and family attend the Baptist church. Fraternally he is 
identified with the Odd Fellows and the A. O. U. W. 

JOHN L. SWEENEY, M. D., is a native son, having been born in Dover, 
February 28. 1880. He is one of the family of seven children bom to Patrick 
and Margaret (Mahoney) Sweeney. The father. Patrick Sweeney, was a 
native of Ireland, who emigrated to this country and engaged in mercantile 
business in Dover, N. H. 

John L. Sweeney was educated in the parochial schools of Dover, graduat- 
ing in 1893. He continued his education in St. Anselm's College at Manches- 
ter, N. H., where he was graduated in 1899. and subsequently studied medicine 
and surgery in the McGill Uni\ersity of Canada, and the Queen's University, 
of Ontario, taking his medical degree at the latter institution in 1908. In the 
following year he located in Dover, where he has since remained, having 
alreadv built up an excellent practice. He is a member of the Dover Medical 



588 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Society, the Strafford County Medical Society, the New Hampshire State Med- 
ical Society and the American Medical Association, and thus keeps in close 
touch with the progress of his profession both in medicine and surgery. The 
Doctor is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and in politics is a Democrat. 
His office is located in the Bracewell Block, at 430 Central Avenue. 

F. W. CLANCY, who is manager of the box department of the New- 
England Cotton Yarn Company, at Rochester, with plant situated on Allen 
street, has held his present position since 191 1, coming here from New Bedford, 
Mass. He was bom at Santa Fe, New Mexico, December 11, 1886, and is a 
son of H. S. and Susan (Harrison) Clancy. H. S. Clancy was born in Phila- 
delphia, Pa. For many years he has been a member of the Santa Fe bar and 
is now assistant attorney general of New Mexico, his brother being attorney 
general of the state. He married Susan Harrison and they have five children. 

F. W. Clancy attended school at Fannington, N. H., and later took a busi- 
ness course in the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, Boston. Before 
coming to Rochester he was in business as a broker, first at Fall River and 
afterward at New Bedford, Mass. The New England Cotton Yarn Company 
in its box department turns out wooden boxes and shooks and employment is 
given eighty men, it being an important industry here. Mr. Clancy married 
Miss Eda F. Barker, of Farmington, and they have one son, Frank B. In 
politics Mr. Clancy is a Republican. 

ORRIN E. NASON, who is a member of one of the old families of Dover, 
has long been a representative citizen, deeply concerned in all measures that 
promise to l>e advantageous to his native section of the country. He was born 
at Dover, N. H., September 13, 1849, and is a son of Elisha and Julia A. 
( Jenness) Nason. 

Elisha Nason was born at Eliot, Me., a son of James Nason. who was of 
Scotch ancestry. When a young man, Elisha Nason came to Dover and here 
followed his trade of carpenter and joiner more or less during his whole life. 
He owned a tract of land and made his home on it, having it under cultivation. 
He died in 1870, a man well thought of by his fellow citizens. Of his children 
there are three survivors: Elizabeth H., who is the wife of Rev. George H. 
Wallace, of Lawrence, Mass.; Orrin E., of Dover; and Clinton L., who is a 
resident of Nashua, N. H. 

Orrin E. Nason attended the district schools in boyhood and afterward 
learned the shoemaking trade, which he followed at Dover for a number of 
years before turning his attention to his present industries, general farming, 
gardening and poultry raising. He owns seventeen acres of excellent land and 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 589 

Mr. Nason has found it profitable to devote a part of it to his fine poultry, his 
favorite breed being the Rhode Island Red. Mr. Nason has been very active 
in public alYairs, although always independent in his political affiliations. For 
a number of years he served as road surveyor of his district and since the fall 
of 1905 has served continuously as selectman from the Fourtli Ward. 

On March 2, 1873, Mr. Nason was married to Miss Abbie F. Downes. who 
was born at Dorchester, Mass., September 25, 1849, a daughter of James M. 
Downes. As in many other old New England families, Indian treachery caused 
the death of one of the founders of the Downes family, Gershom Downes fall- 
ing a victim with a number of his neighbors many years ago. Mrs. Nason was 
a child when her father moved to Strafford county, where she has lived ever 
since. Mr. and Mrs. Nason have two children : Marcia N.. w ho is the w idow 
of Perley Sanders, of Durham, N. H. ; and E. Leroy. \vho is a resident of 
W est L}nin, Mass. 

CHARLES WESLEY T.XSKER, D. D. S., one of the first and most 
prominent dentists in Dover, having handsomely furnished offices in the Union 
Block, 123 \\'ashington street, was born in Rochester, Strafford County, N. H., 
September 17, 1845, a son of Thomas J. and Comfort ( Bickford) Tasker. The 
father, who was a native of Madbury, this county, worked at the carpenter's 
trade in various places during the earlier years of his manhood. Afterward he 
turned his attention to agriculture, purchasing a farm in Rochester, where he 
resided until his death, December 4, 1886, at the age of seventy-six years. His 
wife. Comfort, who was a native of Rochester, survived him but two weeks, 
passing away December 19, i88r>, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. They 
were the parents of seven sons, namely: George H., John C, Charles \\'., 
Enoch O., Thomas J., Jr., Eli B. and James F. George H., Thomas J., Jr., and 
James F. are now deceased. George H., who was the eldest son, served in the 
Civil War with the Forty-first Massachusetts Infantry under General Banks, 
and died of fever at Baton Rouge, La. 

Charles Wesley Tasker lived on the home farm during his boyhood, attend- 
ing successively the district schools of Rochester and Franklin Academy in 
Dover. When about twenty years old he began business life as a clerk in a 
boot and shoe store in this city, continuing thus employed for three years. 
Having saved some money, he then began studying with Dr. Murphy, a well 
known dentist, and a year later he completed his dental education in Boston. 
Thereupon, returning to Dover, he opened an office here in April, 1869. He 
has since continued in the practice of his profession, building up an extensive 
and finely paying patronage, and acquiring among his regular customers some 
of the leading families of Dover and vicinity. In politics he is a Republican, 



590 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

but has never sought official honors, the duties of his profession requiring his 
entire time and attention. 

On October 9, 1869, Dr. Tasker was married to Miss Maria B. Newcomb, 
a native of Haverill, Mass., and a daughter of Captain Jesse S. Newcomb, 
who was a sea captain for many years. Of the three children born to Dr. and 
Mrs. Tasker, two successively named Grace, are deceased. The elder died in 
infancy and the second daughter at the age of six years and six months. Both 
parents are members of the First Congregational church. 

HON. J. FRANK SEAVEY. president of the Dover Co-operative Bank, 
and head of the J. Frank Seavey Lumber Company, manufacturers and deal- 
ers in pine, hemlock and hard wood lumber, is one of the best known citizens 
and leading business men of Strafford County, of which he is a native son. 
His parents were Samuel F. and Eliza K. (Ham) Seavey, and his paternal 
grandfather, Samuel Seavey, was a Rochester farmer, who served in the 
War of 1812-15. The maternal grandfather of our subject was also a soldier 
in that war. 

Samuel F. Sea\ey, father of J. Frank, was born in Rochester, this county. 
and spent his active years in farming. He was quite successful and at liis 
death, which took place when he was se\enty-t\vo years of age, he left a 
considerable property. A stanch Democrat politically, he took an acti\e ]>art 
in local affairs. He was a man of firm religious principles and lie and his 
wife were active and valued members of the Free Baptist church. The latter 
— in maidenhood, Eliza K. Ham — was. like himself, a lifelong resident of 
Rochester, N. H. They had a family of seven children, namely : James 
Frank, subject of this sketch; Mary J., Elizabeth A., Albert F., Joseph W., 
Charles, who died in infancy, and Charles H. 

J. Frank Seavey was born in Rochester, N. H., August 14, 1838. He 
spent his early years on the home farm and began his education in the public 
schools, subsequently attending the private school of Miss Caroline Knight, 
of Rochester, and later the Franklin Academy, of Dover. Leaving home 
at the age of nineteen years, he began his business career in Dover as clerk 
in a drygoods and grocery store, in which occupation he continued for eight 
years, learning every detail of the business. He was for some years subse- 
quently engaged in the clothing business, in partnership with his brother, 
Albert F., now deceased. Afterwards he became associated successively with 
various business enterprises, either as projector or director, and, as already 
stated, is now head of the well known lumber firm — the J. Frank Seavey 
Lumber Co. In these various positions he has shown large business capacity, 
evincing accurate foresight of probable conditions, comprehensive knowledge 




J. FRANK SEAVEY 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 593 

of detail, and firm executive ability — qualities that spell success. Always a 
man of his word, he has the confidence both of his patrons and of his business 
associates. 

Thus richly endowed, it is but natural that Mr. Seavey should have been 
called on at various times to take part in public life. In 1867, when he was 
twenty-nine years old, he was elected a member of the common council of 
Dover, in which he served with credit for two years. For two years also 
he was selectman of his ward, and for the same length of time ward clerk. 
From 1869 to 1872 he served as county treasurer. In 1878 and for three 
years thereafter he was a member of the Legislature, and in 1881 was chosen 
a member of the State Senate, in 1S83, receiving the unusual honor of a 
re-election. He was for two years — 1903 and 1904 — a member of Gov. Na- 
hum J. Backelder's council. 

He is a Knight Templar Mason ; belongs also to the Knights of Pythias, 
of which order he was grand chancellor in 1876, and in 1S78 and 1879 
supreme representative ; and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, hav- 
ing passed all the chairs of \^'echohamet Lodge of Dover, and being also a 
member of the Encampment. 

James Frank Seavey was married, April 20, 1863, to Sarah F., daughter 
of Daniel K. and Hannah (Hani) Webster, of Dover, N. H. Of this mar- 
riage there have been two children, namely : Grace W., the wife of Montgom- 
ery Rollins, and Walter H., who married Mabel Foster. Mrs. Sarah F. 
Seavey died in 1900. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
of which Mr. Seavey is a regular attendant, and to the support of which he 
is a generous contributor. He takes a great interest in anything pertaining 
to the good of his home town and county. 

J. HERBERT WILLEY, postmaster at Milton, N. H., and proprietor of 
a drug store, was born at Salmon Falls, N. H., May 27, 1875, and is a son of 
James F. and Frances P. (Davis) Willey, and a grandson of A. C. Willey, of 
English and Scotch ancestry, on the paternal side, and of John B. Davis on the 
maternal side. James P. Willey was born at Wakefield, N. H. 

J. Herbert Willey was reared at Salmon Falls, where he attended school 
and also at the South Berwick Academy. He was graduated from the Massa- 
chusetts College of Pharmacy at Boston, after which he came to Milton to go 
into business. He bought the drug store of Henry Hayes, renewed his stock 
and made the improvements which have converted this into one of the most 
modern drug stores in the state. In politics he is a loyal Democrat and on 
August 13, 19 1 3, he was appointed postmaster to succeed Joseph H. .Avery. 
Milton is a thriving village and is constantly growing so that there is consider- 



594 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

able business done liere and its volume is reflected in the postoffice. Mr. W'illey 
has H. D. Coles as his assistant. Mr. Willey is a thirty-second degree Mason 
and a Knight Templar. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church 
and is a member of Christ church at Salmon Falls, N. H. 

CHARLES H. BRADLEY, who for some years has been successfully 
engaged in the real estate business in Dover, N. H., was born in Danville, 
X. H., March 3, 1863, a son of John C. and Mary (Emerson) Bradley, the 
father being a well known merchant. After graduating from the New Hamp- 
shire Literary Institute in 1884, the subject of this sketch began his business 
experience in his father's store, where he remained from 1884 until October, 
1893. He then came to Dover and organized what was the C. E. Brewster 
Company, now the C. E. Brewster Drug Company, which he carried on until 
about 1898. He then went to Boston, where he was engaged for some years in 
the brokerage business. Returning to Do\er in 1909, he here entered into the 
real estate and fire insurance business, in w hich he has been since engaged. He 
i-^ affiliated with the Dover Grange, and was one of the organizers of the 
Grange in his home tDwn of Danville. He also belongs to the Masonic order, 
having membership in the Blue lodge at Kingston, N. H. ( No. 84. F. & .A. M.). 
the Chapter, and St. Paul Commandery, Dover. He is a member also of the 
Bellamy Club of Dover. 

Mr. Bradley married Miss Mary Spaulding, of Northampton, Mass., the 
wedding taking place in September, 1893. One child was the result of this 
union — Josephine May, who is now attending high school. Mrs. Bradley died 
March 28, 1897. She was an estimable lady, a consistent member of the Con- 
gregational church of Northampton, Mass., and a good wife, mother and 
neighlx)r. Mr. Bradley is a progressive, up-to-date citizen, who takes a lively 
interest in the welfare of his adopted city, and whose aid and influence can 
always be enlisted in behalf of good government, or any practical movement 
for the moral or material betterment of the community. 

HON. DANIEL CHESLEY, senator from the 22d senatorial district of 
New Hampshire, comprising the towns of Durham, Madbury, Lee and Rollins- 
ford, and Wards i. 2 and 3 of Dover, is a resident of Durham, and a man well 
known throughout this section of the state for his pronfinence in public affairs 
and his ability as a legislator and a conservator of the public interests. He 
was born in Madbury, October 11, 1859, a son of Daniel and Margery Steele 
(Woodman) Chesley. His father was a native of Madbury and his mother 
of Durham. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Paul Chesley, a pronfinent 



AND RRPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



595 



citizen of Durham, who was sixth in descent from Philip Chesley, wlio came 
to Old Dover from Enghmd before 1O44, as that town gave him a grant of 
land on the west shore of Little Bay; later he received other grants, one of 
which includes the farm <,n which Daniel Chesley, the subject of this sketch, 
now resides. Philip Chesley is frequently mentioned in the old records of the 
town, showing he was one of the substantial and influential citizens. His 
descendants have resided continuously in that part of old Dover, now Durham, 
to the present time, and in each generation members of the family ha\e been 
among its most worthy and esteemed citizens. 

Mr. Chesley's ancestor on the maternal side, in the first generation, in that 
part of old Dover now Durham, was Capt. John W'oodman, who came here 
from Newbury, Mass., about 1650, and in a few years built the historic Wood- 
man garrison, which stood in the neighborhood of where the State College 
now is, but. unfortunately, was burned in 189S. Capt. Woodman was one of 
the most prominent and influential citizens of old Dover, and of the Province 
of New Hampshire. 

Daniel Chesley, father of the present Daniel, resided all his life in Durham, 
where he engaged in agriculture, and at different times held town offices. He 
and his wife Margery were the parents of ten children, of whom seven now 
survive, including the subject of this sketch. The other si.x survivors are: 
Mrs. Rosetta Roberts, who resides with her brother Daniel; Charles P., a 
resident of Dover, N. H. ; Annie M., wife of Jackson Kiml>all. of Hermon, 
Me. ; Laura A., wife of Frank D. Randall, of Lee, N. H. ; Mrs. Carrie O. 
Davis, of Framengham, Mass.; and Addie M., wife of David W. Mannock, 
of Pittsfield, Me. The father, Daniel Chesley ( i st ) , was a Jacksonian Demo- 
crat in politics, and a member of and deacon in the Baptist church at Durham. 
Daniel Chesley, his son's namesake, with whom we are mnre directl)- C(in- 
cerned, was in his third year when the family removed from Madbury to 
Durham, and he was there reared to man's estate. Mr. Chesley was educated 
in the public schools of Durham, w hich have always been good schools, and in 
Franklin Academy at Dover. Since his school days and while engaged in 
the affairs of business life, he has kept himself posted in current affairs of the 
day and in his spare time given attention to good reading matter, which makes 
him an intelligent observer and judge of public affairs. 

On reaching his majority he engaged in business as a general contractor, 
which has been his principal occupation ever since, he at times having as many 
as 80 men in his employ. A man of first rate business ability, thorough in his 
methods, and having great natural tact in the handling of men, he has achieved 
a financial success along business lines. His farm already referred to contains 



35 



596 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

lOO acres, well cultivated, and he has also extensive interests in stone (luarries. 
He is also a director in the Merchants and Farmers National Bank. 

A Republican in politics, Mr. Chesley has for years taken an active part 
in [nihlic aii'airs. He was formerly for five years a selectman of Durham, serv- 
ing two years as chairman of the board. He also held other local offices there. 
In 1897 and 1898 he served as a representative from Durham to the state legis- 
lature, and while a member of the lower house aided largely in getting the 
appropriation for the New Hampshire State College at Durham. In Decem- 
ber, 1902, he was one of the members of the State Constitutional Convention 
held at Concord. 

Mr. Chesley was elected senator from the 22d senatorial district in 19 12, 
in a closely contested canvass, which shows he is popular with his party and 
has the confidence of the public in general. In the Senate of the New Hamp- 
shire General Court .Mr. Che.sley was acti\e and efficient in guarding the rights 
and interests of the people, and in support of his pariv and its principles. 
Among other things he was one of the most influential members of the com- 
mittee that framed and seconded the passage of the law relating to the liens 
of mechanics and nthers. 

Mr. Chesley has a wide acquaintance throughout StrafTord County and 
few men. if any, are held in higher esteem by the citizens generally. He is a 
member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge, I. O. O. 1'".. of Dover; of Sullivan Lodge, 
K. of P., at Durham, N. H.. and of Scamniel Grange. Patrons of Plusbandry, 
at Durham: also of the Society of New Hampshire Sons of the American 
Revolution, by right of the service of the great great-grandfather. Samuel 
Chesley was a private soldier in Capt. Philip Chesley's company (his uncle) on 
Seavey's Island, Portsmouth Harbor, from October, 1775, until August, 1776, 
active in defense of the town against any attack the British warships might 
make against that town and New Hampshire. In 1777 Samuel Chesley was 
a private soldier in Capt. George Tuttle's company. Col. Stephen E\an's regi- 
ment, in the battles of Stillwater and Bemis' Heights, and at the surrender of 
General Burgoyne and the British army at Saratoga, October 18, 1777. 

GEORGE T. HUGHES, of Dover, attorney-at-law, and countv solicitor 
of Strafford County, N. H., was born in Dover, this countv, September 2, 
1873. a son of Frank and Helen (Barker) Hughes. The father, Frank 
Hughes, was a carriage painter by trade, which he followed all his active life. 
His death took place in 1878. 

The subject of this sketch, who is one of two children born to his parents, 
was educated first at public and parochial schools, then at Holy Cross College, 
graduating in 1S94. He then went to the office of Judge Pike to study law. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 597 

He was admitted to the bar in March, 1898, and practiced law in partnership 
with Judge Kivel until May 26, 1913, when the latter was appointed to the 
Superior Court bench. In 1902 Mr. Hughes was elected city solicitor and 
held that office up to and including the year 191 1. He was elected to his 
present position as county solicitor in ic}io. and re-elected in 191 2. He also 
ser\'ed as clerk of the police c(jurt five }'ears. 

Mr. Hughes married Miss Nellie Parle, a daughter of Thomas Parle, and 
they have a family of three daughters. They all belong to the Catholic church 
and Mr. Hughes is also a member of Council No. 807, Knights of ColumI>us 
at Dover. The family residence is at No. 35 Elm street. 

HON. J( )IIX T \I'Lb:V W ELCH, postmaster of Dover, N. H., was born 
in Dover, Decemlier 15, \S^f\ ime of five children of Joseph W. and Mary P2. 
(Tapley) Welch, lie is of the se\'enth generation in .America, his emigrant 
ancestor being Philip Welch, who came to Ipswich, Alass., from Ireland in 

1654- 

His great grandfather was Col. Joseph Welch, an of^cer in the Revolution- 
ary war and man of affairs. His father, Joseph Williams Welch, was born 
at Atkinson, N. H., January 27, 1817, and died October 25, 1S77. In early 
life a tanner and currier and later a successful school teacher, he then learned 
the machinist trade, and was for twenty-eight years master mechanic for the 
Cocheco Manufacturing Company, and was not only a master of his profes- 
sion, Imt was a public spirited man. As a member of the School Committee he 
took a leading part in the estalilisbment and promotion of the Dover High 
School, and was alderman in 1866-7-8. He was a member of the First Church 
of Dover, and for many years superintendent of its Sunday School. 

He was Eminent Commander of St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar, 
of Dover, in 1870-71-72, and held various offices in the Grand Commandery 
of New Hampshire, declining further promotion on account of his serious 
illness, which resulted in his death. 

John T. Welch, the direct subject of this sketch, was educated in the public 
schools of his native city and at Dartmouth College. After completing his 
education he devoted several years to newspaper work. He has always been a 
Republican in politics and has served his native city as school committee, 
1885-8; trustee of Public Library, 1883-8; clerk of Police Court in 1881-82, 
and was also from. 1882-87 Register of Probate for Strafford County. He 
was chosen a Representative to the Legislature in 1S88, and State Senator in 
1896. He was chief time clerk. Government Printing Office, Washington, 
D. C, from February, 1890, to July, 1894. From August, 1894, to May, 1898, 
he was employed by the late Hon. Frank Jones at Portsmouth, N, H. 



598 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

He became postmaster of Dover, May 24, 1898, and lias held the office ever 
since the above appointment and by three successive reappointments. 

His management of this important trust has been systematic and efficient. 
On May 30, 1910, tlie Post Office was transferred to the beautiful and con- 
venient U. S. Government building, costing $100,000-, which was secured 
through the eft'orts of Mr. Welch, seconded by the co-operation of the delega- 
tion in Congress. Mr. Welch is affiliated fraternally with the Odd Fellows, 
the Knights of Fythias and the Elks. He-is a member of the Xew Hampshire 
Historical Society, the Sons of the American l-ievolution, the Dover Historical 
Society and the New Hampshire Genealogical Society. He married Elizabeth 
A. McDaniel, daughter of the late Virgil Homer McDaniel. Tliey have one 
son, George Gregg Welch, a ci\ il engineer employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee 
and St. Paul Railway Company. 

ALVIN JNHTCHELL, one of Dover's well known citizens and a veteran 
of the great Civil war, was born September 25, 1840, in New Durham, N. H., 
and is a son of Samuel and Sallie (Drew) Mitchell, the father a native of New- 
Durham and the mother of Brookfield, X. H. Samuel Mitchell was a son of 
Samuel Mitchell and a grandson of John Mitchell, who was a Re\'oluli(.)nary 
soldier and the founder of the family in New Durham. Samuel Mitchell, Jr., 
was a farmer in New Durham and there spent his life. In early years he was 
a Whig and later becaine identified w ith the Republican party. Of his chil- 
dren three survive: Alvin; Joseph, of Milton, N. H. ; and Susan E., widow^ 
of John L. Sbortridge, who is a resident of Do\er. 

Alvin Mitchell attended the district schools in boyhood, but his education 
was mainly secured later in life through reading and association with others. 
In the second year of the Ci\'il war, on August 14, 1862, he entered the service 
of his country by enlisting in Company K, 12th N. H. Volunteer Infantry, 
which was attached to the Army of the Potomac ami later was incorporated 
with the Army of the James. Mr. Mitchell fought bravely at Fredericksburg, 
Gettysburg, Swift Creek, Drury's Bluff' without Ijeing injured, but at the 
battle of Cold Harbor he was struck by a bullet in his left arm and had to 
go to the hospital. It was some time I)efore the wuund healed enougli to 
permit him to return to his regiment. He participated in the siege of Peters- 
burg and then accompanied his regiment to Bermuda Hundred. The com- 
mand remained on the north side of the James river, in Virginia from Novem- 
ber, 1864, until April, 1865. When Richmond was evacuated by the Con- 
federates the 1 2th New Hampshire was a part of the first brigade that 
proudly marched through the fallen city. Mr. Mitchell received an honorable 
discharge at Richmond, Va., on June 21, 1865, and then returned to Strafford 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 599 

county, three years later coming to Dover and for over a quarter of a century 
has occupied his present residence, No. 54 Fifth street. 

Mr. Mitchell was married at Dover, Decemher i, 1874. to Miss Frances 
J. Twombly, who was born in South Berwick. Me., a daughter of Benjamin 
and Asenath (Young) Twombly, the father a native of Farmington, N. H., 
and the mother of York, Me. The grandfather of Mrs. Mitchell was Peter 
Twombly, an early settler of Farmington and a son of Ralph Twombly. at 
one time a resident of Dover. The Twombly family is of English ancestry. 
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Mitchell was Jonathan Young, who settled 
early in York, Me. Mrs. Mitchell has two brothers and one sister: Henry H. 
and Albert F. Twombly. both of Lynn, Mass.: and Eliza A., who is the 
wife of George Kendall, of Maiden, Mass. .Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have had 
two children: Jennie A., who is now deceased: and Albert H.. who is a 
resident of Dover. Mr. Mitchell is a valued member of the G. A. R. post 
at Dover. Nonu'nally he is a Republican but he has independent tendencies. 
Both he and wife belong to the Peirce Memorial Universalist church at 
Dover. For many years he has been a member of Mount Pleasant lodge. Odd 
Fellows, of this city. 

CHARLES S. CARTLAND, cashier of the Strafford National Bank, of 
Dover, N. H., is one of a family of five children born to his parents, .Moses A. 
and Mary P. (Gove) Cartland. The father, Moses A. Cartland, was an 
educator of note, following that vocation his entire life, with the exception of 
a brief period during which he was identified with the newspaper business. 

Charles S. Cartland was born in the town of Lee, Strafford County, New 
Hampshire, March 19, 1851. He was educated in the public schools, and in 
schools taught by his father and later attended the Friends' school, now the 
Moses Brown School in Providence, R. I. While still a young man he began 
industrial life on the farm and later was connected with a manufacturing 
business. Locating in Dover in June, 1875, he obtained employment here as 
an accountant in the office of Cocheco Manufacturing Company. In January, 
1876, he became a clerk in the Strafford National Bank, and after serving for 
some time in that capacity was made assistant cashier. In July, 1890, he 
became cashier, which position he still holds, performing its responsible 
duties in a highly acceptable manner. He is a Republican in politics and is 
connected fraternally with the Moses Paul Lodge, the lodge of Grangers in 
Dover, and the Bellamy Club. 

Mr. Cartland was married, April 27, 1887, to Miss Julia H. Wallingford, 
a daughter of Zimri S. Wallingford, and they were "the parents of "three 
children, namely: Charles W., Lucia H. and Mary A. Mrs. Cartland died 



600 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

June, 1894, and was buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover. Mr. Cartland and 
the surviving members of his family are affiliated with the Friends' Church, 
and reside at No. 151 Central Avenue. 



JOHN SCALES, A. B., A. M., was born in Nottingham, N. H., October 
6, 1835. His parents. Samuel and Betsey (True) Scales, were descendants of 
English immigrants who settled in New England before 1640: William Scales 
at Rowley, Mass., in i''>39: Henry True at Salem, ]\Iass., 1638. His 
Scales ancestors were residents of Nottingham a hundred years, the first set- 
tler there, 1747, being \l)raham Scales, born in Portsmouth in 171S. whose 
father Matthew Scales was Ijnrn in Rriwley. .Mass., grandson of the immi- 
grant, William Scales. I'our generations of his mother's ancestors in the 
True family resided in Salisbury, Mass., from which town her grandfather, 
Abraham True, emigrated to Nottingham in 1754 and was one of the first 
settlers in that part of the town which became Deerfield in 1 768. The True 
farm is about three miles from Nottingham Square; on this farm Betsey 
True was bom Jan. 11, 1805. Samuel Scales was born July 18, 1800. 

John Scales was educated in the jiublic schools of Nottingham; a private 
school at Lee Hill; Prof. B. Van Dame's Academy at Nottingham Center; 
Pembroke Gymnasium ; Strafford Academy and Col. Thomas A. Henderson's 
high school. He worked at farming with his father when he was not at school. 
He taught school at Harper's Ferry, Va., from January, 1856 to June, 1857. 
He attended the New London, ( N. H. ) .\cadcmy (now Colby Academy) 
Sept. 1857 to July, 1859; entered Dartmouth College in September, 1859; 
graduated therefrom in July, 1863, with the rank of Phi Beta Kappa and 
received the degree of A. B. In i86fi he received the degree of A. M. From 
September, 1863 to April, 1869, he was principal, in succession, of Strafford 
Academy, Wolf borough Academy, Gilmanton .Academy. 

In April, 1869, Mr. Scales became principal of I-Vanklin Academy at 
Dover, since when he has been a continuous resident of this city. He re- 
mained principal of Franklin Academy fourteen years, during which time 
it attained its highest membership of any year in its history. From 1883 to 
1898 Mr. Scales was editor and one of the proprietors of the Dover Daily 
Republican and the (Weekly) Dover Enquirer. Since then he has been 
engaged in various literary and newspaper work in Do\er. 

Air. Scales edited and published the History of the Class of 1863, Dart- 
mouth College, also a volume of Historical Memoranda of Old Dover, (N. H.) ; 
the Genealogy of the Descendants of \\illiam Scales, Rowley, Mass., 1639: the 
Genealogy of Descendants of Deacon John Dam of Dover, N. H., 1633. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 601 

He has delivered four historical addresses before the New Hampshire Histori- 
cal Society. He has furnished numerous historical and biographical articles 
for various magazines, and delivered historical addresses on various occasions 
before societies and pulilic gatherings. 

Mr. Scales was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Tasker October 20, 
1865: she is a daughter of Deacon Alfred and Mary Margaret ( Hill) Tasker, 
of StratTord. where she was born Ma)- 30, 1843. 1 hey have two sons who 
lived to grow up and graduate from Dartmouth College ; Burton True, born 
August 10, 1873; graduated from Dartmouth in 1895; Robert Leighton, born 
May 20, 1880; graduated from Dartmouth in 1901, and from Harvard Law 
School in 1907 with high rank; practiced law in Boston three years and then 
retired on account of his health; died {3ctober 30, 1912, in Roswell, New 
Mexico, where he went to reco\'er his health. He was one of the most gifted 
and brilliant young men Dover has sent forth. The elder son. Burton True, 
has been instructor in the music department in the William Penn Charter 
School, in Philadelphia, since 1900; also instructor in music in the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania; and principal of the Summer School of Music in the 
University of New York. He holds high rank as an instructor and man- 
ager of musical clubs. He is married and has a son and a daughter. 

As a society man Mr. Scales is a member of the First Church ; the New 
Hampshire Society. Sons of the American Revolution; the Society of Colonial 
Wars in New Ham|)shire; the Pascataqua Pioneers; the Northam Colonist 
Historical Society. Dover; Moses Paul Lodge A. F. & A. M. ; Belknap Chapter 
No. 8. R. A. M.; Orphan Council; and St. Paul Commandery, Knights Temp- 
lar, of Dover. He has served several years as member of the school com- 
mittee in Dover, and as trustee of the State Normal School at Plymouth. 

In his list of names of ancestors whose services entitle him to member- 
ship in the Sons of the American Revolution he has one grandfather, three 
great grandfathers and five grand uncles, who served in the Revolution. As 
for ancestors who served in the Colonial wars, whose services entitle him to 
membership in the Society of Colonial wars, there are thirty-one, twenty of 
wliom were commissioned officers, the highest rank being that of colonel ; the 
lowest lieutenant of a comi^any. 

JOHN W. BATES, formerly vice president of the First National Bank 
of Somersworth and for many years the leading merchant of this place, was 
born at Somersworth, N. H., in 1832, and died here in May. 1901. He was a 
son of Moses Bates, who was a pioneer dry goods merchant and continued 
in the business until his death. 



602 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

When John \\'. Bates was a boy the schools of Somerswortli had not 
approached their present state of efficiency and to complete his education his 
father sent him for two years to Northfield (now Tilton) Seminary. Ujx)n 
his return home he became a clerk for his father and afterward, on his own 
account, went into the boot and shoe line and proved himself an enterprising 
and resourceful business man, enlarging his scope until it covered other 
articles and at one time operated five retail stores dealing in hats, caps, boots, 
shoes and harness and two additional stores carrying novelty goods At that 
time he was the heaviest trader and the leading merchant within a radius 
of twenty miles. \\'hen his responsibilities became too heavy he closed out 
all but the boot and shoe line, in which he continued until the time of his 
death. He took only a good citizen's interest in politics, voting with the 
Republican party, but could never be induced to accept public office for himself. 
He was vice president of the First National Bank of Somersworth at the 
time of death, of which he had fonnerly been president and a member of its 
board of directors. 

Mr. Bates was first married to Miss Ellen Thompson, of Solon, Me., and 
they had two children : Laura and Frank C, both of whom are deceased. 
His second marriage was to Miss Leonora Haines, a daughter of John S. 
and Theodate (Nowell) Haines, the former of whom, a very prominent man 
for many years in Strafford county, died at the age of sixty-five years. The 
mother of Mrs. Bates survi\es, Ijeing now in her ninety-second 3'ear and 
the most \enerable member of the Congregational church at Somersworth. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bates had two daughters : Leonora and Theodate. Mr. Bates 
was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was 
a trustee for many years. He was a man of great kindness of heart and 
charitable in his impulses and passed away honored and respected by all 
who knew him. 

J.\YAX M. RUSSELL, who carries on a large lumber business at 
Somersworth. with residence and office at No. 17 Noble street, was born in 
1S58, at Paris, Oxford county, ]\Ie., and is a son of Charles and Asenath 
(Willis) Russell. The father of ^Ir. Russell was a physician and practiced 
his profession until the time of his death, in 1888. His family consisted of 
eleven children. 

J. M. Russell attended school at Kents Hill, Me., and afterward the 
Wesleyan University, following which he taught school, first at Bridgeport, 
Conn., and then at Brimfield, Mass. In 1893 he came to Somersworth, where, 
for three years he was principal of the high school. Mr. Russell then em- 
barked in the lumber business and has continued to be interested therein, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 603 

operating and buying young growth of timber. He is a citizen of broad mind 
and exhibits much civic pride. In his political views he may be termed an 
Independent Repul)lican. 

Mr. Russell was married first to Miss Elizabeth Gowell and thoy had one 
daughter, Gladys E., who is now in Japan, on a trip around the world. His 
second marriage was to Miss Edith Le Gros, of Somersworth, N. H., and 
they have three cliildren, Harriet Bates, Edgar Eegro and Walter Adams. 
Mr. and Mrs. Russell attend the Methodist Episcopal church. 

FRED K. W'ENTW'ORTH. treasurer of the Somersworth Savings Bank, 
and a well known business man and public official, was born in this town, 
in 1870, a son of Nathan and Emeline (Kelley) Wentworth. The father, a 
native of Berwick. Me., was a merchant at Somersworth and also served 
for awhile as postmaster. He died in Somersworth at the age of 69 years. 
His wife Emeline, who survives him, was born in Gilmanton, N. H. They 
were the parents of two children, namely. Grace, now^ Mrs. Herbert A. 
Blaisdell; and Fred K., the subject of this sketch. 

Fred K. Wentworth was educated in the schools of Somersworth, and 
when a vouth entered the employ of the Great Falls Gas Light Company. 
Later he went to Waltham, Mass., where he obtained a position with the 
Waltham Bleachery & Dye Works. From there he went to the Boston Manu- 
facturing Company, as assistant payinaster. After holding this position for 
awhile he returned to Somersworth, N. H., and was employed in the Bleaching 
and Dye Works there until December i, 19 12, at which time he entered on 
his present duties as treasurer of the Somersworth Savings Bank. He is a 
Republican in politics and has served efficiently on the school board of 
Somersworth ; he is also city auditor, having made a specialty of this class of 
work, in which he is an expert. He is a Mason, being secretary of Libanus 
Lodge, F. & A. M. ; a member of Edwards Chapter, R. A. M.. and Orphan 
Council. R. S. M., of Dover; a member also of Somersworth Council, Royal 
Arcanum. He belongs to High Street M. E. Church, and has served a number 
of years as superintendent of the Sunday school. 

Mr. Wentworth has been three times married. Llis first wife was in 
maidenhood Gertrude W^arren, of \\'altham. Mass.; she died leaving two 
sons, Bruce K. and Nathan W. He married for his second wife Alice B. 
Coan, of Dover, of which union there was one child — Gordon Coan. Mr. 
Wentworth's present wife was Alice E. Home, of Somersworth. 

HON. FRED A. HOULE, city clerk of Somersworth and formerly a 
member of the New Hampshire legislature, has practically spent his life in 



604 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Strafford covinty and is well and favorably known. He was born at Somers- 
worth, X. H., in 1S79, and is a son of the late Archie Houle, a native of 
Canada who came to the United States when seven years of age. During 
the greater part of his life he was connected with the grocer}' business. He 
was one of the party that left Strafford county to investigate the reputed 
wealth to be easily secured in the Klondike region but returned to Somers- 
worth and died here in 1901, at the age of forty-four years. He married 
Jessie Bourque and they had thirteen children, eight of these yet living, 
Fred A. being the eldest. 

Fred A. Houle attended school at Somersworth and afterward followed 
clerking, mainly in grocery stores, and has an expert knowledge of this 
line of business. In politics he is a Democrat and in 1907 he was elected 
a member of the General Assembly, where he performed his duties very 
creditably. In 191 2 he was elected city clerk and his efficiency is acknowl- 
edged by all who have to transact business with him. 

Mr. Houle married Miss Odila Vachon and they have four children : Dolor, 
George, Fred, Jr., and Violet. The family belongs to the Catholic church. 
Mr. Houle is identified with the A. C. A. association and with the Knights 
of the Maccabees. 

EDGAR I. CARTER, one of the leading business men of Somersworth, 
proprietor of the largest dry goods and carpet stores of the place and well 
known all over Strafford county as a dependable merchant, was born at 
Somersworth, N. H., April 15, 1856, and is a son of Alfred and Abbie L. 
(\\'entworth) Carter, 

For many years the name of Carter has been associated with the mer- 
cantile interests of this section. Alfred Carter, father of E. I. Carter, was 
one of the pioneer merchants of Strafford county. He was born at Wakefield, 
Carroll county, N. H., in 1S28, and died at Somersworth in 1910, when aged 
eighty-two years. He was the senior member of the old firm of Carter & 
Merrill. In 1852 he entered into partnership with his brother, Charles P. 
Carter and they continued together until 1876, when Charles P. moved to 
Franklin, Mass., and four years later A. Carter admitted his son, E. I. Carter 
as a partner. 

Edgar I. Carter, an only child, had excellent educational advantages and 
as soon as his school days were over gave his father assistance in his business, 
becoming identified with the same in 1873 and a partner in 1880. In 1886 
occurred a loss of stock and buildings by fire but the buildings were imme- 
diately rebuilt and the business scope enlarged, E. I. Carter taking entire 
charge when his father died. A large and carefully selected stock is carried 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 605 

and the trade territory extends over the city and surrounding country, the 
location at Nos. 32-34 Martcet street being convenient to all transportation 
lines. Mr. Carter is a director of the Somersworth Savings Bank. 

In 1885 Mr. Carter was married to Miss Margaret M. Shaw, of Austin, 
Minn. They have one son, Warren Shaw Carter, who is a graduate of 
Dartmouth College and of the law school at Ann Arbor. Mich. He is now 
employed by the Kellog and Severance law firm of St. Paul, Minn. Mr. and 
Mrs. Carter are members of the First Ci.mgregational church at Somersworth. 
In jjolitics he is a Republican. 

DANA B. M.WO, M. D., physician and surgeon at Somersworth, came 
to this citv from \'crmont in June, 1911, establishing himself at No. 68 High 
street, and through professional ability has built up a very satisfactory practice. 
He was born in 1879 in Massachusetts, and is a son of N. D. and Addie 
(Penney) Mavo. The father now lives retired after years of business activity. 
The mother died when Dr. Mayo, the only child, was but four years of age. 

Dana B. Mayo attended Wakefield academy at \\'akefield, ]\Iass., and 
completed his medical education at Boston, being graduated in June, 1905, 
from the medical department of the Boston University. Pie immediately 
entered upon the practice of his profession, locating in northern Vermont, 
in 191 1, as above mentioned, coming to Somersworth. Dr. Mayo is a member 
of the New Hampsliire State Homeopathic Society, the Vermont State 
Homeopathic Society, the American Institute and the Somersworth and Ber- 
wick Medical Society. 

Dr. Mayo married Miss Aiable ( i. Clark, of Melrose, Mass., and they have 
two children: Francis Clark and Dana Bartlett, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Mayo are 
members of the Congregational church. Politically he is a Republican. He 
belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Foresters and the Masons and is 
identified with the local Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. 

JOSEPH LA BONTE, jjroprietor of a general store at Somersworth, 
N. H., was born in 1878, in Canada. His parents were people of ample 
means and thus he had educational advantages which included attendance at 
Levy College, in the city of Quel)ec. where he fiecame a student when nine- 
teen years of age and remained for two years. 

-Vfter completing his education in his nati\e land, Mr. La Bonte came 
to Strafford county and embarked in the bakery business in which he con- 
tinued for six and a half years at Somersworth. He has always been in 
business for himself with the exception of four years during which time 
he was employed by Mr. Gregoire. In 1899 he opened his present business 



G06 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

at Xos. 1S9-163-167 Main street, Somerswortli, where he handles general 
merchandise, especially hardware, meats and groceries, carrying the heaviest 
stock in these lines in the place. He has bnilt up a tine business through honest 
methods and first class goods. 

.Mr. La Bonte married Aliss Anne TJion and they have five children: 
Clare, George, Evan, Wilfred and Jadiasse, the three eldest being graduates 
of the local schools. Mr. La Bonte and family are members of St. Martin's 
Catholic church. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, the St. Jean 
Baptiste Union and other organizations. In politics he is a Democrat. 

FRAXK A. HAR\'EY. who is pn)i)rietor uf the leading hardware store 
at Somersworth, is one of the progressive young Inisiness men whose enter- 
prise and energy^ bespeak continued prosperity. Ever}' town and city has need 
of active and interested young men to pu.sh business activity to the front and 
thus add to the general welfare, and such is the suliject of this sketch. Air. 
Harvev was born June 3, 1883, at Dover. X. H.. and is a son of Frank B. and 
Hannah S. (Fife) Harvey. Frank B. Harvey was born about 1848 in ALiine, 
but has been a resident of Dover since he was twenty years old. He has been 
in the mill business all his life and is overseer of a w^oolen mill. 

1'. A. Harvev. an onlv child, attended the Dover schools. He began his 
own business life as a mill man, continued thus for four years and then 
became a clerk in a hardware store. I-'inding this line of business congenial, 
in 1905 lie bought his present place from the S. Augustus Seavey estate and 
has continued in business at Somersworth. although he lives at Dover. He 
carries a full line of general hardware and also builders' supplies. He is a 
member of the order of Elks. 

FRAXK LESLIE TIBBETTS, who has been identified with the jewelrj' 
business at Somersworth for a cpiarter of a century and during all this time 
has been numbered with the stable and reliable citizens of the place, is a 
native of New Hampshire, born at Wakefield, September 23. 1S69, and is a 
son of Benjamin F"~. and Emily J. (Roberts) Tibbetts. 

Benjamin F. Tibbetts was born in Maine but passed fifty years of his life 
in New Hampshire, first as a railroad man and later as a farmer. His death 
occurred at Wakefield, N. H., when he was sixty-seven years old. He married 
Emily |. I'ioberts and six of their seven children are living, the other survivors 
in addition to the subject of this sketch, being Fred, Henry C, Chas. R., Susie, 
wife of Edwin A. Seavey of Portsmouth; and Imogene, wife of Ormand 
Junkins of Kittery, Me. 

Frank Leslie Tibbetts attended the schools of Wakefield, where he had 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 607 

academic advantages, after w hich lie entered tlie store of James J. Woodward 
in order to learn the je\velr\- business. He remained with him from April 
23, 1888, until February 15. 1908, when he opened his own jewelry establish- 
ment at No. 80 Market street, Somersworth. Mr. Tibbetts carriers a full line 
of jewelry, selected with careful discrimination, offering to the public articles 
beautiful in design and of excjuisite workmanship; he also does watch and 
clock repairing. 

Mr. Tibbetts married Miss Ruth A. Simmons, of Bloomfield, New Bruns- 
wick, and they have three sons: Calvin B., who is in college at Durham, 
N. H. ; Percy F., a student in the high school at Somersworth; and Robert F., 
an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts attend the Methodist Episcopal church. 
He is identified w ith the Odd Fellows and in politics is a Progressive. 

THOMAS J. DOL'GHERTY, M. D., who for nineteen years has been 
engaged in medical practice at Somersworth, enjoys a professional reputation 
all over Strafford county, while at Somersworth he is also looked upon as 
one of the most progressive and useful public men. For three years Dr. 
Dougherty served the city in the office of mayor and gave an administration 
that resulted in many reforms and corrected many civic abuses. He was born 
in 1868 at Schaghticoke, N. Y., and is a son of William and Catherine ( Gregg) 
Dougherty. 

Thomas J. Dougherty attended the public schools, afterward studied for 
a medical career and when prepared for collegiate instruction entered the 
Baltimore Medical College, now the University of Maryland, where he was 
graduated in 1894. He immediately entered upon practice at Somersworth 
and has continued to make this pleasant city his home. \\ ith the enlightened 
understanding of a trainetl medical man, Dr. D(jugherty is particularly well 
ciualified for public offices of responsibility and when able to give time and 
attention to the same has been willing to ser\e. For three years he was chair- 
man of the school board and for five years was city physician and at all times 
has been ready to give scientific advice on such questions as the water supply or 
public sanitation. He has always kept thoroughly abreast with the times, 
holding membership in numerous professional bodies including the American 
Medical Association and the state and county medical societies, in 1910 serving 
as president of the last named. 

Dr. Dougherty was married to Miss Alfreda McLean, of Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y. He belongs to Holy Trinity church and fraternally is identified with 
the Elks, the Foresters and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In politics he 
is a Democrat. 



608 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

L. E. GRAXT, M. D.. wliu is engaged in medical practice at Somers- 
worth, X. H.. with office in liis residence at Xo. 85 Market street, was born 
in 1859, at Xorth Berwick, Me., and is a son of Lindsey W. and Martha C 
(Farman) Grant. The father was born at Berwick. Me., followed an agri- 
cnltural life and died at Xorth Berwick when aged sixty-six years. He 
married Martha C. Fannan. who passed away at the age of sixty-three years. 
They were parents of nine children. 

L. E. Grant attended the common and high schools at Xorth Berwick and 
I)nrsued his medical studies in the medical department of Bowdoin College, 
where he was graduated in 1882. He began practice at Raymond, X. H.. 
removing one year later to Candia and from there, four years afterward, to 
Somerswortli and here he has been in active practice for over a quarter of a 
century. Dr. Grant's medical skill and professional standing are well known 
and recognized all over the county and for twelve years he served as county 
physician of Strafford county. He belongs to the Strafford County and to 
the Xew Hampshire State Medical Societies. 

Dr. Grant was united in marriage with ^Miss Georgie E. Ricker. a native 
of Maine, and they have one daughter, ( )li\e E., who is a student at W'ellesley 
College. In politics Dr. Grant is a Ivepublican. I'nr twelve years he served 
as county coroner and for four years was a very useful member of the town 
council. He is identified with both the Masons and the Odd Fellows. With 
his family he belongs to the Congregational church. 

HOX. ELISHA C. AXDREWS. superintendent of the Strafford- York 
Gas Company, and a prominent Democratic politician of Strafford county, 
was born at Somerswortli. X. H., September 16, 1876, and is a son of Alonzo 
H. and Mary E. ( Huchins) Andrews. The father was also a native of 
Somersworth and was a merchant here until his death in 1884. 

E. C. Andrews was one of a family of six children and was seven years 
old when his father died. He was educated in his native town and began 
his business career in the line of newspaper work, later was interested in 
insurance and real estate, and since then has filled his present position and 
has also been elected to numerous public offices. For four years he served 
as city clerk, from 1901 to 1903 he senxd in the New Hampshire legislature 
and on Februarv 19. 1907 he was made superintendent of the Somersworth. 
Berwick and Rochester District. 

Mr. Andrews married Miss Emma N. Jorde, and they have three children: 
Erma, Pauline and Muriel. With iiis family Mr. Andrews belong to the 
Methodist Episcopal church. He is identified with the Royal Arcanum and 
is locally prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Libanus Lodge 



AND REPRESENTATIX'I'. CITIZENS 609 

and Edwards Chapter, Royal Arch Masons and the Council at Dover. His 
good citizenship has often been proved and he stands high in public regard. 

B. F. HANSOX, pro])rietor of the (mly li\er\- stable in Scjiners\v(irth, 
N. H., who also holds the position of police judge, was born in this ])lace, 
December 12, 1848, a son of Benjamin V. and :\Iary E. (Li])by) Hanson. 
The father, a farmer, was a native of Sanford, Me., where he died at the age 
of 72 years, but for many years it was his custom to spend the winters in 
Somersworth. His wife Hilary was also of Sanford. They had four children, 
namely: Luther L.. who died in the fall of 191 j, in Maiden; I'.enjamin Iv, 
the subject of this sketch; Charles H., who resides in Sanford, Me., and 
George W'., also a resident of Sanford. 

B. F. Hanson, the present bearer of the name, was educated in the .schools 
of Sanford, Me., and Lebanon, N. H. He then took up the h(.»rse and livery 
business, in which he has been engaged continuously for the last 4s years, 
having now the oldest livery establishment in the state. He also deals in 
harness to some extent, and was formerly more extensively engaged in that 
branch of his business tlian at present. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Hanson 
has taken an active interest in public affairs and has served since July i, 1913, 
in his present office as p-olice judge. He was also county commissioner six 
years, city trea>urer three years, and mayor of the city for five vears, making a 
good record in all these important offices. He is also a director in the Somers- 
worth National Bank. Fraternally he is afiiliated with the Grange and the 
Masonic order. 

Judge Hanson married Miss Fannie T. Thompson, of Chepley, Me., and 
they are the parents of one child, Bert, who is a graduate of Yale College and 
the Cornell Law School, and is now practicing law in New York City, having 
an office at No. 42 Broadw ay. 

DAVID W. HERRETT, who, with his business associate, Charles E. 
Burnham, conducts a coal and wood yard at No. 19 Cocheco street, Dover, 
under the firm name of the Herrett & Burnham Coal and Wood Company, is 
one of the substantial business men of this city, his concern being one of the 
largest in this section. He was born in 1850, in Cumberland, Nova Scotia, 
and is a son of William A. and Roxann (Totten) Llerrett, an only child. The 
father was a farmer in Nova Scotia and died there when aged forty-five 
years 

David W. Herrett completed his school attendance before leaving his 
native place, coming then to Dover and shortly afterward embarking in his 
present line of business. Li 1906 he formed his partnership with Charles E. 



610 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD LOL"XTV 

Burnhani and the firm deals in coal and all kinds of fire wood, giving employ- 
ment to several teamsters. Mr. Herrett is the oldest man in the business 
at Dover. He has been more or less active in civic matters and has served with 
efiiciency and honesty in numerous public ot^ces, as councilman, alderman 
and street and park commissioner. He votes with the Republican party. 

Mr. Herrett married Miss Alargaret Stewart. They attend the Methodist 
Episcopal church. He is prominent in the order of Odd Fellows and belongs 
also to the Elks, the Red Men and the United Order of the Golden Cross. 

THOM.AS J. -MORRISON, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of 
medicine at Somersworth, N. H., with ofiices at Xo. 2 Elm street, was born 
in Canada, in 1882, and is a son of Michael and Ellen (Demers) Morrison. 
The father was born in Ireland. After coming to Somersworth he worked as 
a laborer and died here in advanced age. There were four children in his 
family. 

T. J. Morrison attended the public schools of Somersworth and afterward 
the University of Vermont and in 1909 he was graduated with his medical 
degree. He then opened his office in Somersworth and has since built up a 
very satisfactory practice. He is a member of the medical fraternity, Alpha 
Kappa Kappa. June 14, 191 1, he married Miss Helena T. Bresnahan of 
Burlington, Vt. They are members of the Catholic church. 

MRS. MARILLA M. RICKER. In these days of advanced thought, 
when the mental horizon of mankind is broadening more rapidly than ever 
before, when scientific discovery and higher criticism have in large measure 
upset ancient traditions and given many a licwildering shock to the time-hon- 
ored creeds of our forefathers; when Woman is at last arousing to a sense 
of what is due her and is demanding it in no uncertain tones — in these epoch- 
making times, in short, it is interesting to review the career of one who. like 
the subject of this sketch, has been to some extent a pioneer along the lines 
referred to, ha\ing long held and advocated those iileas of free thought and 
political ecjuality for the sexes which are now causing so much unnecessary 
consternation among many good people who, owing to early training, mental 
lassitude, or other causes, find difiiculty in keeping abreast of the car of 
progress. 

Advanced thought, in regard either to politics or religion, has no terrors 
for Mrs. Marilla M. Ricker; nor has she been hampered by heredity. She 
comes of a long line of ancestors who were members of the legal profession. 
Her father, Jonathan B. Young, was born on the farm settled by his grand- 
father. He was a distant relation of the noted Brigham Young, but, though 




MARILLA M. KICKKR 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 613 

possessing all tlie latter's astuteness, was, unlike him, a broad, liberal-minded 
man, a stanch Whig, and — what was a good deal more rare in those days — a 
believer in C(|ual suffrage. This latter fact, of itself, is enough to mark him 
as having been a strong and independent thinker. With the political doings 
of the world he kept himself in touch through the columns of the New York 
Weekly Tribune and the Boston Cultivator. The influence of her father's lib- 
eral spirit must be counted as one of the chief factors in the bent of Mrs. 
Ricker's genius and its later de\e!opment. 

Mr. Young and his wife, Hannah (her maiden name was Hannah D. 
Ste\ens) had four ciiildren — Joseph D.. Alarilla M., Helen Frances and Ade- 
laide. Joseph D., the only son, enlisted in the War of the Rebellion in the 
Third New Hampshire Regiment, Company I. He was a gallant soldier and 
lost his life on Edisto Island, South Carolina, in 1862. This was Mrs. 
Ricker's first great grief, and its memory has ne\'er lieen quite effaced. Helen 
Frances Young married Samuel G. Jones, of New Durham. She died in 
1870. Adelaide Young, who is unmarried, is a professional nurse in Con- 
necticut. 

Marilla M. Young acquired her elementary education in the district schools 
of New Durham. Mrs. Hannah D. Young was a devout church woman, and 
three of her children were accustomed to attend church with her on Sunday. 
Marilla always refused to go. Says Josejjhine K. Henry. "She stayed at home 
with her father, who was her chum and comrade, and in the summer they 
spent the "Lord's Day' salting the cattle, looking after the fences, etc. As a 
child she could run faster, climb trees quicker, and make more noise than any 
other boy or girl in the neighborhood. She rode all the horses bareback, loaded 
hay, dropped corn, beans, potato and pumpkin seed. . . . She was pas- 
sionately fond of books and when only four years old she cut the large letters 
out of the newspapers and followed her father around the farm asking him 
what they were. She could read at five." 

When older she entered Colby Academy, where she fitted to be a teacher, 
paying her expenses by teaching in the district schools. Beginning this work 
at the early age of sixteen, she showed marked talent and for seven years was 
one of the most successful instructors in the state, although on several occasions 
she came into conflict with the school committee on account of her disinclina- 
tion to make Bible reading a part of the daily exercises. She has always held 
to the belief that a natural adaptation to the work is the most essential part 
of a teacher's equipment — in other words, that "teachers are bom, not made," 
and still looks back with pleasure to her "school marm" days. 

In 1863 she married Mr. John Richer, of Dover, N. H., who lived only 
five years after. She was now twenty-eight years old, a widow with no chil- 

.3fi 



GU HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

dren, and with means sufficient to enable her to devote her time and her heart 
to any work in which she feh called upon to engage. After traveling for 
some years in America she went abroad, remaining three years, spending nnich 
of that time in Gennany, where she acquired a jjerfect command of the Ger- 
man language. 

After her return home she began the study of law in the office of A. B. 
Williams, in Washington, D. C, and in 1S83 was one of a class of nineteen 
to a])ply for admission to the bar in the District of Columbia. She recei\ed 
first rank in the examination, and was said to give e\idence of possessing more 
extensive legal knowledge than had e\er l^een displayed by any other candidate. 
She began the practice of law in the courts of Washington and has practiced 
there ever since. She has, however, been admitted to the bar in Xew Hamp- 
shire and in Utah, and in 1891 she was admitted to the bar of the United 
States Supreme Court. She was appointed a notary public by President 
Arthur, in 1884, by the judges of the District Supreme Court, United States 
Commissioner and Examiner in Chancery, both of w hich offices she still holds. 

Aside from her profession, INIrs. Ricker is chiefly interested in politics. 
Inheriting Whig principles from her father, she naturally became a supporter 
of the Republican party, and on many important occasions has ably upheld 
its principles by voice or pen. Her work on the stump during National cam- 
paigns has often aided in the triumph of Republican principles. During the 
campaign for Harrison she made lecturing tours through California and Iowa 
and she made many stump speeches and wrote many articles for the McKinley 
campaign. She has also written ably on the tariff. On the success of her 
party in 1896 Mrs. Ricker conceived the worthy ambition of representing the 
United States of America as en^•oy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 
to the Republic of the United States of Colombia, a position for which she 
was in e\'ery way well cjualified. Her application for that or "some other 
diplomatic position of equal rank and importance" was strongly indorsed by 
influential men, not only in New Hampshire but elsewhere, the states of 
California, Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Massachusetts being represented in 
the petitions presented to the President in her behalf. Ex-senator Henry W. 
Blair had a personal interview with President McKinley on the matter, and 
also wrote him a forcible letter calling attention to the strength of Airs. Rickers 
claim to the appointment, "so far as character, ability, education, professional 
acquirements, experience, culture, and all the varied accomplishments which 
would adoni the position and reflect honor upon her country are concerned." 
His letter was referred to by the Boston "Investigator" as "a very strong 
'W^oman's Rights' document from a somewhat conservative source." Not- 
withstanding such substantial support, her application was rejected, the ap- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 615 

pointment going to Mr. Charles B. Hart. Mrs. Rickcr accepted the result in 
a calm and philosophic spirit and immediately wrote a congratulatory letter- 
to the appointee. To others she said: "I am still a Kepublican and still a 
;McKinley woman. I am well satisfied with this administration and expect 
to work for McKinley's re-nomination and re-election in igoo." 

Mrs. Ricker is a member of the W^oman's Suffrage Association and has 
liberally aided the cause, both with her money and with her pen. She has 
always believed in the ultimate success of the movement, and has the distinc- 
tion of having been the first woman in Dover, X. H., who tried to vote. As 
long ago as 1870 she appeared before the selectmen of the town and asked to 
have her name put on the check list, claiming to be a law-abiding and tax-pay- 
ing citizen. She was Suffrage candidate for governor of New Hampshire in 
1910, and during the last campaign she was strongly opposed to Rooseveltism, 
writing for the press a number of pithy article.,, antagonistic not so much to 
the Progressive propaganda as to the arbitrary domination of Mr. Roosevelt, 
its Presidential candidate, whom she regards as a would-be czar. Her answers 
to the anti-suffragists, which have appeared in the press from time to time. 
and some of which have been published in pamphlet form, are also strong 
and forceful productions. Mrs. Ricker is not givin to mincing words. She 
likes to drive the nail in up to the head. When attacking error or defending 
a righteous cause it is her custom to call a spade a spade, and not to beat 
about the bush in search of euphemistic expressions to gild the edge of crit- 
icism. This applies with full force to her various articles against dogmatic 
theology, as she is an advanced free thinker. She was a personal friend and 
ardent admirer of the late Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, and has offered copies 
of his works to a large number of town libraries, the gift having in some cases 
been accepted and in others refused. A number of years ago she presented a 
set to the library of the state prison. Those wdio wish to know her views more 
fully on these subjects should read her pamphlets entitled, respectively: "Jona- 
than Edwards." "What do IMinisters Ivnowi"' "How Can We 'Take' Christ"" 
"Fable of the Bees," and "Reply to Elder A. E. Kenyon." 

Mrs. Ricker is a woman of broad charity, with an intense sympathy for 
all unfortunates, and her law practice has lain largely with criminals. It has 
been a frequent custom of hers to visit the jail on Sundays, l^efriending the 
needy and offering words of cheer and encouragement to the prisoners. She 
works for all. good and bad alike, and has long been known as "The Prisoners' 
Friend." 

Mrs. Ricker still claims Dover, N. H., as her home, though during the 
winter she is usually to be found in Washington. In her attire she studies 
simplicity and comfort rather than fashion. Her hair is worn short and 



616 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

curled, and she always wears a frill of soft lace at the throat, which lessens 
the effect of plainness and gives a womanly setting to her strong intellectual 
face. 

A. PLANTE, president of the Somersworth Candy Company and owner 
of the Cascade Laundry at Somersworth, is one of the solid business men of 
this place, one who has shown an enter-prising and progressive spirit. He was 
born in Canada, in 1870, and is a son of Joseph Plante, also a Canadian, who 
died when A. Plante was but four years old. He was the father of six 
children, fi\e of whom sun-ive. 

In the schools of his native locality A. Plante secured the usual common 
school training. When he left Canada he came to Somersworth and secured 
work in the Great Falls mills, where he continued until 1894. He then 
embarked in the laundry business and now operates the largest laundry in 
the place, his location being at No. 85 High street. The Cascade Laundry 
is equipped with modem laundry machinery, is sanitarj' in every particular, 
gives steady emplovment to seven people and delivers its clean linen by auto- 
mobile. The Somersworth Candy Company is also an important business 
concern of this section. 

Mr. Plante married Miss Georgina Pillion, and they have had twelve 
children, nine of whom survive. Mr. Plante and family belong to the 
Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally belongs to the 
Catholic Order of Foresters and the Canada-American society. 

LOUIS P. COTE, manager of the Somersworth Candy Company, at 
Somersworth, N. H., an incorporated business of considerable importance 
in Strafiford county, was born in Canada, in 1862, and is a son of J. B. and 
Elizabeth (Bergeron) Cote. The father was born in Canada and died in 
Wisconsin while his children were young. They were five in number, two 
of whom are living. The mother, now in her seventy-fifth year, resides with 
her son at Somersworth. 

L. P. Cote obtained his education in the schools of his home neighborhood 
and remained with his mother on the home farm in Canada. About 1888 
he moved to Marlboro, Mass., and fi\-e years later came to Somersworth and 
went into the drug business, which he continued for fi\e years and then bought 
a stock of dry goods and millinery. This enterprise is under the personal 
oversight of Mrs. Cote, his wife; it is located at No. j^ Main street and is 
one of the largest stores in the place. Mr. Cote was one of the original 
directors of the Somersworth Candy Company, which, five years ago, was 
incorporated under the laws of the state of Maine. The officers of this 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS • 617 

company are : A. Plante, president ; E. F. Gowell, secretary ; Joseph Deshaies, 
treasurer; and L. P. Cote, manager. This is largely a wholesale jobbing 
business in all kinds of candy and the trade territory is wide, one representa- 
ti\"c being on the road. 

Mr. Cote married JMiss ]\Iinnie Martel, of Marlboro, Mass. In politics 
a Democrat, Mr. Cote has served in many official positions. He has been a 
member of the common council, also of the school board, has served in the 
state legislature and in 19 12 was a member of the constitutional convention. 
He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, to the Maccabees, to a 
Canadian-American society, to a temperance organization and to the Catholic 
church. These connections plainly indicate his high standing in his com- 
nnuiity. 

HON. SIDNEY F. STEVENS, who is a member of the well known law 
firm of Matliews & Stevens, with office at No. 68 High street, Somersworth, 
was born Januarv _>'). 1878, at Somersworth, N. H., and is a son of Charles E. 
and Frances A. (Loud) Stevens. 

Charles E. Stevens was born at Parsonsfield, Me., and now lives retired 
at Somersworth, to which ])lace he came in 1S73. I'^or forty-six years he was 
a conductor on the B. & M. Railroad and when he was retired on a pension, 
was the oldest in point of service in the Western Division. His wife, a 
native of Massachusetts, was reared in Maine: she survives, as do their three 
sons: Albert E.. who is baggage master on the B. & M. at Somersworth; 
Melvin L., who lives at Reading, Mass. ; and Sidney F. 

Sidney F. Stevens attended the public schools until prepared for college, 
w lien he entered Dartmouth. After graduation he completed his law studies, 
which he had in the meanwhile been pursuing with the firm of Edgerly & 
Mathews. Graduated from the Boston University Law School, he was ad- 
mitted to the bar in June, 1904. In the same year he became associated in 
practice with Mr. Mathews, with whom he entered into partnership in 1905. 
.V large amount of important litigation is entrusted to this firm, the pro- 
fessional standing of which is deservedly high. Mr. Stevens is a director of 
the First National Bank of Somersworth. 

Mr. Stevens married Miss Kancy E. Woy, of Ouincy, Mass. A Republi- 
can in politics, Mr. Stevens has been a loyal party man and served twice 
as a member of the state legislature with marked ability, in 1907 being chair- 
man of the committee on Revision of Statutes and in 1909 a member of the 
judiciary committee. For a number of years he has been chaimian of the 
Republican city committee and for two years was chairman of the Republican 
county committee, as well as a member of the State executive committee. At 



618 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

present he is serving as a member of the school board. He retains member- 
ship with his college fraternities and is entitled to attach a number of letters 
to his name indicating the degrees he has taken in his studies. He attends 
the First Baptist church. 

JOHN PARSONS, superintendent of the water works at Somersworth, 
N. H., was born here in 1853, when the present city was the village of Great 
Falls. He is a son of John and Mary (Morrison) Parsons, who were born 
and married in Ireland. About 1846 they came to the United States, landing 
in tlie city of New York, where the father worked as a laborer until 1848, 
when the family came to Somersworth. The father died here at the age 
of eighty-two years. Of his large family of children but two survive. John 
and Mary. 

John Parsons went to school until old enough to work in a factory and 
afterward was a clerk in a clothing store and since June, 1903, has been 
superintendent of the water works and has proved very efficient in this 
office. I\Ir. Parsons was married first to Hannah Griffin, and one of their three 
children lived to maturity. }\lary A., whu is now tlie wife of John E. Sullivan. 
His second marriage was to Margaret Lynch, and two of their children survive: 
Louisa C, who is a teacher in the public school, and John J., who is a school 
boy. The family belongs to Holy Trinity Catholic church. ]\Ir. Parsons has 
been very prominent in Democratic circles and served in the state legislature 
in 1888-90-91 and 1892. When Somersworth became a city he was elected 
the first alderman from the Fourth Ward. He is identified with the Ancient 
Order of Hibernians and was the first president of Division No. 5 of that 
order and in 1910 was state president and was re-elected in 1912 to the 
same office. 

FRED H. BROWN, attorney at law and city .solicitor of Somersworth. 
was born at Ossipee, Carroll county, N. H., April 12, 1S79, and is a son 
of Dana J. and Nellie (Allen) Brown. They still live at Ossipee, wliere 
the father during his active life was a merchant. 

An only child, Fred H. Brown had many educational advantages. He 
attended the public schools of Ossipee and Dow academy, at Franconia, X. IL. 
and afterward passed one year at Dartmouth College and at the Boston L'ni- 
versity. He read law in ihe office of James .A. Edgerly of Somersworth, and 
was admitted to the l)ar in 1907, afterward, until the death of Mr. Edgerly 
in 1908, being associated with his preceptor in practice. In the latter year 
he was elected city attorney and is still serving. He has always been an 
active and responsive citizen and is serving as chairman of the school board 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 619 

at Somersvvorth. A loyal Democrat, his party has frequently acknowledged 
his fitness for positions of responsibility and named him as a presidential 
elector in the interests of President Woodrow Wilson's campaign, and in 
191J sent him as a delegate to the constitutional convention. For the past 
four years he has been a member of the Democratic state committee. He 
belongs to Prospect Lodge, Knights of Pythias; the Blue Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M. ; Edwards Chapter, at Somersworth, and to the Council at Dover. 

JESSE R. HORNE, president of the Somersworth National Bank and 
also of the Somersworth Savings Bank, is also owner of the J. R. Home 
planing, box and lumber mill, which is situated in Berwick, Me., his many 
interests indicating the prominent position occupied in this section. He was 
born at Rochester, N. PL, March 11, 1833, and is a son of Jesse and Sallie 
(Hubbard) Home, the former of whom was a native of Somersworth and 
the latter of Berwick, Me. Jesse Home, the father, followed farming all his 
active years, then retired to Rochester and died there at the age of eighty-six. 
Of his family of five cliildren Jesse R. is now the onlv survivor. All)ert M. 
died November 26, 19 13. 

Jesse R. Home obtained his educational training in the schools of 
Rochester, afterward becoming a mill worker in various places but mainly 
at Somersworth. In 1879 he erected his own mill, which is the oldest lumber 
mill in this section. All kinds of general mill work in lumber is engaged in, 
the manufacturing of boxes being a specialty. He has been a resident of 
Somersworth since April 19, 1858, and learned his trade here, and in 1905 
became president of the Somersworth National Bank. In 1881 he was made 
trustee of the Somersworth Savings Bank, of which he became president in 
1905. Although his business responsibilities have been heavy and more or 
less absorbing for many years. Mr. Home is the type of citizen who never 
permits himself to be indifferent concerning the welfare of his community and 
his high business and personal standing have caused his fellow citizens to 
frequently urge him to accept ))ublic office. He served ably in the New 
Hampshire legislature during 1865-6, as a county commissioner of Strafford 
county from 1869 until 1872, and as a member of the city water works board 
during 1903 and 1904. h'or many years he has served as a member of the 
school board and was president of the Fresh Glade cemetery board for fifteen 
years. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Home has traveled over a good 
portion of his own country, spending winters in Florida and Texas, and in 
1893 'is fi^'st went abroad, journeying pleasantly through Spain, Italy and 
North Africa, in 191 1 making a second visit during which he traveled through 



620 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

tlie northern part of Europe including England, Scotland, and also through 
France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Switzerland. 

Mr. Home was married in 1854 to Aliss I\Iary Rohin.son, who was born 
in 1839 and died July 23, 1889, a daughter of James and Martha Robinson 
of Dover, X". H. They had one daughter, Nellie M., who was born October 
17, 1858, and died November 23, 1S81. In January, 1893, Air. Home was 
married to his second wife. Miss Frances Black, -who was l)orn January 3, 
1862, a daughter of John H. and Kate Black, of Boston. Mass. Mr. antl 
Mrs. Horne have one daughter, Jessie Eleanor, born April 26, 1898, who is 
attending school. Mr. Home and family attend the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

WTLLIAM F. RUSSELL, who is the oldest i)racticing attorney at 
Somersworlh, has long been a leading representative of the bar of Strafford 
county. He was l)orn at W'aterford, Oxford county. Me., in 1S55, and is a 
son of William and Eliza (French) Russell, being one of the six sur\ivors of 
tlieir family of eight children. 

William Russell, the father, was a native of Fryeburg, Oxford county. 
Me., and his business was farming and manufacturing. In October, 1864, he 
enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company B. Eighth Maine 
Volunteer Infantry, and fell mortally wounded on the battle field of Hatch's 
Run, April 3, 18(15. 

William F. Russell attended school in his nati\e place and also Gould's 
Academy at Bethel, and at the age of se\enteen years began to teach school. 
Afterward he entered the Freeport High school both as student and as 
teacher, and in 1877 entered the University of Alaine. He remained but a 
short time on account of trouble with his eyes. He w as admitted to the New 
Hampshire bar in 1884, in the meanwhile having pursued his law studies with 
Judge Wells and William R. Burleigh. Later he became associated as a 
partner, succeeding ludge \\ ells, and the law firm of liurleigh and Russell 
continued with the two partners until 1888. In 1889 Mr. Russell admitted 
Edmund S. Boyer to partnership, the latter having been a student with Mr. 
Russell. In i8c)4 Mr. Boyer moved to Anderson, Ind.. since which time 
Mr. Russell has continued in practice alone, maintaining his oftice first in the 
Great Falls Hotel building until 191 1 and now at No. 48 High street. He 
has taken part in much important litigation and has continued practice in 
the local courts for the past thirty years. He is counsel for the Somers worth 
Savings Bank and the repository of many family trusts. 

Mr. Russell was united in marriage with Miss Lucy W. Tibbets and 
they have two children, Lucia G. and Frances E., the former being a graduate 



AND REPRESENTATI\'E CITIZENS 621 

and the latter a student at Smith College, Northampton, IMass. Mr. Russell 
is member of the Congregational church, while Mrs. Russell and daughters 
are members of Emanuel church of Boston, Mass. He has long been identified 
witli the Masonic fraternity. 

V. S. RICKER, cashier of the Eirst National Bank of Somersworth, with 
which institution he has been identified since i()oq. was born in i8f>3, at 
Berwick, Me., and is a son of Winslow T. and Martha A. ( Smitli ) Ricker. 
The father of Mr. Ricker. a native of Maine, died at Ik-rwick in igoj. He 
was born at Lebanon but the larger portion of his life was spent at Berwick, 
where he was engaged in the tanning business. Of his four children but one, 
F. S., survives. The mother uf our su]>ject was a native of New Hampsiure. 

V. S. Ricker was reared and educated at Berwick, Me. For a few years 
he was connected with the mercantile house of Carter & Son, at Somersworth, 
and later was in a real estate business at Chicago, 111. b'or fi\-e years prior 
to accepting his present position with the First National, ]Mr. Kicker was 
jjractically out of business Ijut since then has devoted himself to adxancing 
the interests df the l'"irst National Bank, his name, as an ofticial, being an 
asset of the same. Mr. Ricker married Miss Grace Elyde, who is a daughter 
of Rev. Henry Hyde, a former pastor of the First Congregational church at 
Somersworth. to which Mr. and Mrs. Ricker belong. They ha\'e two children, 
Caroline Hyde and Elizabeth Palmer. Mr. Ricker gives his political support 
to the Republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic 
order. 

HON. W. R. TEBBETTS, a member of the New Hampshire State Legis- 
lature, to which honorable body he was elected in November, 1912, has been 
one of the representative business men of Somersworth for the last eighteen 
years. Mr. Tebbetts was born in 1872, at Berwick, York county, Me., and 
is a son of George S. and Harriet S. (Roberts) Tebbetts. 

George S. Tebbetts was born in Maine and was a resident of Berwick 
and a fanner there until 1897, when he moved to Rochester, N. H., where 
he now lives retired. He married Harriet S. Roberts, who also survives, 
and they have two sons: George E., who is a resident of Dorchester, Mass., 
and W. R., of Somersworth. 

W. R. Tebbetts attended school first at Berwick and later at Somersworth, 
after which he engaged in a mercantile business at Dover, wdth John A. 
Hoye, on Third street, and later with John C. Lathrop, with whom he con- 
tinued for six 3'ears. On September 11. 1895. he established his present 
business at No. 30 Market street, Somersworth, dealing in clothing, hats and 



622 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

furnishings. Mr. Tebbetts is a successful business man, and has also served 
in several important local offices prior to his election in 1912, on the Republican 
ticket, to membership in the General .-Vssembly. He is a thirty-second degree 
Mason and a "Shriner," and belongs also to the Odd I'ellows and Knights of 
Pythias. His good citizenship has never been questioned nor his business 
integrity assailed. .Mr. Tebbetts was united in marriage to Miss Olive Stone, 
of Berwick, Me. By a former marriage he has one daughter, Marion. The 
family attends the i\Iethodist Episcopal church. 

\\ ILLIAM A. LilLAl.VX, for nian\- years a prominent citizen of Stratford 
county and an honored and useful resident of Dover, was born December 
I, 1846, in South Berwick, ]\Ie., and died at his home in Dover, N. H., Novem- 
ber I. 1910. He was a son of George and Susan ( Plummer) Gilman, the 
former of whom was born at Exeter and the latter in Rollinsford, N. H. 

William A. Gilman received academic instruction at South Berwick, after 
which he came to Dover and entered the dry goods store of John Bickford as 
a clerk, continuing after the business was purchased by Charles Trickey. 
Later for a time he filled a clerical position at the I'. S. Navy Yard at 
Portsmouth. His main interest, Imwexer, was farming, to which he dc\oted 
the time not claimed Ijy public affairs. He was an intelligent and earnest 
citizen and early identified himself with the Republican party which, on many 
occasions, recognized his loyalty and superior C]ualifications for public service. 
He served in the city council of Dover and in 1895 was elected a member of 
the New Hampshire legislature, representing the Second Ward of the tow n of 
Dover. As a public man he was honorable and efficient and as a neighbor 
and friend he was true to e\ery (_)hligatiim. 

Mr. Gilman was married first to Mrs. Nancy Rollins, widow of John 
Rollins, her maiden name having been McDuffee, and two children were 
born: Helen A., who is the wife of John A. Marshall, of Lawrence, Mass., 
and lames W., who is also a resident of Lawrence. On Alay 25, 1899, Air. 
Gilman was married secondly to Miss Jennette S. Nealley, who was born 
and liberally educated at South Berwick, Me. She is a daughter of .Andrew 
J. and Lydia ( Hodsdon) Nealley. Her father was born at Nottingham, 
N. H., a son of Benjamin Nealley, an old settler. In early manhood he 
moved to South Berwick where he engaged in farming and in the lumber 
industry and died there. The mother of Mrs. Gilman was born in South 
Berwick and was a daughter of Benjamin Hodsdon. Mrs. Gilman is a 
member of the Dover Woman's Club and belongs to the Daughters of the 
American Revolution, her connection with this exclusive society being through 
her ancestor. Sergeant Joseph Nealley, a Revolutionary hero. She is a 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 623 

member of the Congregational clnirch of South Uerwick ami is (luite prom- 
inent in tlie social life of both South Berwick and Dover. 

GEORGE W. FARXHAM. whose long, busy and useful life has been 
passed in New England, is well known in different sections where he was 
identified with various interests, has lived retired for some years, occupying 
his comfortable residence at No. 7 Cedar street, Dover. Ele is one of the 
few sur\i\ors who can recall fruni personal ol)ser\ation, the manner and 
appearance of General Lafayette, when he was the nation's honored guest 
in 1825 and visited Dover. Mr. I'"arnham was born March 14, 1819, at 
Woodstock, Vt., a son of Jeremiah and Martha (Perkins) Farnham, the 
father born in Maine and the mother at Dover, N. H. Three of their 
children survive: George \V., of Dover, and Mrs. Martha M. Ciriffin and 
Mrs. Fannie F. Smith, both of Springfield, Mass. 

When George W. Farnham was three years old his parents moved to 
South Berwick, Me., and six years later to Rollinsford, N. H. h'or a numljer 
of 3'ears he lived in Rollinsford and there attended school, also in Dover, 
and for a time was a pupil in the South Berwick Academy. While the great 
industries for which this section is noted were not de\'eloi)ed as they are 
today, they offered ready employment and remunerati\-e compensation for 
the times and Mr. Farnham. like others, entered the big woolen mill at Salmon 
Falls. There he worked for seven years and then went into a cotton mill at 
South ]>erwick. Me. He then engaged in farming for some years at Leljanon, 
Me., and after that came to Dover and for several years was in the weaving 
department of the Cocheco i\Iills. He then emliarked in a mercantile Inisiness 
at South Berwick, Me., and during a number of years' residence there was a 
clerk for others and also proprietor of his own store. When he returned 
to Strafford county he located on a farm near the Granite State Park, which 
farm lay partly in Somersworth and partly in Dover. It was while living 
on this farm that his first wife died and he then remo\'ed to Springfield, Mass., 
where he continued until he came once more to Dover, making this city 
his permanent home e\ cr since. 

Mr. Farnham was married first at Newfield, Me., to Miss iMary Moore, 
and they had two children. Mar}' A. and George F., both of whom are deceased. 
His second marriage was to Miss Jennie Woodward, who died 1903, who was 
born in Canada but w as educated in New York and at the time of her marriage 
was a resident of West Springfield, Mass. 

In many ways Mr. Farnham has been an ideal citizen for he has always 
been a promoter of progressive movements wherever he has lived; his con- 
duct has been honorable and upright and he has ever had scrupulous regard 



624 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

for the sanctity <if his !^i\eii wurd. Duriiii,'- his years of acli\il}- lie was much 
interested in the suljject of improved roads, an important one not only in 
New Hampshire Init in every state. While a resident of Soniersworth he 
served in the office of highway surveyor for a number of years, giving much 
personal attention to this work, and also served as a member of the school 
board. His long life has bridged an eventful period in the history of the 
world and he still takes an interest in newer developments. His acquaintance 
is wide in Do\er and his friends are many. 

GEORGE X. PRESCOTT, a representative of one of the old pioneer 
families of Rockingham county, N. H., and a well known and popular citizen 
of Dover, was born Alay 17, 1863, at Deerfield, Rockingham county. X. H., 
and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Jones) Prescott. Family tradition tells 
that three brothers of the name of Frescott came from England to Xew 
Hampshire in the far distant past, all personal record of them having been 
lost except that they took up land in Rockingham county. There Samuel 
Prescott. father of Cieorge X. Prescott. was born, as was his father. Ware 
Prescott. He lived to be over ninety years of a,ge, having been a farmer 
during all his active life, and died at Dover, to which place he had moved in 
1871. He married ]\Iarv Jones, who was born at Manchester. X. H., and 
predeceased him. 

George X'. Prescott was eight years old when his parents moved to Dover, 
w here he had public school advantages and also spent some time as a student 
in Franklin Academy. He learned the trade of stone cutter, which he after- 
ward followed until he turned his attention to general farming. He now 
owns fifty acres of valuable land lying in the towns of Durham and ]\radl)ury 
near Little Bay. When not otherwise engaged ]\Ir. IVescott works at the 
car])cnter's trade, having a natural mechanical bent. 

Mr. Prescott married Aliss Ida B. Coleman, born at Dover. X. H.. a 
daughter of Oliver W. and Emma (Davis) Coleman, natives of Durham 
but both now deceased. The Coleman family settled very early at Dover 
Point, N. H. In politics Air. Prescott is a Democrat and in 1891 was elected 
a member of the New Hampshire legislature, representing the Fourth Ward 
of Dover and later was his party's unsuccessful candidate fiir the State Senate. 
His public spirit and good citizenship are universally recognized. He takes 
an active interest in the B. P. O. E.. at Dover. 

RAOUL ROUX, dealer in meats, fish and groceries, on the corner of 
Main and Portland streets, Dover, is one of the enterprising business men of 
this city. He was born in 1876 at .Athabaska, Quebec, Canada, and is a son 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



625 



of Pierre and Cleopha Roux, natives of Canada and now residents with their 
son, of Dover. 

Raoul Roux attended scliool in his native place and was fifteen years 
of age when he accompanied his parents to Dover. For a short time he worked 
m the Loclieco nnlls and then became a clerk for P. L. Charest. a merchant 
at Dover. w,th whom he continued until 1899, when he purchased Mr 
Charest s stock an.l mterest. Since 1899 he has been in business for himself 
the location being the same all these years. He owns i ^o acres of land m 
Dover wined, he devotes to general farming and dairying, and is numbere.l 
with the substantial and honorable business men of Strafford county 

Mr. Roux married Miss Flora Marcotte. who was born at Rochester 
i\. H., and they have the following children: Rita. Raymond A Raoul L 
VV ilfred P.. Valma. Anita, Mary J. and Edgar M. With his family Mr Roux 
belongs to the Roman Catholic church. He is a member of the Catholic Order 
of Foresters, ot the Association Canada-American and of the St. Jean Baptiste 
Society. In a general way he is a Republican in his political vi;ws but casts 
an independent vote when he believes himself justified in so doing. 

CHARLES H. BURNHAM, one of the well established business men 
ot Dover, located at No. 61 Stark avenue, is a wholesale dealer in confec- 
tionery an.l has a trade that covers a wide territory that makes his name 
m this Ime a taimhar one all over Strafford countv. He was born November 
22. 1864. and IS a son of Samuel and Eliza (Foye) Burnham, both natives of 
New Hampshire. Although Samuel Burnham was a resident of Dover for 
many years where he fniiuwed farming, he was born in Nottingham in 181- 
and ched in Dover in 1SS4. He was son of Asa and Lois f Dame) Burnham. 
Asa Burnham was one ot the prominent citizens of Nottingham and a wealthy 
farmer. He was seventh in descent from Robert Burnham uho settled at 
Oyster River in Do\er as early as ,(,50. He held various official positions 
m those early years of the history nf old I),,ver whici, then included Durham 
Mhich was separated from Do\er in i-;,2. Robert Burnham's name fre- 
cpiently appears in the old town records. The Burnliam familv in succeeding 
generations m Durham were among its best and most prominent citizens 

Louis Dame, Samuel Burnham's mother, \>.as daughter of Samuel and 
Ohve (Tuttle) Dame. Mr. Dame was a tanner by trade, and a farmer and 
merchant m Nottingham, where he l,ecame a resident during the Revolution 
He was born m Lee in 1746, aiul died in Nottingham in 1871. He was sixth 
m descent from Deacon John Dame, the second dcacni of the First Church in 
Dover. He came here from England in 1633. The church was organized 
ni 1638. Samuel Dame's mother was Anna Ilunking, daughter of Capt 



626 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Mark Hunking of I'arrington, X. H. Olive Tuttle, grandmother of Mr. 
Samuel Burnham. was fifth in descent from Judge John Tuttle, one of the 
first settlers and most prominent citizens of old Do\er. Her father, Sergeant 
Stoten Tuttle, was a soldier in the French and Indian wars: he was with the 
army that captured Ouebec from the hVench, and was one of the soldiers who 
climbed the steep side of fortress to the summit of the Heights of Abraham. 

Eliza Foye, Charles H. Burnham's mother, is a lineal descendant, and of 
Jolm h^oye one of the earlv settlers of old Doxer, -who came here before idSo. 
The Foye family has an honorable record as farmers and business men. The 
late Mayor Solomon H. Foye of Dover was ]\Irs. Burnham's kinsman and 
one of Dover's honored citizens. Mrs. Burnham died in 1892 aged 67 years. 

Charles H. Burnham \vas educated in the public schools of Dover. In 
1880 he went to Boston and entered the employ of George W. Armstrong, 
the great newspaper agent. Mr. .\rmstrong set Mr. Burnham at work as 
newsjjaper distributor on the trains between Boston anil Portland; he held 
this position four years, and then was placed in charge of Armstrong's news 
stand at the old Eastern Railroad depot on Causway street, being Mr. Arm- 
strong's most trusted and eiificient assistant manager for six years and one 
year as manager. 

In 1 89 1 Mr. Burnham returned to Dover and engaged in the retail fruit 
and confectionery business on Central a\'enue. About 1901 he commenced 
the business of manufacturing confectionery at his present location on Stark 
a\enue, and disposes of his product at wholesale in southern New Hampshire 
and York, County, ^Nfe. 

Mr. Burnham married in 1890 Miss Ella Manock, a daughter of the late 
I)a\id Manock, of Do\er, who was a native of Enghnul. Mr. and Mrs. 
Burnham have four children: ]\[rs. Ethel M. Greenaway, of Portsmouth, 
N. H. : and Mildred, Ruth ]\I. and Charles R,, who reside at home. The 
family attends the Methodist Episcopal church. ^^Ir. Burnham is a staunch 
Republican, but has held no office, nor has he asked for any. He is a member 
of Mt. Pleasant Lodge of Odd Fellows and Prescott Encampment, and Canton 
Parker, Patriarch Militant. He is also a member of Kankamagus Tribe of 
Red ]\Ien. He has filled chairs in the lodge, and has passed through the chairs 
in the Encampment. He was also an officer on Major Samuel Abbott's staff 
in Canton Park. As a business man he possesses the full confidence of his 
fellow citizens. 

CYRUS LITTLEFIELD, one of the best known and most highly 
esteemed citizens of Dover, N. H., is a native of this city, having been born 
here January 27, 1837. His parents were James and Sarah C. (Bean) Little- 



AND REPRESEXTATI\'E CITIZENS 627 

field, and he is a grandson of Nicholas Littlefield, a native of Wells, Me., whu 
was a descendant of one of four brothers who settled in Wells, Me., at an 
early date. 

James Littlefield, father of our subject, settled in Do\-er, N. II.. wlien a 
young man and lived here all his life, dying in 1871. ( )f his children the 
following survi\-es Cyrus, of Do\'er, N. H. ; Mary S., widow (if Marcus Marx, 
late of Brooklyn, N. Y., uhere ^he resides; Fannie, widow of Dr. Carl H. 
Horch, late of Dover, N. H. ; Sarah C, widow of Ephraim J. Deland, late of 
Dover, w^here she resides, and Emma, widow of Henry Chamberlain, late of 
Boston, Mass., she Ijeing now a resident of Do\er. James Littlefield, the 
father, was a Republican in politics, having been orginally a \\ hig. He was 
in his 68th year at the time of his death. 

Cyrus Littlefield was reared in Dover, X. H., acquiring his educatiiin in 
the public schools of this city and at Wolfboro Academy. Lie was for many 
years a prominent business man of Dover, though now retired. Lie is a Civil 
War veteran, having been a memlier of Company K, which Ijecame a part of 
a Rhode Island cavalry regiment. While ser\ing at \\'arren Junction his 
horse fell un him and he was seriously injured, owing to which he received 
an honorable discharge in June, 1862, having served from December, 1861. 
Returning to Dover, he re-engaged in business and soon became one of the 
prominent citizens of the town. He served as county commissioner for two 
terms (four years), being chairman of the Ixiard during his last term. He 
also served ten years as assessor of Ward i of Dover. He was a member of 
the school board two j^ears and was moderator of political meetings in Ward 
I on \-arious occasions. Late in the sixties he represented Ward i in the State 
Legislature, ser\-ing two terms. In politics he is a Republican and is a member 
of the Baptist church. 

Mr. Littlefield married in i860 Harriet J. Webster, who was born in 
Dover, a daughter of William Webster, formerl}- a well kufiwii citizen of 
Dover, N. H. Of this marriage there ha\-e been fi\e children, namely : 
Mortimer C. who resides in Virginia; Nettie, who is now deceased; Sarah 
C, wife of Frederick Coffin, of Do\er; James, residing in Dover, and Nettie 
E., wife of George R. Williams, who is superintendent of the Kidder Press 
Company, of Dover, X. II. Mrs. Cyrus Littlefield died May 4, 1910. Mr. 
Littlefield is a man w idelv known throughout the county and as wideh' 
esteemed. Lie is public spirited and progressive and both his wonl and actions 
can alwa\'s be relied on. 

HON. FRED PLLTMER, who served as a meniber of the New Hampshire 
legislature from Rollinsford in 1897, is a leading man of Straft'ord county 



628 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

and a substantial farmer, owning seventy-five acres of excellent land at 
Rollinsford Station. He was born on the farm on which he lives, April 8, 
185-', and is a son of William and Permelia ( Waldron) Plumer. The father 
was bom at Rollinsford and the mother at Dover. X. H., and the paternal 
grandfather, Ebenezer Plumer was also a native of this state. W illiam 
Plumer during life served frequently in local offices and was a man of 
sterling character, a liberal supporter of the Baptist church at South Ber- 
wick. Me. 

Following his school days, during which he attended an academy at South 
Berwick, Fred Plumer has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and 
has taken much interest in public affairs. In the General Assembly he lent 
support to measures of a beneficial character and cast his vote fairly and 
honestly. He has served two years on the board of selectmen, being chairman 
of the same. He is a Republican in his political views. 

Mr. Plumer was married first to Miss Mary A. Yeaton, and they had one 
sun. Harold E., who lives at Buffalo. N. Y. On January 28, 1887. he was 
married secondly to Miss W'ilhelmina Home, who was born in Rollinsford, 
August 2. i860, and is a daughter of Luther P. and Abbie ( Downing) Home, 
the father a native of Wakefield and the mother of Somersworth, N. H. 
Mr. and Mrs. Plumer have two children : G. Everett, who lives in Rollinsford ; 
and Helen W.. who is studying art and science in the New Hampshire State 
College at Durham. Mr. Plumer and wife are members of the Baptist church 
at South Berwick and for a number of years she has had charge of the primary 
department in the Sunday school, possessing the rare gift of being able to 
interest and hold the attention of a body of children. Mr. Plumer is a member 
of the Hiram R. Roberts Grange No. 192, one of the charter members, and 
has served as master. He belongs also to the Odd Fellows and has served 
in the ofiice of noble grand in Lodge Xo. 30 at Salmon Falls and additionally 
has held offices in Agamenticus Encampment Xo. 15, of this place. I\Ir. and 
]Mrs. Plumer are members of the O. N. E. Club, of Rollinsford and both take 
part in the pleasant social life of the community. 

lAMES H. JOYCE, who is engaged in business at Somersworth along 
the line of insurance and real estate and is a notary public and a justice of the 
peace, was born in Somersworth. September 4, i860, a son of James and 
Elizabeth (T^arsons) Joyce. 

lames Toycc. the father, was born in Ireland and came to America in 
earlv manhood. During the Civil war he served as a private soldier in the 
Twenty-second Xew York Heavy Artillery until the summer of 1864, escaping 
all injurv except a wound in the ankle. He was an industrious man and 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 629 

immediately resumed work after returning home, but three weeks later, in 
August, 1864, met death from a stroke of Hghtning. He had married EHzabeth 
Parsons, also a native of Ireland, w ho lived to extreme old age, passing away 
June 20, 191 1, in her ninety-seventh year. Of their children, J. H. Joyce is 
the only survivor. 

Bereft of his father in childhood. J. H. Joyce missed many of the privileges 
that he would otherwise have enjoyed. i\s soon as his age and strength per- 
mitted he went to work in a mill and continued in wool and cotton mills at 
difierent points until he was twenty-two years of age, when he engaged with 
a grocery house at Berwick, Me., and remained for two years. Mr. Joyce 
then embarked in a grocery business of his own, in the old Union store build- 
ing on Washington street, Somersworth, and for a short time also dealt in 
meats, but two years later disposed of his stock when elected to the office of 
deputy sheriff for four years. For the first time in his life he found leisure to 
devote himself to the study of law, for which he had an inclination, and 
pursued his studies in the office of Mr. Pierce. He still had one more year to 
serve in office when he went to Concord to take his examinations and made 
such a favorable impression on Judge Doe, that, on the advice of the jurist, 
he entered the Boston University Law school. His close application, however, 
had affected his eyes to such an extent that five week later he was (jbliged to 
limit his ambition and return home. After he had succeeded in bringing his 
eyes to a normal condition he went into his present business. He handles 
both farm and town property and has the reputation of selling more first class 
real estate than all the other dealers combined. One of his holdings is the old 
residence of Charles Blaisdell, who was his first em])loyer. He represents 
many of the old line insurance companies and maintains his office at No. 6 
Orange street. 

Mr. Joyce was married first to Miss Amie Barrett, a daughter of Robert 

Barrett. She died nine years later, the mother of tfvo children: Mary A., 

who died aged four years; and Elizabeth, who is an expert stenographer 

employed in Boston. He was married secondly to Miss Hannah Lawlor, 

daughter of Fenton Lawdor, and they have had the following children : Helen, 

a stenographer; Catherine, a student in a business college; Margaret, a high 

school student; and Alecia, James, Fenton, Lawrence and Nora, the last 

named dying when aged 4 years. Mr. Joyce and family belong to the Catholic 

church. Formerly he was a Democrat but is now a Republican. He has 

served as overseer of the poor of Somersworth. He belongs to the Hibernian 

Society and to the Sons of Veterans and has been state commander of the 

latter organization. 
37 



630 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

KIRK W'ORSTER, who resides' on and is owner of the old \Yorster 
homestead farm of loo acres, situated in Somersworth, N. H., was born in 
Somersworth, July 14, 1870, and is a son of George and Augusta (Hayes) 
Worster. 

George Worster, the father, was a son of Oliver Worster, of Berwick, Me., 
who was town clerk and kept a general store for many years. George Worster 
came to Somersworth, N. H., in earl)- manhood and settled on the farm above 
mentioned and here resided until his death, which occurred in 1902. He was 
a Democrat in politics and was held in high regard as a citizen. He was a well 
educated man, having enjoyed early advantages at Brewster Academy, at 
Wolfboro, N. H. He was identified with the Masonic fraternity. George 
Worster was married (first) to .\ugusta Hayes, who was born at Farmington, 
N. H., and of their five children three survive : Kirk, Mrs. Bradley Thurston, 
of Berwick, Me., and Mrs. Samuel Waldron, of Farmington, N. H. His 
second marriage was to Eliza Hartford, and they had four children : Herbert 
H., Henry, Moses J., and Mrs. Arthur Junes, all of Farmington, X. H. 

Kirk Worster secured his schooling at Somersworth and then learned the 
shoe-making trade and followed the same for several years in Massachusetts 
and in New York. After the death of his father he took charge of the home- 
stead farm and purchased it and has continued to carry on general farming 
here ever since. Mr. Worster married Miss Harriet Perkins, of Exeter, N. H., 
a daughter of the late Woodbridge O. Perkins, and they have two children: 
George W. and Harold O. Mr. Worster gi\es his political support to the 
Democratic party and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias at 
Berwick, Me. He is one of the respected and representative citizens of this 
part of Strafford C(junty. 

KINGMAX FERXALD. one of Do\'er's well known citizens who is 
now engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm of sixty-five acres in the 
town of Dover, was born at Barrington, N. H., June 14, 1847. and is a son of 
William H. K. and Martha S. (Perkins) Fernald. 

William H. K. Fernald was born at Kittery, Me., and was a son of Tobias 
Fernald, who was a soldier in the War of 1812-1815, in which he lost a leg 
and subsequently his life; his burial was in the sea. William H. K. Fernald 
was young when his parents removed from Kittery to Barrington, X. H., 
where he lived until 1859, when he came to the town of Dover and settled 
on the farm that his son now owns. Here his death occurred in 1884. 
He was a man of public importance, serving as tax collector while living at 
Barrington and in 1875 was elected on the Republican ticket a member of the 
New Hampshire legislature, representing the Third \\'ard of Dover. In 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZEXS 631 

1838 lie married Martlia S. F^erkins, wlio was born in South Berwick, Me., 
in 1818 and died in 1894. Of their children the following survive: Kingman; 
Charles W'.. who is a resident of Newton, N. H. ; Chapley 1., a resident of 
Lynn, Mass. ; Curtis D., who li\es at Haverhill, Mass. ; and Oscar L., of Lynn, 
Mass. 

Kingman Fernald was fourteen years of age when his parents came to 
Do\'er and since 1888 he has been a continuous resident on his farm, which 
he successfully devotes to general agriculture. For two years he was a mem- 
ber of the Dover city police force, for seven years he was driver of Steamer 
No. 2 at the Orchard street station of the fire department, and for sixteen 
years he engaged in general teaming for Mayor J. S. Abott, of Dover. 

On March 15, 1871, Mr. Fernald was married to Miss Isa B. Caswell, who 
was born at New Market, N. H., in 1846, a daughter of George W. and 
Mary A. Casw-ell, former residents of New Market. Mrs. Fernald died May 
10, 1913, survived by one son, Percy W., of Dox'er. Mr. Fernald has always 
been affiliated with the Republican part)-. 

REV. ONESIME J. DESROSIERS, pastor of St. Martin's Catholic 
church at Somersworth, N. H., was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, 
April 6, 185 1, and is a son of Onesime and Catherine ( Brouillard ) Desrosiers. 
Both parents were born in Canada, and both are now deceased. Of their 
eleven children h'ather Desrosiers was the first born. He attended school 
in his native place and afterward taught in the college at Sorel, where he 
subsequently studied for the priesthood, and on August 14. 1877, was ordained. 
After fourteen months as an assistant in parishes in Canada, he came to 
Salmon Falls, N. H., December 16. 1882, where he remained in charge of 
the church until January lo, 1883. when he was transferred to St. Augustine, 
at Manchester. There he continued until September, when he was recalled tO' 
Canada to become a superintendent in a college. On August 14, 1886, he 
returned to St. Augustine, Manchester, as assistant priest, and in julw 1888, 
became the parish priest at Greenville and in 1895 was transferred to Suncook, 
in Merriniac county, where he remained until April, 1907, when he came 
to St. Martin's at Somersworth. 

St. Martin's church edifice is a beautiful Gothic building, the largest church 
at Somersworth and the most complete in all its appointments in Strafford 
county. The parsonage is also a pleasing structure, of brick construction. 
Both were erected by Father C. Demers, who established the parish October 
15, 1882. The congregation of St. Martin's includes 654 families or about 
3750 people. To this large assemblage Father Desrosiers faithfully de\'Otes 
himself, e\'er making the interests of his people his own, with Christian zeal 



632 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

directing them spiritually and with sound judgment advising them in many 
material things. He is a factor in everything that promises to be beneficial to 
the community. 

SAMUEL C. FISHER, for many years one of the most substantial citi- 
zens of Dover, N. H., vice president of the Strafford Bank, and owner of 
valuable real estate in ditYerent parts of Strafford County, was born at 
Francestown, N. H., in 1817. He came to Dover when a young man and up to 
the Civil War period conducted a dry goods business in this city. He sub- 
sequently went to Newbern, N. C, where he engaged in farming and was 
interested for some years in various other industries. Later returning to 
Dover, he acquired financial and real estate interests here, becoming the 
heaviest tax payer in Strafford County and the largest owner of realty. It 
was a matter of justifiable pride with him that he was the builder of his own 
fortune, from early youth having been dependent upon his own resources. 
He was a man of keen business foresight with a high sense of integrity and 
his success was as great as it was well earned. He was a member of the 
Congregational church and a liberal giver to charitable enterprises. In politics 
he was a Republican, although never active in public affairs. 

Mr. Fisher died at Dover in 1909, at the advanced age of eighty-two 
years, deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends. His widow — in maiden- 
hood Miss Emily Bacon — still survives, and during a part of the year is a 
resident of Dover. 

CHARLES E. BACON, who for a number of years was associated in 
the jewelry business with the late Mr. Nutter, at Dover, N. H., was born 
in Biddeford, Me., March 11, 1833. Succeeding Mr. Nutter at the latter's 
death, he continued the business alone until one year before his own decease, 
which took place July 10, 1902, when he was sixty-nine years old. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Susan Clark, was a native of Dover. There were 
four children, two of whom survived — Dr. T'dmund Sawyer Bacon, of Provi- 
dence, R. I., and Emily B. Fisher, wife of Sam'l C. Fisher, of Dover, N. H. 

ERNEST R. ROBERTS, postmaster at Salmon Falls, N. H., was bom 
at South Berwick, York County, Maine, October 30, 1883. He is a member of 
one of the old pioneer families of this section, being a direct descendent of 
Gov. Thomas Roberts, a family that settled in New Hampshire as early as 
1623. He is a son of Simeon B. and Lydia TShackford) Roberts, and a 
grandson and great-grandson of Aaron Roberts. 

In early childhood he accompanied his parents from South Berwick, Maine. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 633 

to Rollinsford, N. H., to the old homestead, where he has since resided, being 
the eighth generation to reside thereon. Tie was graduated from the pubHc 
schools of the town, and later entered the New Hampshire State College at 
Durham, N. H., where he spent one year. 

In 1907 he was appointed postmaster at Salmon Falls, having previously 
served as assistant postmaster. As a public otficial he is entirely satisfactory, 
and as a citizen he commands the respect of the community. His political 
affiliation has always been with the Republican party. He is a member of 
the Hiram R. Roberts Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, of Rollinsford, X. H. 
Simeon B. Roberts was born at Rollinsford { Somersworth), N. H., in 
1850 and the greater part of his very active life has been spent in the same 
place. For many years he has been more or less active in Republican politics, 
served for a time as postmaster at Salmon Falls and also represented Rollins- 
ford in the state legislature. He has taken marked interest in agricultural 
development, has given active support to the order of Patrons of Husljandry 
and is sei-ving as master of the local grange at the present time. In 1S71 he 
married Lydia Shackford who was born at Eaton, N. H., in 1851, and they 
have seven children : Mayhew T., who is a resident of Alberta, B. C. ; William 
E., who is a resident of Rollinsford, N. H.; Lena M., who is the wife of 
Herbert F. Berry, of Lawrence, Mass.; A. Milton and Herbert A., both of 
whom live at South Berwick, Me. ; and Ernest R. and George R. 

W. A. KIMBALL, one of Dover's well known business men, is estab- 
lished at No. 27 Lcicust street, where his line of work covers almost all kinds 
of ornamental wo(.i(! manufacturing. He was born at Du\er in i8vS and is a 
son of Alonzo E. Kimball. 

\y. A. Kimball attended school in Dover and afterward spent one year as 
a clerk in a grocery store and following this was with I. C. Connor, who con- 
ducted a picture and music store. His next employer was Winslow Hall, 
\\ ho \\ as in the loom harness and reed business and be continued there eighteen 
years, and afterward for ten years had charge of the harness and reeds in the 
Cocheco Mills. In 1906 Mr. Kimball started his own business, which includes 
reproducing and restoring antique furniture, band sawing and wood working 
and all kinds of jobbing along this line, also fine cabinetmaking. He has mod- 
ern machinery, his shop being equipped with electric power circular and band 
saws and turning lathes and the work turned out is Ijolh beautiful and artistic. 
Mr. Kimball has long been identified with both the Masons and Odd Fellows. 

Mr. Kimball married Miss Ida F. Ham, a daughter of the late William 
Ham. and they have one son. Harold H., who is his father's capable assistant, 
having spent five years after his school days and prior to coming into the shop. 



634 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

with the New England Telephone Company. Harold H. Kimball married 
Miss Eva D. Hobby and they reside with his parents at 38 Cashing street. 
Both Mr. Kimball and son are Republicans in politics. 

COL. ANDREW" H. YOUNG. Among the representative men of Straf- 
ford county, whose honorable acti\-ities through a busv and useful life brought 
distinction to himself and his community, was Col. Andrew H. Yoiuig, who 
was born at Barrington, N. H., Jime 16, 1827, and died at Dover, December 
10, i8go. He was a son of Aaron Young who was once a substantial farmer 
in Strafford county. 

Andrew H. Young was reared on the home farm and attended school at 
Barrington, making such rapid progress that when l)ut twenty-three years of 
age he was made superintendent of the village schools. He was ever in the 
forefront in movements of an educational nature, although the greater portion 
of his life w-as identified with military affairs. In 1855 '^^ served as a member 
of the New Hampshire legislature and prior to 1861 served as register of deeds 
and clerk of the Supreme Court of Strafford county. \Vhen the Civil war 
broke out he became quartermaster in the 7th N. H. \'olunteer Infantry, later 
was made captain, and in 1862 was advanced to major and paymaster in the 
United States army, and in 1864 was advanced to lieutenant-colonel by brex'et. 
In 1869 he was appointed by President Grant, a collector of internal rex'enue 
and continued as such until 18S1. In 1885 he was appointed quartermaster 
in the regular army and assisted in the construction of the United States 
barracks at Fort Thomas, Ky. He w as personally acijuainted w ith and enjoyed 
the friendship of many of the leading men of his da_v. 

In 1854 Colonel Young was married to INIiss Susan E. Miles, of Madlniry. 
Strafford county, and they had four children : Hamilton, who is deceased : 
Mary Hale : Haldimand Putnam, who married ^larie Voorhees, of San Fran- 
cisco; and Richard Batchelder, who married Estelle Miller of Cincinnati and 
has one daughter, Elizabeth. 



'&' 



COL. DANIEL HALL, of Dover, N. H., lawyer, business man. and Grand 
Army veteran, whose name for many years has been prominently connected 
with state affairs, was born in the f>eautiful town of Barrington, this county, 
February 28, 1832. His parents were Gilman and Eliza (Tuttle) Hall and 
he is a descendant in the 7th generation of John Hall, who appears to have 
come to Dover, N. H., in the year 1649, with his brother, Ralph, from Charles- 
town, Mass. Of this blood was the mother of Governor John Langdon, Tobias 
Lear (Washington's pri\ate secretary), and others of like energy. John 
Hall was the first recorded deacon of the Dover First Church ( the first church 
established in New Tdampshire ) : he was also town clerk, commissioner to 




COL. JJAMKL HALL 



AND REPRESEXTATRE CITIZENS 637 

try small cases, and a farnitT, l.)ut mainly surveyor of lands. His spring of 
fine water on Dover Neck is still know n as "Hairs Spring." His son, Ralph, 
was of Dover, a farmer; whose son. Ralph, also a farmer, was one of the early 
settlers of Barrington ; whose son. Solomon, also a farmer, w as of the same 
town. Solomon's son, Daniel, also a farmer, was father of Gilman Hall (his 
ninth child), who, by his wife. Eliza Tnttle. was father cif nine children, Daniel 
being the first-born. The pictures(jue old house in which he was born, located 
near W'inkley's Pond, was torn down about looo. It was an interesting and 
venerable landmark, but unoccui)ied and in a ruinous condition. 

Gilman Hall was early a trader in Do\-er. but for twenty-fi\e subsequent 
years was farmer and trader in Barrington. his nati\-e town, on the stage 
road known as the \\'aldron's Hill road. He was representative and for many 
years selectman. His wife. Eliza, was a descendant of John Tuttle. who was 
judge of the Superior Court for many years prior to 1700, residing in Do\'er. 

Daniel Hall spent his boyhood on the farm, attending the district school, 
and by and by helping in his father's store. When fourteen years old he began 
driving a team to Do\er, w ith wood and lumber, which he sold, standing on 
Central Square. By this time, h(>we\er, he had f(irmed a strong taste for 
books and had resolved to acquire a g(jod education. Accordingly, when about 
sixteen, having mastered all that could be taught him in the district .school, he 
secured two terms, about six months in all, at Strafford Academy — one term 
under Ira ¥. Folsom ( D. C. 1S4S ). and one under Rev. Porter S. Burbank. In 
1849 he was one term at the Xew Hampshire Conference Seminary, in North- 
field, Rev. Richard S. Rust, principal. Then, for satisfactory reasons he gave 
up all academies, returned home, set himself down alone to his Greek, Latin, 
and mathematics, and with indomitable jierseverance prepared for college. He 
entered Dartmouth in 1S50. i;rol)a1)ly the poorest fitted in his class, but he had 
the litting of a determined will, unconcpieralile industry, a keen intellect, and 
the fibre of six generations of open-air ancestors, and in 1854 he graduated 
at the very head of his class, and was valedictorian. As the eldest of nine 
children he bad to practice economy. He taught district school five winters 
in his native town, and what small advances he had from his father were 
repaid, to the last dollar, from his first earnings. 

In the fall of 1854 young Hall was appointed a clerk in the New- York 
custom house, which position he held for some years. He had taken an early 
interest in politics, being b}- education a Democrat. But he had always been 
positively anti-slavery in sentiment. Pie was dissatisfied with the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill, and alone of all the clerks in the custom house, and fearless of 
the probable result to himself, he openly denounced the Lecompton Constitu- 
tion policy of Buchanan, and supported Douglas. In consequence he was re- 
moved from office in March, 18^8. 



638 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Returning to Dover, he continued the study of law — which he had com- 
menced in New York — in the office of the eminent lawyer, Daniel M. Christie, 
and on that gentleman's motion was admitted to the bar at the May term, 
i860. He afterwards well repaid Mr. Christie's kindness by a eulogy upon 
his decease, delivered before the court and subsequently printed. It was re- 
garded as an eloquent and appreciative tribute to Mr. Christie's remarkable 
qualities of manhood and extraordinary powers as a lawyer. 

Mr. Hall, upon his admission to the bar, opened an office in Dover, and 
commenced practice. In the spring of 1859, just before the state election, in 
view of the great crisis coming upon the country, at an immense meeting in 
Dover, he (as did also Judge Charles Doe) withdrew from the Democratic 
party and cast in his allegiance with the Republicans. With them, where his 
conscience and political principles alike placed him, has his lot been cast e\er 
since, and it is not improbable that that one addition in later and critical years 
turned the scale in Xew Hampshire's political destinies. 

It was an episode in his life that in 1859 he was appointed by the Gov- 
ernor and Council school commissioner for Strafford county and reappointed 
in i860. His early training in the country district school, his work as master 
in the winters, and his hard-earned higher education qualified him eminently 
for the practical duties of this office. 

In the autumn of 1861 INIr. Hall was appointed secretary of the I'nited 
States Senate committee to investigate the surrender of the Norfolk Navy 
Yard. This committee consisted of John P. Hale, Andrew Johnson and James 
W. Grimes. Soon after he was appointed clerk of the senate committee on 
naval affairs at Washington, of which Mr. Hale was chairman. He served 
in this capacity until March, 1862; but he wished for more immediate partici- 
pation in the great struggle then in progress. The conflict, which had its 
symptoms in the Lecompton strife, had become war, and the young man who 
had then sacrificed office for princifile was ready for a still greater sacrifice. 
In March, 1862, he was commissioned aide-de-camp and captain in the reg- 
ular army of the United States. He was assigned to duty with Gen. John C. 
Fremont, but before he had time to join that officer, Gen. Fremont had retired 
from command, and Capt. Hall was transferred to the staff of Gen. A. W. 
Whipple, then in command at Arlington Heights of the troops and works in 
front of Washington on the south side of the Potomac. In September, 1862, 
a few days after the battle of Antietam, Gen. Whipple joined the xAmiy of 
the Potomac, and eventually marched with it to the front of Fredericksburg. 
On the 13th of December. 1862, he was in the battle of Fredericksburg, cross- 
ing the river with the Third Corps and taking part in the sanguinary assault 
upon the works which covered Marye's Heights. 

At the battle of Chancellorsville he was in the column sent out to cut Jack- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 639 

son's line as he moved in front of tlie army, and in the gallant action of the 
Third Division of the Third Corps, nnder Gen. Whipple, of whose statY he 
was a member, and was with that lamented officer when he fell mortally 
wounded. Capt. Hall was then assigned to the staff of Gen. Oliver O. Howard, 
commander of the Eleventh Corps, and with him went to Gettysburg. His 
position in that action was important. When Gen. Reynolds, commanding the 
First Corps, had advanced through the town and encountered the enemy, Gen. 
Howard, then moving up and aljout five miles to the rear, hearing the heavy 
firing, ordered Capt. Hall to ride forward as rapidly as possible, find Gen. 
Reynolds, ascertain the condition of afl^airs, and obtain his orders. Capt. 
Hall's fleet horse soon covered the distance, and he found Gen. Reynolds 
himself in an advanced and exposed position from the enemy's fire. He did 
his errand. Gen. Reynolds said he had met the enemy in force, and sent 
the order to Gen. Howard to bring up his corps with all possible dispatch. 
Scarcely had Capt. Hall got back through the town when he was ox-ertaken 
by the intelligence that Gen. Reynolds was mortally wounded, and near the 
cemetery he met Gen. Howard impatiently coming up in advance of his corps. 
Passing Cemetery Ridge, Gen. Howard said, "That is the place to fight this 
battle," and directed Capt. Hall to take a battery from the leading division 
and place it in position on the crest of the hill. This was done, and that bat- 
tery, the first planted on Cemetery Hill, remained on that spot through the 
three days of the conflict. When Gen. Howard took his own place there, 
. Capt. Hall was of course with him, and on the second day of the engagement 
was slightly wounded by a shell. These details are given simply to place on 
record, in this permanent form, his testimony to the justice of the claim made 
by the friends of Gen. Howard that he was fully entitled to the thanks voted 
him by Congress for selecting Cemetery Hill and holding it as the battle- 
ground of the great and glorious battle of Gettysburg. 

In the latter part of 1863 his health suffered, and he was forced to leave 
the service in December of that year. But in June, 1864, he was appointed 
provost-marshal of the First New Hampshire District, being stationed at 
Portsmouth, and here he remained until the close of the war. The affairs 
of the office were in some confusion, but his methodical habits soon reduced 
it to order. During his term of service he enlisted or drafted and forwarded 
over 4,000 men to the army. This service ceased in October, 1865. "He was 
one of the men," said a substitute broker to the writer of this sketch, "that 
no man dared approach with a crooked proposition, no matter how nuich was 
in it." 

Mr. Hall resumed the practice of law in Dover, but in 1866 was appointed 
clerk of the Supreme Court for Strafford County, and in 1868 became judge of 
the Police Court of the City of Dover, serving from 1868 to 1874 and 1876 to 



640 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

1877. The duties of these offices were performed with his usual sense of 
justice, but in 1874 the Democratic party being in power, "addressed" him out 
of both offices. In the meanwhile he had been judge-advocate, with the rank 
of major, in the military of New Hampshire, under Governor Smyth, and 
held a position on the staff of Governor Harriman, which gave him his usual 
title of colonel. 

Col. Hall had long taken a deep interest in political aft'airs. To him they 
represented principles. In 1873 he was president of the Republican State 
Convention at Concord. He had been for some years a member of the Repub- 
lican State Committee, when, in December, 1873, his abilities as a leader and 
executive officer were recognized in his selection as chairman of that commit- 
tee. He so remained until 1877. 'i'""^' conducted the campaigns, state and na- 
tional, of 1874, 1875, and 1876. These were critical years for the Republican 
party. The nearly even balance of parties in New Hampshire, the vigor and 
intensit}- with which the battles are always fought, and the skill necessary in 
e\"ery department, demand abilities and energies of the highest order. The 
years mentioned surpassed ordinarx- years in political danger to the Repub- 
licans. It is sufficient to say that Col. Hall conducted the last three campaigns 
(previous to 1882) to a triumphant issue. So decisive were the successive 
victories that the tide was turned, and from that time the state swerved not 
from Republican allegiance until the Democratic landslide in 191-'. 

In 1876 Col. Hall was chairman of the Xew Hami)shire delegation to the 
Republican National Convention at Cincinnati, being chosen at large, un- 
pledged, and with scarce a dissenting vote. Seven delegates voted from first 
to last for James G. Blaine, but Col. Hall, with ex-governor Straw and Hon. 
Charles H. Burnes, voted six times for Mr. Bristow, and on the decisive ballot 
for Rutherford B. Hayes. 

In 1876 and 1877, ]\Ir. Hall was. by appointment of Governor Cheney, 
reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, and in 
that honorable position published \c;)lumes 56 and 57, New Hampshire Reports. 

In 1877 he succeeded Gov. Harriman as naval officer at the port of Boston, 
serving till 1886. This office is co-ordinate with that of collector, upon which 
it is a check. Air. Hall's business habits, his keen insight, his perfect accuracy, 
and the ruling principles of his life to do ever\thing well and thoroughly, 
there came into operation. He quietly mastered the details as well as the 
general work of the department. Regularly at his jiost, his office became a 
model in its management and was commended in the highest terms by the 
proper officers. When, therefore, his term expired he was reappointed for 
another four years by President Arthur, with no serious opposition. 

Col. Hall has been trustee of the Strafford Savings Bank since 1883 and 



AND REPRESEXTATIVE CITIZENS 641 

is now its vice-president. Among other offices he has held and the duties of 
which he has ably performed, are: trustee and secretary of the Soldiers' 
Home from 1889 to date; department commander of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, 1892-1893; trustee of the Dover Public Library, 1895 to date; trus- 
tee of Berwick Academy from 1895 to date, and director of the Strafford 
National Bank from 1897 to date. He is a member of the Grand Army of 
the Republic, the Loyal Legion of the United States, the New Hampshire 
Historical Society, the Bar Association of Southern New Hampshire and 
the American Bar Association. He has made many public addresses on 
subjects political, military, literary and miscellaneous. A volume entitled 
"Occasional Addresses" was published liy him in 1S92. He was president of 
the Historical Society three years and officiated at the dedication of the fine 
building at Concord presented to the Historical Society l)y Hun. Edward Tuck 
of Paris. It is the finest building in the state, ha\ing cust half a million d(.)llars. 

Col. Hall married, January 2^, 1877, Sophia, daughter of Jonathan T. and 
Sarah (Han.son) Dodge, of Rochester, N. H., and has one son, Arthur 
Wellesley Hall, born August 30, 1878. who married Inez Bunker, daughter of 
F. H. and Frances Bunker. They ha\e <ine son. Daniel Hall, liorn I'ebruary 
12, 1909, on the looth anniversary of the birth of .\braham Lincoln. The 
beautiful house erected and occupied liy him in Do\er, and adorned with cul- 
tivated taste, has not its least charm in the steadily increasing library of care- 
fully selected literature to whose study he dexotes the hours not required by 
official duties. His early ancestors were members of the Congregational 
Church — where they held office two centuries and a half ago, but he is himself 
a liberal and free thinker. He is a radical teetotaler and deeply interested in 
the cause of temperance. He is fond of animals and. in particular, has a great 
love for the horse. 

Col. Hall's gentle, courteous and unassuming manners do not meet the com- 
mon idea of the liold and sagacious politician. His modest conversation will 
suggest scholarly instincts, but requires time to show the breadth of his culture. 
Public addresses have, as occasion demanded, e.xhibited the thoughtful polit- 
ical student, a patriotic love of country, and the ripeness of the accomplished 
scholar. Fidelity to e\ery engagement, good faith to e\ery principle espoused, 
firmness in determination, and usefulness in every w ork undertaking have in- 
sured him success, and won for him the high regartl and esteem of his fellow 
citizens throughout the State. 

FRANK R. SPIERS, vice president of the Spiers-Fish Brick Company, 
who have a large plant at Pickering, Strafford county, N. H., of which 
Mr. Spiers is also local superintendent, was born at Chicopee. Mass., April 12. 



642 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

1871, a son of John and Christina (Shaw) Spiers. Both parents were natives 
of Scotland, but resided for many years at Chicopee, ]\Iass., where they died. 

Frank R. Spiers began his education in the pubHc schools of Chicopee and 
later attended school in Worcester, ]\Iass. Learning the machinist's trade, he 
worked at it for eighteen years in \\"orcester, and then, in 1907, engaged in 
the brick-making industry. After awhile he became one of the owners of the 
business now carried on under the style of Spiers-lMsh Brick Company. I.i 
May, 1909, he was elected vice-president of the corporation, and since then 
has also been superintendent of the plant at Pickering. The concern manu- 
factures face, common, stiff mud and hollow brick, also "Han-ard" brick, of 
which thev make a s[)ecialty. They have an office at Xo. 79 Milk street, 
Boston, and their sales amount to from 30,000,000 to 35,000,000 brick per 
annum, though the capacity of their yard at Pickering amounts to but 10,000,- 
000, the remainder being purchased from various other brick yards in Xev 
•England, the company in this case acting as jobbers. About 100 men are 
employed at the Pickering plant, the yards covering about 120 acres. The 
president of the company is W. A. Spiers, who resides in Boston. 

Mr. Spiers has resided in Rochester, X. H.. since 1907. At the time the 
present company purchased the Pickering plant it was turning out about 
1,500,000 brick per annum, the output having been since increased, as above 
shown. The business is one of the most extensive of its kind in New England, 
and it is one of the most important industries in Strafford county. 

Mr. Spiers belongs to Homane Lodge, No. 21, A. F. & A. ]\I., of Roches- 
ter, and to Ancora Lodge, No. 142, L O. O. F., of Worcester, :Mass. He has a 
high reputation throughout this section as a progressive and reliable business 
man and a public-spirited citizen. In politics he is a Republican. He married 
Miss M. Penny, of Union, N. H. 

JOHN C. TOWNSEND, a highly respected resident of Milton Mills, 
now living retired and occupying his comfortable residence on Church street, 
was born September 17, 1871, at East Welton, Me., and is a son of Joseph 
and Ruth P. (Wentworth) Townsend. 

Joseph Townsend was born in England and after coming to New Hamp- 
shire was connected with the mill industrv", being agent for twenty-five years 
of the Waumbeck at Milton Alills and :\loosehead Woolen lUWs of East Milton, 
Me. He died at Milton Mills at the age of sixty-four years, and his burial w as 
in the cemetery at this place. He married Ruth P. Wentworth, who survived 
until January' 15, 1901, dying in her seventy-third year. Of their eleven chil- 
dren there are three survivors : Mrs. J. M. Brooks of West Medford, Mass. ; 
Mrs. J. R. Brown, of Oakland, Me. ; and John C. the youngest of the family. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 643 

The father and mother were members of the Free Will liaptist church at 
Milton Mills and for twenty years he was superintendent of the Sunday school. 
He belonged to the Masons and was a member of the Chapter at Farmington, 
Maine. 

John C. Townsend passed his boyhood at East Wilton. Me., attended the 
academy at Wilton and then returned to Milton Mills. B'ollowing his mar- 
riage he settled with his uncle at Saugus, Mass., w here he was connected with 
him in the grocery business. Fifteen years afterward he came to Milton 
Mills, where he has resided ever since. 

On June 17, 1896, Mr. Townsend was married to Miss Grace M. Town- 
send, a daughter of Henry H. and Agnes (Briarley) Townsend, and it was 
while living at Saugus, Mass., that their son, Frank Herbert, was born. 
Mr. Townsend is prominent in Masonry and is an Odd Fellow. He belongs 
to the Blue Lodge at Saugus ; Chapter and Palestine Commandery at Roches- 
ter; New Hampshire Consistory; and Bektash Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He 
belongs also to the Eastern Star and is past noble grand of the Odd Fellows, 
at Milton Mills. In politics he is a Republican but has never desired public 
office. 

REV. JAMES H. BRENNAN, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic church, 
at Somersworth, N. H., was born at Rochester, Strafford county, N. H., in 
1869, and is a son of Philip and Catherine (Farrell) Brennan. The father 
followed no trade, being a general laborer, and was an industrious, self-respect- 
ing man. Both he and wife were bom in Ireland. They reared a family of 
three children. 

James H. Brennan attended the public and parochial schools of Dover, to 
which place his parents moved during his early youth, and his training and 
discipline for the priesthood were secured in Holy Cross College, at Worcester, 
Mass., and the Montreal (Canada) Seminary. He was ordained to tlie priest- 
hood in 1894 and his first charge was at Manchester and his second at Con- 
cord, N. H. A second time he had charge at Manchester and from there came 
to Holy Trinity in 1909. Father Brennan has inaugurated many improvements 
since he took charge of his present parish and has not only won the confidence 
and esteem of his own congregation but also the respect of the whole com- 
munity. 

HON. WILLIAM F. McNALLY, a well known man in Strafford county, 
treasurer of Rollinsford and a prosperous merchant at Salmon Falls, was born 
December 2, 1874, at Salmon Falls, N. H., and is a son of Edward and Cath- 
erine (Murphy) McNally. Both parents are deceased. 



644 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

William F. McXally was reared and educated in his native place. After 
the termination of his school days lie entered a local business house as a clerk 
and thus learned the i)ractical details of merchandising which he turned to 
excellent account, in February. 1905, embarking in a mercantile business of his 
own. As a reputable, just and public spirited citizen, Mr. McXally long since 
satisfied his friends and neighbors as to his qualifications for public oftice and 
he has been many times elected to exceedingly responsible positions on the 
Democratic ticket. At present he is serving as chairman of the Democratic 
committee of Rollinsford: he served one term as selectman and one term as 
supervisor of the check list of Rollinsford ; for seven years has been a member 
and chairman of the school board; for fourteen years has been treasurer of 
Rollinsford, and in 1905 and 1906 rei)resented Rollinsford in the New Hamp- 
shire legislature. 

Mr. McNally married Miss Margaret Buzzell, and they have two children, 
Roland W. and Gertrude li. 'I"he family belongs to the Catholic church, 
Mr. McNally is identified with the L C). R. M. and the A. O. H.. both at Salmon 
Falls, and the Knights of Columbus and the ^Merchants' Protective Association 
at Dover. 

CHARLES LUKE HOWE. New Hampshire has many wonders. Among 
them are the White Mountains and Lake Winnepesaukee. Among the won- 
ders of Strafford cnuntv are the (iarnscni Hill (jreenhouses. The success of 
this large enterprise is due entirely to the energy and resourcefulness of its 
sole proprietor, Charles Luke Howe. There were several early immigrant 
ancestors by the name of Howe, Init John Howe, of Warwickshire, England, 
son of John, was one of the earliest, if not the first of this name, in ^^ew 
England. The most famous of the descendants o\ John was Elias Howe, the 
inventor of the sewing machine. But quite a number have developed remark- 
able mechanical ingenuity and several are distinguished for their intellectual 
attainments and philanthropy. 

John Howe settled first in \\'atertown. After se\eral years' residence there 
he moved to Sudbury, ]\Iass., where he was made freeman. May 13, 1640. 
Here his grandrm 1milt im his father's farm the ta\-ern called first "Howe's 
Tavern," and later celebrated by Longfellow as the "Wayside Lin." 

Ahner Howe,* the great-grandson of John, lived in Brookfield, Mass. 
Aimer Howe ser\ed in the Revolution, as a muster roll dated December, 1776, 
shows, with rank of Corporal in Caj)!. Abijah Bangs Company. Col. Dikes' 
Regiment. After the death of his father the eldest son, Adonijah,' born in 
Brookfield. ^lass., in 1757. bringing his mother, settled in Jaffrey, N. H. There 
he practiced medicine for more than thirty years. For many years he was the 



AND REPRESEXTATRE CITIZENS 645 

moderator of the town meetings, town clerk and town treasurer. He repre- 
sented the town in the legislature lor several years, and, what was a dis- 
tinguished honor in those days, was appointed a justice of the peace. Dr. How e 
married Sarah, daughter of Noah and Lydia (Kent) Ripley, sister of Rev. Dr. 
Exra Ripley, of Concord, Mass. There he married the widowed mother of 
Ralph Waldo Emerson. Mrs. Dr. Howe died at the age of 40 years, December 
13, 1800. 

Their son Luke," born in Jafirey, March 28, 1787, graduated at Dartmouth 
College in 181 1, read law with Hon. Xathan Dane of Beverly, Mass. He began 
practice at Jaffrey. In 1814 he left this profession and studied medicine at 
Boston and at Dartmouth College, graduating 'SI. D. in 1818. He settled 
in JatTrey and became a distinguished physician in that place. He was presi- 
dent of the New Hampshire Medical Society, published essays on scientific 
subjects and introduced improvements in surgical instruments. He was super- 
intendent of ])ul;)lic schools and many years postmaster. He married the widtjw 
of his brother, Mary W'oodlniry Howe, in 1819. Mary Woodbury was a 
daughter of Peter Woodbury and sister of the famous and successful states- 
man. Hon. Levi Woodbury. She was the seventh in descent from John 
^^'oodbury, who landed on Cape Ann. Mass., in iC)24. Her grandfather at the 
age of £19 was sergeant of the company of minute men at the battle on Lexing- 
ton Green. She died in Westford. Mass., January 18, 1875. Their son, 
Adonijah W.,' born 1825, studied medicine and graduated M. D. at Dart- 
mouth, 185 1 ; began practice at Dunstable, Mass. There he met his future 
wife, Martha Dunster Buttertield. He died in 1886. Martha Dunster Butter- 
field was seventh in descent from Henry Dunster, the first president of Harvard 
College. 

The sixth child of .Adonijah W. Howe and his wife Martha is Charles 
Luke Howe, the subject of this .sketch. He married in 1893 Ellen A., the sec- 
ond child of Benjamin 1'. Vittum and Elizabeth J. I'ierce. The Vittum gene- 
alogy is of considerable interest. The emigrant was William Vieuxtemp, who 
was driven from France by the ]\Lassacre of St. Bartholomew. He was one 
of those important emigrants who were known as French Huguenots, several 
thousand of whom settled in America. The name became Anglicized by the 
attempt of the natives in America to spell it in English as it was pronounced 
in French. When ^^'illiam ^ came to .America he brought a son named William. 
This William - married in Hampton, N. H., Abigal Lane. Their fourth child 
was William." He married, December 17, 1747, Sarah Page. Their first 
child, \\'illiam ■* married Elizabeth Jewell. Their se\enth child was David,^ 
born January 29, 1790. He married Dolly Beede. of Sandwich, N. H., May 
20, 1 810 Their voungest child was Benjamin Franklin Vittum,* born .Sep- 



646 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

teinber 5, 1827; married Elizabeth Pierce, July 2^, 1851. Ellen A.," who mar- 
ried Charles L. Howe, was their second child. 

There were several immigrants by the family name of Pierce and the same 
name was spelled in different ways. The first American ances'tor of Elizabeth 
Pierce was John Pierce,^ who came to Watertown, Mass., from Norwich, Eng- 
land, in 1637. From him her line of descent is Anthony,- Joseph, ^ Benjamin.* 
He was first of this family to come to Strafford county, where he married in 
Dover in 1705. It would be quite appropriate to call this one of the really 
old families of this county, since six generations ha\e been born in the city of 
Dover— -Benjamin,"' Andrew,'^ Andrew/ Elizabeth J.,* the mother, Ellen A. 

Howe.'' 

Hon. Andrew Pierce" married Betsey \\'entworth. By this marriage 
Betsey \\>ntworth was the grandmother of Mrs. Howe. Betsey Wentworth 
was the daughter of Thomas Wentworth and Mary Roberts; she, the daughter 
of Col. James Roberts, a soldier of the Revolution. The grandfather Went- 
worth (grandfather of Betsey), known as Col. Jonathan of the 2d New 
Hampshire militia, served as captain of a company in Col. Poor's New Hamp- 
shire regiment, .\fter the Concord alarm his regiment made a forced march 
from Dover to Chelsea. He served throughout the war, rising to the rank of 
major. Pie was fourth in descent from the famous Elder Wentworth, the 
immigrant of tlie Wentworth family in .Vmerica. 

T\\ enty-one years ago after having learned in Boston the trade of a florist 
and the art of floral design, as well as having had some practical experience in 
the business for himself in Nashua, for about three years, Charles Luke Howe 
came to Strafford county. Here in Doxer he built on Rutland street a small 
greenhouse and started in a modest way as a florist. About a year after he had 
an opportunity to purchase \\ hat was then known as the "Johnson Greenhouse" 
at Garrison Hill. For several years he conducted both houses but finding such 
a plan divided his attention he consolidated the two houses at Garrison Hill. 
His expert knowledge of how to make flowers bloom under glass at the least 
expense and so enable him to supply them to the public at moderate prices, his 
executive abilitv by which he could find and teach men to do the work as well as 
be could do it himself, together with the careful personal supervision which he 
has always given the whole business, have all been factors in the development of 
his present extensive plant covering 17 acres. It includes 12 glass greenhouses, 
each about 125 feet long, their average width being about 30 feet. Here he 
raises all plants and flowers that there is a commercial demand for, having a 
large trade in fancy cut flowers, both wholesale and retail. These greenhouses 
are" not onlv more in number but are better in construction and contain more 
stock than any other retail flower growing house in Maine. Xev Hampshire 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 647 

or Vermont. Since establishing his plant in Dover j\Ir. Howe has founded 
branch establishments at 631 Congress street, Portland, Me. ; 221 Water street, 
Augusta, Mc. ; 4 Market street, Portsmouth. N. H. ; and 668 Main street. Laco- 
nia. N. H., all the latter being devoted to the retail trade. He has about 15 
employees m his Dover plant and several in each of his other stores. Taken 
together the amount of cut flowers used by his branch stores re(iuire the 
services of about 20 men, six horses and two automobiles where the flowers are 
grown. As a florist Mr. Howe's reputation extends over several states. He 
belongs to the Masonic lodge at Dover, to the Odd Fellows, the B. P. O. E., 
the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Pythias, all of Dover. He belongs 
to the Congregational church and pdlilicall}- is a Kepuljlican. 

JOHN O. A. WENTWORTH. treasurer of the Rollinsford Savings Bank, 
and cashier of the Salmon Falls Bank, is a well known and popular citizen of 
Salmon Falls, N. H., where he has resided since 1872. He was Ijurn in the 
town of Rollinsford. February 20. 1849. ^ son of Samuel H. and Jane ( Walsh ) 
Wentworth. the father being a native of Rollinsford, N. H.. and the mother of 
Portsmouth. N. H. Samuel H. Wentworth was a son of John Wentworth. of 
Rollinsford. a descendant of William Wentworth. who was a descendant of 
one of the early settlers of Rollinsford. John, the grandfather, was at one 
time a member of the New Hampshire legislature, representing the town of 
Somersworth. Samuel H. Wentworth also represented Somersworth in the 
legislature, in 1847 and 1848. He was originally a Whig and later a Republi- 
can. He was a farmer all his life in Rollinsford, where he died in 1870. The 
subject of this sketch was his only child. 

John O. A. W'entworth was reared in Rollinsford, N. H., beginning his 
education in the public schools and later attending South Berwick Academy at 
South Berwick. Me. In 1867 he graduated at I'.ryant & Stratton Commercial 
College, at Concord. N. H.. after which he taught school for a short time. On 
the death of his father in 1870 he engaged in farming on the homestead and was 
thus occupied for two years. He then removed to Salmon Falls and entered the 
employ of the Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company as assistant paymaster, 
which position he held until 1801. when he was appointed i>avmaster with the 
same concern. In i\Iay, 1892, he was appointed treasurer of the Rollinsford 
Savings Bank, and some time thereafter was appointed cashier of the Salmon 
Falls Bank, both of wdiich positions he has since continued to hold. 

Mr. Wentworth is a Republican in politics and has taken a more or fess 
active part in public affairs. For a number of years he served as tax collector 
of Rollinsford and in 1879 and 1880 was a selectman of that town. In 1876 he 
was a delegate to the New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention. He 

38 



648 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was representative from Rollinsford to tlie State legislature in 1883 and 101 r. 
For over a quarter of a century he acted as trial justice for Rollinsford and 
for 25 years has been a notary public. Since i8*:)6 he has served as town clerk 
and for a number of years has been a member of the school board of the same 
town. In addition to being cashier of the Salmon Falls Bank, he is also a 
director in the same institution, and is treasurer of tlie Episcopal Church of 
Salmon Falls ; also a trustee of Berwick Academy. Fraternally he belongs to 
Granite Lodge, No. 65, A. F. & A. M., of Salmon Falls and to St. Paul Com- 
mandery, K. T., at Dover, N. H. ; also to Salmon Falls Lodge, Xo. 30, L O. 
O. F. ; in the work of all these lodges he has taken an active and useful part. 
He occupies a prominent place among the enterprising and substantial citizens 
of Salmon Falls and has a wide and extended acquaintance throughout the 
county generally. 

Mr. Wentworth was married, in June, 1872, to Lillia E. Russell, of Salmon 
Falls, and they have one son, Ralph, who is now paymaster of the Salmon 
Falls J\Lanufacturing Company. 

COL. CHARLES CARPENTER GOSS, of Dover. N. H., banker, and 
one or the leading financiers in southern New Hampshire, \\as born in Gass- 
ville, this state, February 9, 1871. He is one of a family of three children born 
to John A. and Electa A. (Carpenter) Goss. His financial ability may have 
come to him partly through inheritance, as both his father and maternal grand- 
father — after the latter of whom he was named — were bankers of renown. 
The father died February 4, 1903, and Chas. H. Carpenter in 1910. 

The subject of this sketch after attending school in Pittsfield, went to 
Phillips Exeter Academy and in 1889. entered Dartmouth College, from which 
institution he was graduated in 1893 with the degree of B. S. He had literally 
gro\\n up in the banking business, having been busy in the National and 
Savings banks from boyhood during vacations in his school life. 

The following summer he entered the banking business with the Shawniut 
National Bank of Boston. After remaining there awhile he returned to Pitts- 
field because of his father's failing health in the bank where for many 
years his father was cashier and his grandfather the president, remaining there 
until 1900. During that time he was town treasurer and treasurer of other 
business companies in the town, when he came to Do\er. and organized the 
Merchants" National Bank, with Charles H. Carpenter, president ; John A. 
Goss, vice president, of which he Ijecanie cashier and \icc i)resident, positions 
which he now holds. In the following year, 1901, he organized the Merchants' 
Savings Bank, of Dover, both banks ranking among the foremost in the state. 
Of the Merchants' Savings Bank he is now trustee and treasurer, and directing 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 649 

the affairs of both banks. In addition he is president of the Pittsfield National 
Bank, of Pittsfield, N. H., taking his grandfather's place there. He has also 
other important business interests, being president of the Lothrops-Farnam 
Clothing Company, of Dover, and a director of the New Boston R. R. His 
business and financial ability is widely recognized throughout the state, and in 
the southern part of the county his connection with any enterprise is of itself 
sufficient to inspire general confidence in its success. He served as treasurer of 
Strafford County for six years, making an ideal official. He belongs to the 
Masonic order, to the Knights of Pythias and to the Bellamy Club. In politics 
he is a Republican, and for two years he served as a member of Gov. Henry B. 
Quimby's personal staff. 

Mr. Goss married Miss Winifred Lane, born April 30, 1875, a daughter 
of Charles H. and Lorena A. (Perkins) Lane, of Pittsfield, N. H., and he 
and his wife are the parents of a son, Charles Lane Carpenter Goss, born 
February 24, 1903. Mrs. Goss is at present state regent of the Daughters of 
the American Re\'olution and a member of other patriotic and social organiza- 
tions. The family are affiliated with the Fir.st Congregational church and are 
prominent members of the best society of Dover. As business man and citizen 
Mr. Goss is a potent factor in the life of Dover and vicinity his character 
uniting in happy proportion those two most desirable qualities of progress and 
conservatism so pithily enjoined in the famous saying of Davy Crockett — 
"Be sure you're right, then go ahead." 

GEORGE W. NUTTER, M. D., formerly a member of the New Hamp- 
shire legislature, and in 1900 a member of the New Hampshire State Con- 
stitutional Convention, has been engaged in medical practice at Salmon Falls 
since 1891 and is owner and proprietor of a drug store here, a second store 
at Somersworth. and a third store at Concord. Dr. Nutter was born ?t Barn- 
stead, N. H., June 21, 1858, and is a son of William S. and Mary E. (Cvjj'ins) 
Nutter. The founder of the Nutter family in New England came from Eng- 
land in 1630. settling in what is now Newington, N. H., the family removing to 
Barnstead when the great-grandfather was a young man. Both the father and 
grandfather were born and raised at Barnstead where William S. Nutter passed 
his life, being a man of substantial standing and serving at times in the office of 
selectman. His death occurred some years ago about 1898. 

George W. Nutter was reared in his native place where he first attended 
school, later becoming a student at Pittsfield Academy and subsequently at 
Dartmouth Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 18S3. 
He entered into practice at Manchester and won political and professional 
prominence there, coming from that city to Salmon Falls in 1891, as stated 



650 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

above. He has always been an active citizen with a feeling of responsibility, 
l-'or se\-eral years he served as selectman of Rollinsford and at present is tax 
collector of the town, elected on the Democratic ticket. Dr. Xutter is a trustee 
of the Rollinsford Savings Bank and a director of the Salimm Falls Bank. 

Dr. Xutter was first married to Miss Josie AI. Lord, of Salmon Falls. His 
.second marriage was to Miss Bertha A. Johnson, of this place, and they have 
two daughters, Ruth and Dorothy. The family attends the Congregational 
church. He is well known in fraternal life, being a thirty-second degree Mason 
and a "Shriner," belonging to Granite Lodge, A. F. & A. M. at Salmon Falls; 
the Chapter at South Berwick, Me. ; the Council and Commandery at Dover ; 
Aleppo Shrine at Boston and other branches at Portsmouth and Nashua, N. H. 
He belongs also to Ridgley Lodge of Odd Fellows, at Manchester. 

\MLBUR M. WEXTWORTH, who follows farming and dairying near 
Rollinsford, X". H., was born un the place on which he lives, Januarv (\ 1863, 
and is a son of John H. and Mary J. ( Stockpole) W'entworth, and a grandson 
of John W'entworth. Clrand father \\'ent worth was seven years old when he 
accompanied an uncle who settled on the farm that is now owned by Wilbur AL 
W'entworth, this land never since having passed out of the family. 

John H. W'entworth was born at Rollinsford, X. H., and lived there all 
liis life, his death occurring in 1903. He married Mary J. Stockpole. who 
was l)orn at Somersworth. X. H., and died in 1888. Of their numerous children 
the following survive: Charles T., who lives at Rollinsford; Ella C, who is the 
wife of Frank L. Quint, of Xorth Berwick, Me. ; John B., who live sat South 
Berwick, Me.; Orion A., who is of Rollinsford; Emma C, who is the wife 
of Alfred J. Foss, of South Berwick, Me. ; Mabel, who is the wife of Edward H. 
.Spurling, of Dover; Wilbur AL ; Lizzie A., who is the wife of Charles E. 
Quint, of South Berwick; Alvah D.. of South Berwick; Herbert T, and Elmer 
X., both residing at Rollinsford. In politics John H. Wentw orth was a Repub- 
lican. He was a member of the Calvary Baptist church at South Berwick, Me. 

Wilbur M. W'entworth was reared on the home farm and was educated in 
the ]niblic schools. He owns sixty acres of excellent land and here carries on 
general agriculture, including dairying. This property possesses much more 
than a money value to him as it has been the family heritage for generations, 
each owner making improvements and adding to its value. 

Mr. W'entworth married Aliss Florence M. Ford, of South. Berwick, who 
d-ed early. His second marriage was to a lady born in Connecticut. In politics 
he is a Republican. He is interested in the Patrons of Husbandry and is a 
member of the Hiram R. Roberts Grange and belongs also to the lodge of 
Knights of Pythias at Portsmouth. X. H. Mr. W'entworth stands well with his 



AND REPRESEXTATRK CTTIZE.XS 651 

fellow citizens and is numbered with the sulid and suhstantial men of this 
section. 

GEORGE BENNETT \\T<I(:;HT, general agent of the Massachusetts 
Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Springfield, Mass., was horn in Brad- 
ford, N. H.. July 8, 1866. a son of George J. and Sarah F. ( Barnard ) Wright. 
The father was a railroad engineer. Mr. Wright attended the public and 
high schools at Claremont, N. H., and subse(|uently tlie New Hampton Insti- 
tute at New Hampton, N. H. He was then enii)loyed in the railroad offices 
for eight years, after which he entered the life insurance business, beginning 
as agent in the employ of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In this 
position he did so well that he was soon promoted to that of assistant sujjcr- 
intendent. He was then given supervision of one of the ordinary depart- 
ments, and in 1910 was made superintendent of the Dover Di.strict, one of 
the most important positions which the company has to bestow in this state. 
Here also Mr. Wright "made good," his natural business ability and thorough 
training standing him in good stead. In 1913 he was made general agent 
for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company with headquarters 
at Dover, the eastern part of New Hampshire being under his supervision. 

Mr. Wright is a Free Mason of high standing, having attained the 32d 
degree, and also belongs to Bektash Temple, Mystic Shrine, of which he is 
past potenate; and to Lodge No. 184, B. P. O. E. His social affiliations also 
include membership in the Bellamy Club, the Portsmouth Country Club and 
the Middlebrook Golf Club. In 1889 Mr. Wright married Miss Jennie M. 
Jones, of Concord, N. H., and he and his wife are the parents of two children 
— Dorothy, the wife of William \\^oosnam of Lawrence. Mass., and James J. 
who is attending Colby College, at Waterville, Me. Mr. \\'right is a trustee 
of the Merchants' Savings Bank, of Dover and is a man whose opinion on 
business matters carriers weight throughout this part of the state. 

GEORGE FREDERICK SYMES. who is one of the substantial business 
men of Somersworth, conducts a first class grocerv store at No. 70 High street, 
being sole proprietor of the oldest grocery house in the place, the old firm name 
of ^Villiam Symes & Son being retained. G. F. Symes was born at Somers- 
worth in i860 and is a son of William and Nancy (Hanson) Svmes. The 
father was born in West Newfield, Maine, and the mother at Newmarket, 
N. H. In 1844 William Symes came to New Hampshire and for thirty years 
afterward was engaged in a manufacturing business. He then embarked in 
the grocery business at Somersworth and continued until his death, at the age 
of eighty-seven years. His children were five in number, two of whom died 



652 li I STORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

in infancy and one, William, later in life. There are two survivors, Mrs. 
Harry V. ^loore and G. F. Symes. For over fifty j-ears \\'illiam Symes was 
a deacon in the Congregational church. 

G. F. Symes obtained his education in the schools of his native place and 
began to assist his father in boyhood, in iS88 becoming his partner, under 
the style of William Symes & Son, this caption continuing. Mr. Symes car- 
ries a full line of staple and fancy groceries and leads the trade here. He is 
on the directing board of the First National Bank of Somersworth. 

Mr. Symes married Miss Stella Hunter, of Topsham, Me., September 12, 
1S93, and they have one daughter, Margaret, born October 19, 1905. Mr. and 
Airs. Symes attend the Congregational church. In politics he is a Republican 
and at times has served as a member of the city council. He is justly proud 
of the fact that he is a direct descendant of Zachariah Symes, minister of 
the first church in Charlestown, Mass., from 1634 to 1671. Through the 
maternal line, Mr. Symes is a lineal descendant, in the ninth generation, of 
Governor Thomas Dudley of Massachusetts. 

ALPHONSO E. LITTLEFIELD, for many years was one of the highly 
respected residents of Dover, N. H., a man noted for business integrity and 
one who was esteemed in his family and neighborhood. He was born at 
Eaton Center, Carroll county, N. H., April i, 1850, and died at Dover, Febru- 
ary 13, 1912. His parents, John and Polly (Williams) Littlefield, were born 
in Maine and it is not unlikely that the maternal line included Roger Williams, 
the founder of the state of Rhode Island and the noted advocate of freedom 
of conscience in religious belief. 

Alphonso E. Littlefield probably enjoyed the usual school advantages of 
other youths similarly situated, but as soon as old enough began to provide for 
his own support by working in the cotton mills at Somersworth, Dover and 
Manchester, at the last named place being for a time a mill overseer. In 
the eighties he settled permanently at Dover and here was engaged in gar- 
dening and dairying during the rest of his life, operating a milk route for 
many years. His good judgment was recognized by his fellow citizens and 
he was elected a member of the city government for four consecutive years, 
serving two years as councilman and two years as alderman. 

At Manchester, N. H., January 8. 1S81, Mr. Littlefield was married to 
Miss Mary Perry, who was born June 18. 1851, in I'Vanklin county. N. Y., 
a daughter of Peter and Huldah ( 1 )ustin) Perry, both of Xew York. Among 
her ancestors on the maternal side was Hannah Dustin. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Little- 
field had one son born to them. Erwin M.. who is engaged in steel mill 
engineering. He completed his educatiim in the New Hampshire State College 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 653 

at Durham. In pulitics Alphunso E. Littlefitld was a supporter of the prin- 
ciples of tlie Repubhcan party. He was a man of high morahty and was a 
member of the Adventist church. Mrs. Littlefield owns and resides on the 
home place, a highly cultivated tract of thirteen acres. For over a quarter 
of a century she has lived in this section and is very highly esteemed. 

HON. ISAAC L. LUCAS, who for many years has been a highly re- 
spected resident and active business man of Dover, N. H., was born in Aire- 
shire, Scotland, February 21, 1846, and is a son of James and Ann (Lee) 
Lucas, and a grandson of Rev. Robert Lucas, who for nearly a half century, 
was a preacher in the Methodist faith in Ireland and Scotland. James Lucas 
was born in England but his wife was a native of Scotland. 

Isaac L. Lucas reached the age of eighteen years with little capital except 
good health and a fair knowledge of books acquired in the schools near his 
home. With his sister, Mary A. Lucas, he then decided to emigrate to Amer- 
ica, possessing ambition and having enough confidence in himself to feel sure 
that he could make his way in a land where chances for advancement seem 
to lay largely on industry and perseverance. The brother and sister embarked 
at Greenock, Scotland, in 1864, on the sailing ship, the White Star, and after 
a pleasant and uneventful voyage of twenty-seven days, the travelers were 
landed in the harbor of New York. From there they came to Dover and 
here the sister of Mr. Lucas died in August, 1883. Mr. Lucas found no 
obstacles in his path toward independence that he could not overcome and 
for the past forty years he has been engaged in brick manufacturing, being one 
of the most prosperous in this industry at Do\er Point. Early accepting civic 
responsibilities, Mr. Lucas became a leading force in luiblic matters in Strafford 
county and has been a very useful and influential citizen. For seventeen years 
he served the city of Do\'er in the office of street commissioner, for two years 
was alderman from the Fourth Ward and for t\\ o more years was selectman 
and chairman of the board, and for four years served as a representative from 
the Fourth Ward, town of Dover, in the New Hampshire legislature. In his 
political views he is a Republican. 

In July, 1872, Mr. Lucas was united in marriage to Miss Ellen A. Jenkins, 
who was born at Madbury, N. H., a daughter of Stephen Jenkins. There 
are many who still recall Mr. Jenkins as the instructor of their parents, for 
he was a well known educator in his day in StrafTord county, and at one 
time the late Hon. Henry Wilson, once vice president of the United States, 
was one of his pupils. Dr. Jenkins was a member of the Society of Friends. 
Prior to her marriage Mrs. Lucas, who attended the Friends' Seminary, at 
Providence, R. L, was a teacher in New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas 



654 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

have four cliildren : Ernest L., Minnie E., Walter H. and Edith W. Mr. Lucas 
and family are members of St. John's Methodist Episcopal church. 

JAMES G. HOUSTON, manager of the Dover branch uf the Beach Soap 
Company, manufacturers of soaps and washing powders, with main offices 
and works at Lawrence, Mass., is a well known business man and respected 
citizen. He was bom in Essex county, N. Y., in 1836, and is a son of James 
and Margaret (Gibson) Houston, natives of New York. The father was a 
farmer and died at the age of seventy years. 

James G. Houston was one in a family of eight children. He attendeil the 
public schools and started to work for the same companv with which he is 
now identified, remaining for four years, during the ne.Kt five years being 
in the employ of the street railway company, and for two years being superin- 
tendent of the old horse railroad at Dox'er. When the electric line superseded 
the old system lie w as made superintendent and serx'ed as such for three years. 
He was then elected city marshal of Somersworth, in which capacity he served 
eight months and then accepted his present position, in 1894, one for which 
he is well qualified. 

Mr. Houston was married first to Miss Lydia Hamilton, and they had one 
daughter, Margaret. His second marriage was to Miss Olive S. Hill. They 
attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican and 
has served two years as a member of the cit}- council. He is identified 
fraternally w ith Moses Paul Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and the Odd Fellows. 

ANDREW' J. SEAVEY, V. S., formerly one of Dover's well known and 
respected citizens, who for a number of j'ears up to the time of his death 
followed the vocation of veterinary surgeon here, was one of a family of 
two children born to his parents, who were respectively, Samuel and Ann May 
(Rinaldi) Seavey. Born at Portsniduth. N. H.. Se])lenilier 8, iSj8, he was 
educated in the public schools and at the age of nineteen years located in Mass- 
achusetts. Mr. Seavey is seventh in descent from W'illiam Sea\'ey who was 
the immigrant ancestor who came to the Isles of Shoals and the Pascatacpia 
River at an early date in the i/tli century. He was e.\tensi\-ely engaged in 
the fishery business and has a good record among the first settlers, and many 
distinguished persons among his descendants. 

Dr. Seavey has a good record in the ser\'ice of the L'nion Army during the 
Civil W'ar. At first he was engaged in the commissary department ; later 
he was in the engineer department for the special construction of railroads to 
facilitate the transportation of supplies in the Virginia campaigns under Gen- 
eral Grant. Fie received high commendation for his good work in this line 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZEXS 655 

of war inaneu\-ers, the matter of getting the supphes for tlie army pronii)tly 
to the front being of the utmost importance. During the Civil War he 
served in tlie commissary department of the Union army, and also did good 
work for the Government in helping to open up radroads. Returning from 
the South in 1866 he took up his residence in Do\er and subsequently dexotcd 
himself to his profession as veterinary surgeon, in which he was very suc- 
cessful. His death, which took place December u, 11^93, deprived Dover 
of one (if its most reliable and esteemed citizens, a man who alwavs took a 
deep and intelligent interest in anything pertaining to the good of his adoi>ted 
city. In politics Dr. Seavey was a Republican. He was identified with the 
Masonic order, and was a charter member of the Commandery, K. (j. E. 

(-)n September 5, 1853, Andrew J. Seavey was married to Miss Cyuthia A. 
Canney, a daughter of Thomas J. Canney. Of the seven children born to 
Dr. and Mrs. Seavey but two survive, namely: George \V. and Annie K., 
the former of whom resides in Manchester, N. H., and the latter in Dover. 

Miss Seavey is a graduate of the Dover High School and one of the 
prominent woman of Dover who are conspicuous in good works. She is 
member of the Dover Woman's Club, and was its president two years, during 
which some important changes were made in its methods of work and its 
field of influence was much enlarged. She is member of the Northern Colonist 
Historical Society, which makes a specialty id" local history; she has been 
[jresident of the society and has contributed papers showing she is an expert 
in historical research. Miss Seavey is member of the St, Thomas Episcopal 
Church in this city and is one of its very eflicient workers. She is also a 
member of Margery Sullivan Chapter, Daughters of the -\merican Revolu- 
tion, and of the Pascataqua Pioneers' Association, a historical society whose 
immigrant ancestors settled on the banks of the Pascataipia Ki\er Ix-fore the 
year 1700. 

Miss Seavey's maternal grandfather, Thomas Jeft'erson Canney was born 
April 12, 1807, and died in Dover, February 12, 1885. He was son of 
Ichabod and Mary ( Waldron ) Canney ; he was seventh in descent from 
Thomas Canney who came from England to Do\er in March, 1631, being one 
of the settlers here and for many years a prominent citizen of Dover. Mary 
Waldron was daughter of Richard and Elizalieth (Kimball) Waldron, a 
descendant of the distinguished Waldron family of Dover. 

Thomas Jefferson Canney, for more than forty years, was one of the prom- 
inent and most acti\e l)usiness men of Dover; be was an expert forester, 
housebuilder and bridge builder, and many structures of this character are 
now standing in Do\er and vicinity as monuments of his energy, ability and 
honesty of thorough construction. His father was an earnest supporter and 



656 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

strong admirer of President Jefferson, and when his son was born in 1807 
he gave the infant the name of the great leader of Democracy; so in manhood 
Thomas Jeft'erson Canney very naturally became a Jeft'erson Democrat, and 
remained true to the party to the end of his life. For many years Mr. Canney 
was one of the efficient leaders of the Democratic party in Dover; but Mr. 
Canney always put business before politics, and was one of the town's hon- 
ored and highly esteemed citizens. 

WILLIAM W. FINLEY, a \vide awake, progressive business man of 
Dover, who operates the only ice cream manufacturing plant here, has been 
engaged in this business since 1907. He has occupied his present quarters at 
No. 54 Central avenue since 1900 as a residence and has engaged in manu- 
facturing at the same place since February, 191 1. Mr. Finley was born in 
Cumberland county, Nova Scotia, September 26, 1858, and is a son of James 
and Sarah A. (McCloskey) Finley, both of whom were natives of Nova 
Scotia. 

William W. Finley was nine years old when his parents came to the United 
States, locating in the city of Boston, IMass., and there he had educational ad- 
vantages for a time, later graduated from the grammar school at Natick, 
Mass., and subsequently from Amherst Academy, Amherst, Nova Scotia. He 
learned the machinist's trade and for nine years worked as a machinist, during 
the larger part of this time in Boston. He then turned his attention to the 
life insurance business and for eighteen years was employed by the INIetropoli- 
tan Life Insurance Company, was for eleven years superintendent and was 
then made a general agent at South Framingham, Mass., being subsequently 
transferred to New Haven and, nine months later, to Dover, N. H., where he 
represented this company for nine years, retiring in 1904. Afterward, for 
a short time, he was a piano salesman for the well known piano firm of M. 
Steinhart & Sons Company of New "S'ork and Boston. For fi\e years after 
embarking in his present business he carried on a bakery in connection, with 
his office at No. 396 Central avenue, removing then to No. 54 Central avenue, 
where he has a well equipped, sanitary plant. As a business man and as a 
private citizen Mr. Finley commands respect and confidence. In his views on 
public questions he is a progressive Republican. He served one term as mod- 
erator for the Fourth \^'ard and is now moderator. 

Mr. Finley married Miss Edith A. Bailey, who was born at Boston, Mass., 
and they have had five children; Nettie E. A. and Stella M. being the only 
survivors, while W. Stuart, Harry B. and Harold are deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Finley are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he belongs 
to the official board. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to Strafford 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 657 

Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Balknap Chapter, No. 8, Orphan Council and St. Paul 
Comniandery. Mr. Finley and family take part in the pleasant social life of 
this old and more or less aristocratic city and are people who enjoy many 
evidences of the esteem in which they are held by a wide circle of friends. 

HON. JOHN N. HAINES, a member of the New Hampshire State Senate 
and formerly, for two terms, mayor of Somersworth, since 1885 has been the 
owner and operator of a cotton waste mill, his plant being located at Berwick, 
Me. John N. Haines was born at Somersworth, N. H., June 15, 184S, and 
is a son of John S. and Theodate (Nowellj Haines. 

John S. Haines was born at Greenland, N. H., and was fifteen years old 
when he came to Somersworth. Here he was employed at first Ijy the Great 
Falls Manufacturing Company and continued until 1861, when he started a 
cotton waste mill at Berwick, Me., and continued to operate it until his death 
in 1885, when aged sixty-five years. He was appointed postmaster of Somers- 
worth, then Great Falls, by President Lincoln and served continuously for 
eleven years. He served in numerous local ofiices and was also county treas- 
urer and a member of the General Court. He married Theodate Nowell, who 
was born at Sanford, Me., in 1822, and still survives, in reasonably good 
health in spite of her advanced age. She is a member of the Congregational 
church. To John S. Haines and wife si.x; children were born: Tohn N. ; 
Leonora, \\ho is the widow of J. W. Bates, formerly of Somersworth; Theo- 
date, who is the wife of Charles H. Gridley, of ]<^lmira, N. Y. ; Charles S., who 
died at the age of two years; Fred Sumner, who lives at Rochester, Minn., 
married Carrie Faitoute and has four sons; and Mary C, who is the wife of 
Rev. Sherrod Soule, they residing at Hartford, Conn. 

■John N. Haines attended the public schools, was graduated from the high 
school in 1866 and then spent two years as a student in Dummer Academy, at 
Byfield, Mass. He then entered the United States Navy and served four 
years on the "Plymouth." during this time visiting the North and the Baltic 
seas. South America, the /Vfrican coast and the West Indies, returning then 
to his native land. For a time he was a clerk in a fancy goods store in the 
city of Boston. Several years later he came to Somersworth and was engaged 
in a coal and wood business until 1885, when, on the death of his father, he 
took charge of the waste mill plant at Berwick. Like his father Mr. Haines 
has been progressive and public spirited and has taken a leading position in 
public matters. A Republican in politics, he has very often been honored by 
his party and aside from the responsible positions mentioned in the opening 
paragraph, he has served a number of times ^s county commissioner and in 



658 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COLXTY 

1885-6 as selectman. He is a man vi force of character and enlightened 
views. 

On January 13, 1881, Mv. Haines was married to Miss ]\latilda P. i'age, 
of Somersworth. He is identified quite prominently with leading fraternities 
being a ^jd degree Mason, and Ijelonging to Lebanus Lodge Xo. 49, F. & 
A. M.: to the Elks, at Dover; and to Prospect Lodge Xo. 13, Knights of 
Pythias, Somersworth, and in 1894 was state grand chancellor of this order. 
He is a charter member of Dover Lodge of B. P. O. E. 

HON. ROBERT GORDON PIKE, of Dover, lawyer, jurist, and chief 
justice of the Superior Court of Xew Hampshire, was born in Rollinsford, 
X. H.. Julv 28. 1851. son of Amos \\'. and Elizabeth M. ( Chadbourne ) Pike. 
On the paternal side he is descended from John Pike, an emigrant from Eng- 
land, who settled in Xewbury, Mass., in 1635. John Pike's great great grand- 
son, the Rev. James P'ike, preached his first semion October 23. 1726. and in 
the following year began to preach to the people in that part of Dover, which 
in 1729, was set off to form the town of Somersworth. From the latter to^vn 
in 1849 was set off the town of Rollinsford, wherein the meeting-house in 
which he preached was situated. He was ordained as the tirst pastor of 
Somersworth, October 26, 1730. and he preached his last sermon October 31, 
1790. Of his sons, Xicholas, a celebrated teacher, was graduated from Har- 
vard in 1766, and was the author of a famous arithmetic. Another son was 
Tohn Pike, who was the great grandfather of the suljject of this sketch. On 
his mother's side Judge Pike traces his descent from Humphrey Chadliourne, 
who came to this country about 1631 and who died in i()6(). 

In his youth Robert G. Pike attended the common schools of Rollinsford, 
and Berwick Academy at South Berwick, Me. He then entered Dartmonth 
College in the scientific department, being graduated in 1872. Upon leaving 
colle"-e he engaged in civil engineering in Dover, \\'altham and Boston until 
1875. He then taught school until 1878 and was superintendent of the schools 
in Rollinsford from 1877 to 1882. In 1878 he began the study of law with 
Chief Justice Doe who died in 1896. He was admitted to the New Hampshire 
bar in [March, 1881. and to the bar of the Circuit Court of the United States 
in November, 1894. Immediately upon his admission to the bar in 1881 
he began practice at Dover. He was city solicitor of Dover from 1887 to 
1889 and for two months in 1893. He was appointed judge of the Probate 
Court of Strafford County December 28, 1893. On April 14, 1896, he was 
appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of the State and so served 
until this court was abolished by Legislature in 1901. At that date two new 
courts were established in its place ; one the present Supreme Court — a court 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 659 

of last resort on iiuestions of law — and the other the Superior Court — a 
court of last resort on the trial of facts. Judge l^ike was appointed an 
associate justice on the Superior Court at its estahlishment and served as 
such until X(i\enilier i. KM^- ^^ which time he was a|)pointed chief iustice of 
this court. 

Judge Pike is interested in the cause of education and in whatever may 
serve to advance the best interests of his adopted city. He is and for many 
years has lieen a trustee of the Strafford Savings Bank, of Dover. He was a 
trustee of Franklin Academy from September i. 1883, to August 5, 1896, 
when he resigned; and was treasurer of the board from August 5, 1884, to 
the time of his resignation. For over two years he was a memlier of the school 
board of the cit}' of Dover, declining a re-election. He has been trustee of 
Berwick Academy since 1900, and a Visitor of the Chandler h^oundation, 
Dartmouth College, since 1902. In politics he is a Republican. Judge Pike 
resides at No. 56 Summer street, and has an office at No. 123 Washington 
street, Dover. 

E. M. H.VW'KES, who is the owner of the granite, niarl>le and monument 
plant located on North Winter street, Rochester, has conducted this Inisiness 
at the [jresent location for the past fourteen years. Mr. Hawkes was born 
in i8r;9, at Concord, N. H., and is a son of John G. and Lydia (Monroe) 
Hawkes, who reared a famil}- of six children. The father, a nati\-e of Brooks. 
Me., was a granite worker all his life, and died in 1909 at the age of sexxnty 
years. 

E. M. Hawkes attended school at Concord and also Oak Crox'e Seminary. 
Frnm boyhood he was interested in his father's work. Later he learned the 
trade and has since continued to follow it. He has a large plant at Rochester 
with modern equipments for monument making and constructs vaults and all 
other cemetery adornments both in marble and in the beautiful native granite. 
Emplo}-ment is gix'en to from two t<T six men as occasion w arrants, the finished 
products being \-ery generall}' aflmired both for their design and finish. 

Mr. Hawkes w^as married to Miss Hattie Haskell, a nati\'e of Standish, 
Me., and they have one daughter, Doris L., who is attending scliool. Mr. 
Hawkes and family attend the Congregational church. He is a man of earnest 
citizenship and has identified himself with the Progressive party. Fraternallv 
he is a Mason and also an Odd Fellow. 

EDWARD B. TIBBETTS, a highly respected retired resident of Somers- 
worth, who occupies his comfortable home at No. 317 High street, during the 
larger part of his many years of active business life was identified with the 



660 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

cotton mill industry. He was born at Sanford, Me., December 15, 1835, and 
is a son of James and Susan (Bean) Tibbetts. 

James Tibbetts, the father, was born also at Sanford, j\Ie. The family 
was established there many years ago by one of four brothers who left Eng- 
land to settle in the American colonies. One of the brothers settled at 
Rochester, N. H., another at Salem, Mass., a third in the state of New York, 
while the fourth located at Sanford, Me., and the name is yet well known 
and respected in York county. James Tibbetts and wife died some forty 
years ago and but two of their family of children survive: Edward B., of 
Somersworth; and Hannah, who is the widow of Charles Hanson, a resident 
of Biddeford, Me. 

Edward B. Tibbetts had the usual school privileges offered youth in his 
day and section. When 17 years of age he left home to become self support- 
ing, entering the carding department of the Salmon Falls Manufacturing 
Company, Salmon Falls, N. H., where he worked for about ten years, goint* 
then to Salem, Mass., where he spent several years in the carding department 
of the Naumkeag Mills. From there Mr. Tibbetts proceeded to North Ox- 
bridge, Mass., where he was employed for several years in a cotton mill and 
then went to Holyoke, Mass., where he remained for ten years and was over- 
seer of the Lymon Mills. By this time he had become so much of an expert 
in the textile industry that he was invited to become the overseer of the card- 
ing department of the great Monahansett Mills, at Putnam, Conn., where 
he remained for 27 vears. .Vfter this long and continuous application 
Mr. Tibbetts felt that he had earned rest and in 1909 caiue to Somersworth 
and since June of that year has lived retired from business, although he still 
takes an active interest in local matters of public concern and in social associa- 
tions of many years' standing. Mr. Tibbetts has a wide circle of personal 
friends and well-wishers. 

On June 25, 1859, Mr. Tibbetts was married to Miss Sarah .\. llersom, 
who was born in Maine, a daughter of Daniel Hersom, of Eebanon. Mrs. 
Tibbetts died at Somersworth, August 28, 1910. In every relation of life she 
was an admirable woman and her beloved memory is preserved not only 
in her family but in the community. She was the mother of two sons : George 
R., who is a resident of Buffalo, N. Y. ; and Charles H., who is deceased. Mr. 
Tibbetts is a member of Mount Tom Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Holyoke, Mass. ; 
Holyoke Lodge No. 134, L O. O. F. ; and of Cocheco Encampment, No, 4, at 
Dover, N. H. 

E. L. TEBBETTS, who is a member of one of the oldest families of 
Strafford county, his ancestors having built the garrison house at the foot of 



AND REPRESEXTATI\'E CITIZENS 661 

Gonic Hill, was liiirn in 1S47 at Kocliester and is a son of Edward and Harriet 
(Newell) Tebbetts, who had four children, three of whom are living. The 
father died on his farm at the age of seventy-six years. 

E. L. Tebbetts attended school at Rochester and helped his father on the 
home farm until he was twenty years of age, when he learned the shoemaking 
trade and two years later went to Chicago, 111., where he remained in the shoe 
business for four years. After returning to Rochester he resumed his farm 
activities which he continued until 1893. On May 18, 1898, he was made 
superintendent of the Rochester Cemetery Association and the duties of this 
office have largely claimed his attention ever since and they are well and 
capably performed. 

Mr. Tebbetts married Miss Mary ^Varren and they have one son. With 
his family Mr. Tebbetts attends the Methodist Episcopal church. He casts 
his vote with the Democratic party. 

WILLIAM H. ALLEN, who resides on his well cultivated farm of 50 
acres near Dover, is one of the town's well known and highly respected citi- 
zens. He was born in Harrington, N. H., November 21, 1838, and is a son 
of Edward and Matilda (Perkins) Allen and a grandson of John Allen, who 
was the founder of the Allen family at Barrington. Both parents of William 
H. Allen were born, passed useful and worthy li\'es and died at Barrington. 

In the district schools of his neighborhood William H. Allen received 
instruction in boyhood and grew to manhood on his father's farm, securing 
the training in agriculture that has been useful to him in carrying on his own 
farming activities. Mr. Allen is a veteran of the great Civil war, in which 
he served as a bra\e ami loyal soldier for two years and nine months. He 
enlisted in the fall of 1862 in Co. D, nth N, H. Vol. Inf., which became a 
part of the 9th Army Corps, in the Army of the Potomac. He has since 
seen many years of peace and quiet but there was a time when he bravely 
faced the enemy at Fredericksburg and the ^\'iI(lerness and when he hail 
secured his honorable discharge there were 18 battles in his record. In this 
hurrying twentieth century it were well to pause, perhaps, at times, and picture 
what that experience must have been to Mr. Allen and his comrades, none of 
whom had been trained in the rough ways of the world and manv of whom, 
like himself, had been mustered from the quiet, peaceful farms of New Hamp- 
shire. Fortunately he escaped imprisonment and wounds but not all the hard- 
ships, and he well remembers one hungry winter passed in Tennessee when 
his regiment had only quarter rations issued to them. He is a member of the 
G. A. R. post at Dover. 

On April 16, 1878, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Sarah Ransom, who 



662 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was born in Durliani. X. H., April 4, 1845, ^ daughter of George W. and 
Sophia ( Bunker) Ransom. Her father was born in Vermont and her mother 
in Durham, where tiie Bunker family settled very early. Mr .and ]^Irs. Allen 
have one son, Herbert R. In politics Mr. Allen is identified with the Republi- 
can partv. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and attends the lodge at Dover. 

TOHN LUCAS, a well known general farmer of Dover, who since he came 
to StrafTord county in 1870, has resided on the Littleworth road, where he 
owns about 45 acres of valuable land, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 
I\Iay 3, 1845, and is a son of James and Nancy (Lee) Lucas. The father was 
born also in the north of Ireland where the Lucas family is well known and 
represented to this day, and the mother was born in Scotland. 

John Lucas grew to manhood in his native country. For some time before 
he was able to put his plan into operation he made arrangements to come to 
America, having learned that he could more easily follow farming in the 
United States than in his own land. In 1870 he made his way to Dublin and 
there shipped for Montreal, Canada, on the "Moravian," which made a (luick 
and safe trip. He reached Dover the same year and live years later secured 
his i;resent farm on which he has lived ever since, successfully carrying on 
farming and raising his own stock. The family residence, known in early days 
as the Durrell Mansion ,was one of the first houses built on Littleworth road 
and is still in a fine state of preservation. It was built by the Durrells, a family 
verv prominent in StrafYord county at that time. 

On October 2S. 1878, \h. Lucas was married to Miss Louise E. Misnar, 
who was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, a daughter of George and Susan 
(Conrad) Misnar, the father and mother both being natives of Germany. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have two daughters : Marie, a graduate nurse, and Cath- 
erine, wife of \\'illiam Murchie, of ]Mattoon, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are 
members of St. Thomas' Episcopal church of Dover, N. H. 

LAMES SHAW, who devotes his forty-eight acres of excellent land to 
general agriculture, is one of the well known men and representative citizens 
of Strafford county. He was liorn at Hayfield, Derbyshire, England, Feb- 
ruarv tj, 1868, and is a son of Joseph and Susan ( Knott) Shaw, natix'es of 
Lancashire, England. Of their six children James Shaw is the only one that 
has come to America. 

In the excellent national schools of Derbyshire. James Shaw secured his 
education. For three years prior to coming to the United States, he was in 
the employ of the Midland Railroad as a freight clerk. In the fall of 1886 
he embarked for America at Liverpool, on the steamer "Iowa," of the ^^'arren 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 663 

line, and after a \-oyage of fourteen days was safely landed at Boston, Mass. 
From there he came to Dover, N. H., where, for 24 years he was employed in 
the different departments of the Cocheco Print mills, for 17 of these being 
shipping clerk of the works. In 1907 he gave up his connection with mill work 
and settled on his present farm which is located on the Middle road, Dover. 

Mr. Shaw married Miss Annie Gardner, who was born at Dover, a daughter 
of the late James Gardner, who was a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw 
have two children, Susan M. and Marian G. The family belongs to St. 
Thomas Episcopal churcii, Mr. Shaw being church clerk. In politics he is a 
Republican but his idea of good citizenship does not include the pursuit of 
public office. He is identified with the Royal Arcanum, at Dover. 

LOUIS H. STEUERWALD, who carries on a manufacturing industry 
on his farm of forty-five acres in the town of Dover, producing cement build- 
ing blocks, bricks, posts, etc., is further well known at Dover, where he is a 
city employe, having served continuously since November 20, 1S93, as steward 
and driver for Hose Company No. 3, in the fire department of this city. He 
was born at Dover, N. H., March 26, 1871, and is a son of Louis and Barbara 
Steuerwald, natives of Germany. The latter died in 1875. 

Louis H. Steuerwald attended the public schools and remained at home 
with his father until he was fourteen years of age and then became self sup- 
porting. For a time he worked in the printing department of the Cocheco 
mills and afterward in the finishing department of a shoe factory in Dover, 
where he continued until 1893, when he assumed the duties of his present posi- 
tion. For a number of years he has carried on cement manufacturing and 
has de\-eloped a paying industry. In addition to the cement products above 
mentioned he makes porch and piazza columns, lialusters, caps, steps, sills, water 
tables, coping and cornice. His works are located on the Garrison road. Back 
Ri\er. with office and samples at 40 Central avenue, Dover. He is quite active 
in pulilic matters at Dover and so many of his fellow citizens place reliance 
on his honesty and good judgment that he has been sent as a delegate to im- 
portant bodies and tendered responsible political offices. He was a delegate 
to the convention at Manchester that nominated Hon. Cyrus Sulloway to 
Congress, and also was a delegate to the Counsellors' convention held at Dover 
that nominated Hon. Alonzo M. Foss for governor's counsellor. For six 
years he served as a member of the executive committee of the New Hampshire 
State Fireman's Relief Association, and has been a member of this association 
since its organization. 

Mr. Steuerwald married Miss Margaret E. Neal. who was born at Kittery, 
Me., a daughter of Albert G. Neal. who is master mechanic of the Sawver 



39 



664 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

mills of the American Woolen Company at Dover, N. H. Mr. and ]Mrs. 
Steuerwald ha\e one daughter, Alberta N.. who is a graduate of the Dover 
high school and at present is a student in the Xew Hampshire State college. 
Mr. Steuerwald and family attend the First Parish Congregational church 
at Dover. He is a member of ]\Ioses Paul Lodge No. 96, A. F. & A. M., and 
of Olive Branch Lodge No. 6, Knights of P_\-thias, both of Dover, and both he 
and wife are members of Calanthe Temple No. 27, Pythian Sisters. Mrs. Steu- 
erwald has been grand mistress of records for some years of the Grand Temple 
Pythian Sisters of New Hampshire and they also belong to Dover Grange 
No. 225, Patrons of Husbandry, of which Mrs. Steuerwald is secretary. 

CAPT. LUTHER B. SAMPSON, living in retirement at Rochester, 
N. H., after many years of stirring activity in which he won success in busi- 
ness and glory on the field of battle, is a representative of prominent old New 
England families, tracing back to the ^Mayflower both paternally and mater- 
nally. He was born in Somersworth. N. H., September i, 1841, and is a 
son of Luther and Mary E. (Leighton) Sampson. The Sampsons date their 
arrival in the United States as 1620, and the Leightons settled at Dover Point 
a little later. Descent is traced from Henry Sampson, an early arrival at 
Plymouth, and from Capt. Samuel Sampson, a New England ship master, who 
commanded a privateer during the Revolutionary War. The last named was 
bom in Kingston, Mass., in August, 1736. As master mariner, he made 
numerous voyages for Plymouth merchants. In 1760, he was taken captive 
by the French, but by garbing himself as a woman effected his escape. He 
was one of the first captains appointed by Provincial Congress, and also the 
first regularly authorized privateer man. As captain of the "Independence," 
he succeeded in capturing five prizes. Tradition has it he was a man of unre- 
lenting sternness, and that upon two or three occasions he ran his sword 
through men for disobedience. He was married to Deborah dishing. The 
family also numbered one, Deborah Sampson, who was born in 1760; during 
the Revolutionary War, in male attire, she enlisted for service as a private 
in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the name of Robert Shurtlefif. Her 
service continued until she was wounded and the fact that she was a woman 
became known. She was afterward honored with a medal from Congress. 
She died in 1827. 

Luther Sampson, father of the subject of this record, was overseer in the 
mills at Somersworth, and later continued the same business at Saco, Maine. 
He also operated mills at Oxford, Maine, and out in the wilds of the forest. 
Later he returned to New Hampshire and famied until his death at the 
age of 75 years. 




LUTHER B. SAMPSON 



AND REPRESENTATR'E CITIZENS 667 

Luther B. Sampson was attracted to the United States Navy when a mere 
boy, but owing to his youth his enhstment was refused. He was then employed 
in mills in the Alleghenies in P^ennsylvania, until the Civil War broke out. 
October 3, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 84th Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, which history includes in the three hundred fighting regiments of 
the war. Twenty days later he was made a sergeant in his company, and was 
subsequently advanced to second lieutenant June 21, 1862; first lieutenant 
May 3, 1863; '"'"^ to captain September 4, 1864. He was also for a time 
aide-de-camp. He was confined for about one month in Libby Prison, and 
in 1865 was honorably discharged from service, with a record of having been 
222 days under fire. He returned to his home with a view to raising a battery, 
but the end of the war srion after prevented the carrying out of these plans. 
During the three years of service. Captain Sampson took part in the following 
engagements : Winchester. Port Royal, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Rap- 
pahanock Station, Kelly's Ford, Sulphur Springs, Thoroughfare Gap, Second 
Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Bristow Station, 
Jacob's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Rune, Rapidan River, Wilderness, Todd's 
Tavern, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Jerricks Ford, Taylor's Bridge, 
Pleasant Hill, Talapotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Baylor's Farm, Walt- 
hall, Weir Bottom Church, Weldon Ridge. Da\'is Farm, Deep Bottom, Mal- 
vern Hill, Strawberry Plains, Ream's Station, Poplar Springs, and Hatchers 
Run. Captain Sampson served under ( ieneral Sander, who died ; under Gen- 
eral Shields when Stonewall Jackson was worsted at Winchester; under Gen- 
eral Pope, and under General Sickles. His service was in the Second and Third 
Army Corps, which historians place as the most famous of the war. The fol- 
lowing testimonials evince the esteem in which he was held by his comrades. 

"Camp 84th Regt. Penn. Vols. Inf'y. 
"Near Patrick's Station before Petersburg. Va., Dec. 6th, 1864. 
"Luther B. Sampson, Capt. 84th P. V., Co. K. 

"Sir: It is with feelings of regret that we are called upon to [lart with 
one who is endeared to us by one of the strongest ties of nature, the tie 
which binds us as soldiers in the cause of our Country. 

"Having entered our regiment as a private, you have by your faithfulness in 
the discharge of your duties and your prompt obedience to the orders of your 
superior Ofificers, gained for yourself the honorable position of Captain. 

"As an officer we have always found you to be zealous in the discharge of 
the duties which devolved upon you. 

"As a company commander, your company will attest your faithfulness 
while acting in that capacity. 



668 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

"Receive this as the highest compliment we can pay to one who shall ever 
be held in dear remembrance by us, as a fellow officer in the gallant 84th. 

"May }ou be as successful in private life as you have been faithful in the 
service of your country. Yours truly, 

"Samuel Bryan, Capt. Comdg. 84th Pa. Vols. 

"T. Edward Merchant, ist Lieut, and A. Adjt. 

"William Jack, Asst. Surg., 84th Regt. Pa. Vols. 

••Joseph \\'. Dougherty, Capt. 84th P. V. 

'•Jos. H. Moore, Lt. 84th P. V. 

"A. H. Taylor, ist Lieut. 84th P. V. 

"John C. Wolf, 2nd Lt. 84th Pa. Infty. 

"James M. Lewis, 2nd Lieut. 84th P. V. 

"John S. Jury, Lt. 84th P. V. 

••C. W. Forrester, Adjt. and A. A. A. G. 2nd Brig. 

"R. H. Shaw, Hospital Steward 84th P. V. 

•'Henry Hayden, 84th P. V. 

••Jno. W. Rissel, Capt. Co. 'D' 84th P. V. 

"Albert Smith, Lt. Co. •B' 84th P. V. 

"H. B. Loomis, Chief Clerk Clothing Branch, War 
Dept. 

"J. B. Young, ist Lt. 84th P. V. A. A. D. C. to Maj. 
Gen. Casey. 

"G. S. Good, Lt. Co. T 84th P. V." 

"Camp Near Petersburg, Va., Dec. 8th, 1864. 
"We, the Xon-Comniissioned Officers and Privates of Company K, 84th 
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, take this method of returning our sincere 
thanks to Capt. L. B. Sampson of Company K. 84th Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, for his kindness to us in camp and his bravery and gallantry on 
the battle field during his service with us for the past three years. It is with 
feelings of sadness that we are compelled to part with him. In retiring to 
private business we wish him the best success, trusting that the smiles of 
Providence will rest upon him and that he may be spared many years to his 
family and friends. 

"Sergt. Isaac Alaine. "John H. Lubold. 

"Sergt. Robert H. Jamison. "John B. Sliankel. 

"Sergt. J. H. Barger. "Uriah Hennigh. 

"Sergt. J. N. Ferguson. "Geo. \\\ Coalmer. 

"Corpl. Wm. B. Hemphill. "Joseph F. Stouffer. 

"Priv. Robt. Graham. "John Grady. 



AND REPRESEXTATR'E CTTTZEXS 



669 



"J. L. rownall. 
"Perry Addleman. 
"Orange J. Michael. 
"James Heplmrn. 
"Samuel J. Retkey. 
"John F. Weaver. 
"James A. Wead. 
"Theadore J. Garretson 
"Samuel Snoddy. 
"John H. Shimel. 
"Nathan B. Trude. 
"R. H. Shaw. 



"John Mark. 
"John Luzier. 
"A. B. Reams. 
"H. C. Bowers. 
"Adam Miller. 
"W. H. Bennett. 
"John B. Derrick. 
"Chas. Snyder. 
"Christopher Cassidy. 
"Sergt. W'm. A. Nelson. 
"Edward Barnes. 
"T- S. Turv." 



"Hd. Or. 84th Batt. E. V. 
"Jan. 3th. 1865. 

"In parting with Luther B. Sampson, late captain of this regiment, mus- 
tered out Dec. 4th, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service, I desire 
to state that it is with feelings of reluctance that the officers and men part 
with so valuable an officer, so much esteemed and admired for his gentlemanly 
deportment, coolness and bravery displayed on many a hard fought battle 
field ; that in losing him the regiment loses an efficient and accomplished 
officer who entered the anny in the early ])art of the war entirely through a 
spirit of patriotism. He enlisted as a private in the 84th Penn. Vols. Oct. 3rd, 
'61 ; for his good conduct and ability was promoted Sergt. Oct. 23rd, '61 ; 
2nd Lieut. June 21st, '61 ; ist Lieut. May 3rd, '63, and Capt. Sept. 3rd, '64; 
all of which were well deserved promotions. He has participated in many of 
the severest engagements of the war. Among the principal may be enumerated 
Winchester, Mar. 23rd, '62; Port Republic; Bull Run No. 2; Chancellorsville; 
Wilderness, etc., which in after years will live in history. 

"Should he desire to again enter the service I would cheerfully recommend 
him to the trust of any position he may be called on to fill, and hope the ser\'ice 
will not long 1)e deprived of so A-aluablc an officer. 

"Samuel Bryan, Capt. Conidg. S4th Batt. P. V. I." 



"Hd. Ots. 2nd Brig.. 3rd Div., 2nd Corps. 

"Jan. 5th, '65. 
"I cheerfully endorse the above recommendations. This officer's record 
is sufficient to recommend him to favorable consideration in whatever arm of 
the service he may prefer. 

"B. R. Pierce. Brig. Genl." 



670 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

"Head Quarters 3rd Division. 2nd Corps. 

"Jan. 6th, 1865. 
"I cheerfully concur in this recommendation and hope that the country 
will not long be deprived of the valuable services of Capt. Sampson. 

"G. Mott. Bvt. Maj. Genl." 

For thirty years after the war, Luther B. Sampson was identified with the 
E. G. and E. Wallace Shoe Manufacturing Co.. and from 1SS7 until 1912 
was connected with the Rochester Carpet Company. He is now retired from 
business activity, making his residence at No. yi, Wakefield Street. March 4, 
1864, he was married at Horseheads. N. Y., to ]\Iiss Susan E. Patterson, who 
was born in Milford, Pennsylvania, in 1846. They ha\e had but one child 
to grow to maturity. John Calvin, who is with the Shamut National Bank 
in Boston. He married Ida Patterson of Denver, Colorado, and they have a 
son, John Bernard, aged 16 months. Captain and Mrs. Sampson have an 
adopted daughter, who was born in Wells, Me., and named Edith A. Ball, who 
is now known as Edith Ball Sampson. She is a \ery successful teacher of 
vocal and instrumental music in Dover, Rochester and Farmington, and is 
also lecturer for the Pomona Grange of New Hampshire, having been lecturer 
for the local grange. She is a member of Rebecca Lodge and of the Eastern 
Star. 

Captain Sampson is a member of John C. Sampson Post, G. A. R., the 
Post having been named in honor of his brother, John C. Sampson, who gave 
up his life in charge after the mine explosion at Petersburg, Va. The last 
named was first lieutenant in Company H, 9th N. H. Volunteer Infantry. Our 
subject also is a member of the National Association of Ex-Prisoners of the 
War; of the Comrades of the Battlefield, in which organization he has held 
the highest state offices : and is a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to 
the Commandery and Chapter. He has numerous interesting and highly 
prized relics of the war, among them being the old militia flag which was in 
service through the war; the pipe his brother carried at the time he met his 
death at Petersburg; the buttons from his uniform; and the old testament 
given Captain Sampson by his comrades, a book he carried with him through- 
out the war. 

CAPT. S. S. SANDERS, one of the best known citizens of Dover, where, 
for seventeen years he has been gate tender for the Boston & Maine Railroad 
at Ford's Crossing, Dover Point, spent a large part of a busy life as a sailor 
on the high seas, beginning as a cabin boy and terminating his maritime career 
as master of his own vessel. Captain Sanders was born in the historic city of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 671 

Warsaw, Poland, May 8, 1S49, a"tl is a son of Dietrich and Anna Sanders, 
the former a native of Bremen, Germany, and the latter of Warsaw. While 
living at Warsaw the father conducted a cigar factory. 

S. S. Sanders was two years old when his father returned to Bremen with 
his wife and son. The lad had few educational opportunities as the question 
of self support early became an insistent one. Wlien thirteen years of age 
he became cabin boy on a Cierman bark bearing the name of "Caroline," which 
was in the merchant trade out of Bremen. jNIisfortune fell upon this bark as 
later it was run into by a British ves.sel in the English Channel and sunk. 
Mr. Sanders had served seven months on this bark and when the accident 
occurred barely escaped with his life. The English ship took him to an English 
port and from there sent him back to Bremen. This experience did not cure 
him of his love for the sea and he shipped on many other vessels in all capac- 
ities until he won his papers as an able seaman. In 1869 lie ^^^me to the 
United States on a German vessel and later shipjied with Capt. Tames H. Card 
of Dover Point, sailing with him for six years, in the brick carrving trade, 
and during a jmrt of this time was mate of different schooners. Several years 
afterward he became part owner of the schooner J. Chester Wood, of Dover, 
of which he was master for se\en years, being engaged mainly in carrying brick 
to Boston and nearby points. After leaving the sea, over which he'had trav- 
eled to many parts of the world. Captain Sanders accepted his present office. 
He owns a comfortable home place where he has enough land to enable him 
to engage in market gardening and poultry raising, and he makes it a rule to 
keep about 150 birds, his choice being the Rhode Island Red strain. 

On December j8, 1877, Captain Sanders was married to Miss Clara M. 
Cousens. who was born at Eliot, Me., a daughter of Amos and Hannah (Lord ) 
Cousens. The father of Mrs. Sanders was born at Kennebunk, and the mother 
at Eliot, Me. Captain Sanders is a Mason and also an Odd Fellow. He is 
a Democrat in jiolitics. 

JAMES F. WHITEHEAD has been identified with the Sawyer Woolen 
Mills of Dover, now operated as the American Woolen Company, of which 
he is paymaster, since 1878, when he entered in the capacity of a clerk and 
was steadily advanced until, in 1903, he was made paymaster of the entire 
plant. He was born March 24, 1855, at Ouechee, town of Hartford, Vt., 
and is a son of Francis and Mary (Hunter) Whitehead. 

Francis Whitehead and wife were born in Scotland and soon after mar- 
riage came to the United States and located first at Ouechee, Vt., from there 
moving to Woodstock and several years later to Gaysville, in the same 
state. Still later the family moved to Lawrence, Mass., the father's business 



672 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

all this time being connected in some way with factory work, and in 1878 
Dover, N. H., became the permanent home. For many years Francis White- 
head was overseer of the spinning department in the Sawyer Mills and con- 
tinued in that position until he retired from active service, in 1904. His wife 
died in 1880. He was a man of reliable character and in every relation of 
life was the object of respect. He died 191 1. Both he and his wife belonged 
to the Peirce Memorial church at Dover. Of their four children there are 
two survivors, James F. and Mary C. The latter, after creditably grad- 
uating from the Lawrence (Mass.) High school, entered the medical depart- 
ment of the Boston University, where she spent four years and is a graduated 
physician. She is not, however, engaged in the practice. 

James F. Whitehead attended school in different places, mainly at Gays- 
ville, Vt., where he completed the high school course. Following the settle- 
ment of the family at Lawrence, Mass., he became a clerk in a mercantile 
house and so continued until 1878. when he came to Dover and entered the 
employ of the Sawyer Woolen ]\Iills, as stated above, remaining in the office 
of the companv when, in 1S99, the American Woolen Company became the 
owners of the plant. His fidelity and efficiency received gratifying recogni- 
tion in his appointment to his present responsible position in 1905. Aside 
from being a reputable and stable business man of Dover, Mr. Whitehead is a 
public spirited and useful citizen in regard to pul>lic matters. In bis political 
affiliation he has always been, like his late father, a Republican and on numer- 
ous occasions has been called upon to serve in public office. In 1888 and 18S9 
he served as a member of the city council, from the Fourth Ward. Dover, and 
fcir a quarter of a century has been a member of the ward Republican com- 
mittee and has also been secretary of the same until recently. During the 
session of 1901 of the New Hampshire legislature he served in the office of 
doorkeeper of the lower house. He has been interested for a number of years 
in several fraternal organizations, particularly in the Improved Order of Red 
Men. in which he is a member of the Great Council of the United States, a 
past great sachem, and has been a member of the Wanalanset Tribe and its 
.secretary, at Dover, since it was instituted in 1886. He belongs also to Mt. 
Pleasant Lodge, Odd Fellows, and to Prescott Encampment and is a past chief 
patriarch. He is identified also with the Dover Lodge of Elks. 

On October 18, 1910, Mr. Whitehead was married to Miss Maud C. Grant, 
of Dover, who is of Revolutionary ancestry on both paternal and maternal 
sides. He and his wife attend the Peirce Memorial Universalist church at 
Dover. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 673 

WILLIAM CHARRETTK. whose undertaking estaljlishnient is at No. .\cj 
South street, Somersworth, is one of the stable young business men of this 
city, where pubhc confidence and regard ha\-e l>een gained tlirough his lionor- 
able business methods. He was Iiorn in Western Alichigan, November 26, 
1880, and is a son of Lazzer and ^Nlary Charrette. They were natives of 
Quebec. The mother survives and makes her home with her son, but the father 
died at Somersworth in 1905. 

\\'illiam Charrette was two years old when his parents returned to the 
province of Quebec from ^Michigan, and two years later came to Somersworth, 
where he grew to manhood and secured a public school education. For seven 
years he was employed in the dye house of the Great Falls Bleachery at 
Somersworth, after which he went into the undertaking business and also 
operates a hack and dray line. He has occupied his present quarters since 
April I, 1908, where he has excellent facilities for meeting every demand 
likely to be made in this line. 

Mr. Charrette was married August 4, 1902, to Miss Alphonise Lapointe. 
They are members of St. Martin's Catholic church at Somersworth, and he 
belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, to the Societe St. Jean Baptiste, 
to the Eagles at Somersworth and to the Canado-American .\. C. A. In 
politics he is a Repuljlican. 

THEODORE \\TL1\I0T, whose expert technical know ledge has advanced 
him to the important position of boss spinner and foreman of the spinning 
department in the Gonic Manufacturing Company, of Gonic, N. H., was born 
at Theatford, Vt., January 10, 1864. and is a son of Harry Dennis and Harriet 
(Newcomb) Wilmot. The parents were natives of Vermont. In 1849 the 
father went to the gold fields of California and after his return to his native 
section of the country resumed farming. He married Harriet Newcomb and 
they had three children, Theodore being the youngest born. Theodore Wilmot 
is a direct descendant of Timotliy \^'ilnlot, who ser\-ed in the .\merican Revo- 
lution. He saw continuous service from 1776-1781. Ijeing at New York city. 
Long Island, West Point, Montreal, \\'hite Plains, Lake Champlain and the 
siege of Yorktown. 

Theodore \\'ilmot attended the pul)lic schriols and the Theatford Academy. 
after which he entered a woolen mill and has continued his connection with 
the mill industry ever since. For fourteen years he was in the emplove of the 
Concord Manufacturing Company, at West Concord. In September. 1906, 
he came to Rochester, N. H., and for three years was with the Rochester 
Woolen Company, then became overseer of the spinning department in the 
Gonic Manufacturing Company, and since then has occupied his present posi- 



674 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

tion, one in which he has 25 spinners under his super\-ision, and is held respon- 
sible for the quahty and volume of the output. 

]\Ir. Wilmot married Miss Mary S. Moore, who was born at Lakeport, in 
Belknap county, N. H., a daughter of Royal Moore. They have two chil- 
dren : Maud M., a graduate of the Rochester High and ilie Plymouth Normal 
schools, who is a teacher in the Gonic public schools; and Roland Theodore, 
who is a graduate of both the Rochester High school and the Dover Business 
College. Mr. Wilmot and family attend the Congregational church. He is 
prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to Eureka Lodge No. 70, A. F. & 
A. M., at Concord ; Temple Chapter at Rochester, and Palestine Commandery 
at Rochester. 

LEVI C. COOPER, deceased, was a prominent citizen of Dover for many 
years, a man stable in l)usiness and reliable in public and private life. He was 
born in South Berwick, ]\Ie., February 24, 1824, and died at his home in 
Dover, N. H., January 15, 1907. He was a son of Moses Cooper, also a 
native of South Berwick. 

Levi C. Cooper was fifteen years old w hen he accompanied his father and 
step-mother to Dover, and here he practically spent the remainder of his life. 
After completing his education in the Dover schools he entered the \\'illiams 
Belt Factory at Dover, and continued with this same company for 45 years, 
justly securing recognition as one of the most reliable employes of this con- 
cern and the personal confidence and regard of his employers. Mr. Cooper 
found time also to look into civic affairs and in his desire to improve condi- 
tions looking to the general welfare, accepted offices in which he could exert 
more influence than as a private citizen and served acceptably and usefully 
both as councilman and as alderman. He united early with the Free Will 
Baptist church and his subsequent life was lived consistently with his pro- 
fession therein. He was also active in the Masonic fraternity, with which he 
was long officially connected. 

Mr. Cooper was twice married, first to ]\Iiss Hannah Lucas, of Alton, 
N. H. Of their four children there is one survivor, Annie O., who is the wife 
of John S. Hanson, of Rochester, N. H. Three children are deceased- 
Clarence, Estelle and Charles, the last named for several years ha\ing been a 
clerk in the Dover postoffice. :\Ir. Cooper's second marriage took place Feb- 
ruary 17, 1 87 1, to Miss Jennie M. Wentworth, who was born at South Wolf- 
boro, N. H., a daughter of Josiah and Betsey A. (Lucas) Wentworth, the 
former a native of New Durham. N. H.. and the latter of Alton, N. H. The 
grandfather of Mrs. Cooper, Josiah Wentworth, was also a resident of New 
Durham, the W'entworth family being one that settled very early in that sec- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 675 

tion. Mrs. Cooper has one sister, Mrs. E. A. Johnson, of South Sanford, 
Me., and one brother, Josiah B. Wentworth, who is manager at Salem, Mass., 
for the great packing firm of Swift & Co., of Chicago, 111. Mrs. Cooper is 
one of Dover's well known and highly esteemed residents. She has been 
unselfish in her work for charity, is a member of the Dover G. A. R. Relief 
Corps and is very active as a member of the Free Will Baptist church. Her 
social interests also engage a portion of her time and she is a member of 
Pocahontas lodge of the Au.xiliary Order of Odd Ladies at Dover, and of 
the Christian Temperance Union. 

FRANK G. CHAPM.VN for many years was a prominent and universally 
respected citizen of Somersworth, N. H., where he was born July i, 1870, and 
died January 18, 1908. He was a son of Hartley S. and Arthama H. (Gar- 
land) Chapman, and a grandson of Hartley W. and Sarah R. (VVinslow) 
Chapman. The Winslow line can be clearly traced from Sir Edward Winslow, 
who was the first go\ernor of the colony of Massachusetts. 

Hartley S. Chapman was born in Maine, came to Somersworth with his 
parents when about fifteen years of age and resided here until his death in 
March, 1909, when in his eighty-second year. For many years he was overseer 
of the spinning department in the factory of the Great Falls Manufacturing 
Company. 

Frank G. Chapman was reared and educated in his native place and in the 
Bryant and Stratton Business College at Boston, Mass. For two years in 
early manhood he was employed as a clerk in the auditor's office of the Boston 
and Maine Railroad, at Boston, afterward becoming bookkeeper for the 
Lothrop-Farnham Company, well known clothiers at Dover, N. H. In 1891 
he was appointed superintendent for the fireat Falls Gas Light and Water 
Company of their plant at Somersworth, N. H., a position he continued to 
fill for seventeen years. He was a man of sterling character, upright and cap- 
able in every position to which the duties of life called him and he passed away 
with the respect and esteem of tho.se wln) knew him best and thus will his 
memory be preserved. Mr. Chapman had been cradled as it were, in the Re- 
publican party, his father being an artlent supporter and twice a member of 
the New Hampshire legislature, and the son ser\ed three years as a member of 
the city council, representing the Second Ward. For three years he was 
master of the Somersworth Grange and was deeply interested in the workings 
of the order. He was a member of the First Baptist church of Somersworth 
and was a man noted for his kind and generous impulses. 

On July 5, 1893, Mr. Chapman was married to Miss Alice Augusta An- 
drews, who was born at Somersworth. a daughter of Alonzo H. and Mary 



676 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

(Hutchins) Andrews, the former being a native of Somersworth and the latter 
of York, Me. The paternal grandfather, Elisha Andrews was of English 
descent and for many years was a resident of Somersworth. Three children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chapman: Gerald L.. Vera Irene and Marcia 
Frances. ]\Irs. Chapman is a gradnate of the Somersworth High school and 
for fonr years previous to her marriage, taught school in Strafford county. 
She is a member of the ^^lethodist Episcopal church and an active worker in 
the same, being much interested in its benevolent agencies and a member of 
the Ladies' Aid Society. Her residence stands on the corner of Maple and 
West High street, Somersworth. 



'&' 



JOHN H. WATSON, a prominent citizen and lifelong resident of the 
town of Dover, owns a valuable farm of lOO acres and carries on general 
farming and dairj'ing. He was born in the house in which he still resides, 
Tune 4, 1855, and is a son of Seth and Lydia A. ( Home) Watson. 

Seth Watson spent his entire life in Dover and was a son of Benjamin 
Watson, who also was born and died in Dover. The family came originally 
from England. Seth Watson was a tyi>e of the plain, unostentatious farmer 
and stable citizen, a man who followed the dictates of his conscience in all 
the affairs of life and at death left the world better than he found it. He 
married Lydia A. Home, who was of Scotch extraction, and of their family 
of children the following survive: John H. and Thomas E., both residing in 
Dover; and Mary, wife of William E. ^\'hiteley, also of Dover. The mother 
of these children survived the father for many years, passing away in 1909, 
a woman of many virtues. 

John H. ^\'atson attended the ilistrict schools in Dover in Ijoyhood. Hav- 
insr no occasion to leave the homestead he has remained on it. continuing the 
agricultural industries of father and grandfather and making such improve- 
ments as he has deemed advisable. He occupies the old round log house built 
bv an ancestor on a hardwood frame and it has sheltered eight generations 
of the familv, often being repaired and remodeled but never changed to any 
great extent. This staunch old dwelling house remains as one of the land- 
marks of pioneer days in the county. 

John H. Watson was married first to ^liss Ida A. Cannavan, who was born 
in New Hampshire and was a daughter of Martin Cannavan who for years 
was an engineer on the Boston and ]\Iaine Railroad. Two children survive 
her: Robert AI., of Dover, and Alice L., who is the wife of Dr. Fred S. Cav- 
erlv, of Passaic, N. J. Mr. Watson's second marriage was to Mrs. Grace M. 
Sutermeister, widow of Samuel Sutermeister, formerly of Boston, and 
dauo-hter of Frank Getchell, who was born and died in New Hampshire. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 677 

Mrs. Watson is a member of the Baptist church of Boston, Mass. Mr. 
Watson attended the M. E. church. He has always acted with the RepubHcan 
party but lias never accepted pubHc office. He belongs to the A. O. W. W., 
to the Ivnights of Pythias and to the Royal Arcanum, all at Dover. 

EDWARD C. NEAL, who is one of Rochester's highly respected retired 
citizens, has occupied his comfortable residence at No. 14 Autumn street since 
1900. He was born in 184S at Tuftonboro, N. H., and is a son of Thomas W. 
and Triphena (Kelsey) Neal, of Revolutionary stock. The father moved to 
Boston with his family and was there engaged in a trucking business until 
his death in 1880, at the age of fifty-nine years. 

Edward C. Xeal was the second Ijorn of a family of fi\e children and 
completed his education in the schools of South Boston. He then assisted 
his father in the trucking business, after which for eight years he was in the 
wholesale grocery trade. In the fall of 1873 he came to Rochester as agent for 
the Eastern Express Company and remained until the death of his father in 
December, 1880, recalled him to Boston. In association with an older Ixcitlier 
he took over the father's Inisiness and the partnership continued until 1890. 
In March of 1900 Mr. Neal received an injury to his hand that caused his 
practical retirement from business and in that year he established his residence 

at Rochester. He has had other business connections, for fi\e years 1890 

to 1895— being '" the employ of the Standard Oil Company and for five years 
— 1895 to 1900 — he was with the Dover Stamping Company. 

Mr. Neal married Miss Emma J. Copp of Tuftonboro and Rochester. In 
politics he is a Republican. Mr. Neal is well known in Masonic circles in 
Strafford county and Boston. He Ijccame a Mason on June 18, 1870, and 
advanced rapidly, in 1871 entering Boston Commandcry and at the present 
time is the oldest Knight Templar in years of service at Rochester. .Ml of 
the Masonic bodies that he is a member of are in Boston. 

GEORGE D. McDUFFEE, a well known farmer and dairyman of Do\er, 
N. H., belongs to one of the oldest families of Strafford county, the record 
showing that his great-great-grandfather, the first John McDuiTee, being of 
Scotch descent, came to New Hampshire from the north of Ireland and .set- 
tled in this county as early as 1720. During the Revolutionary war members 
of his family served on the Committee of Safety, an organization made up of 
the most dependable men of the different communities. George D. McDuft'ee 
was born near Dover, N. H.. January 19, 1867, and is a son of James Y. and 
Abigail (Jenness) McDiiffee. 

James Y. McDuffee was born at Rochester, N. H., which was also the 



678 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

birtliplace of his father, John ^[cDuffee, and of Iiis grandfather, James 
McDnffee. Near what is now Gonic, N. H., may yet be seen traces of the first 
house erected by the immigrant ancestor, John McDuffee. James Y. McDuffee 
married Abigail Janness, also of Rochester, and they settled on the farm at 
Do\er on which George D. ^NIcDufifee now lives. Of their cliildren there are 
two survivors, George D. and M. Abbie. The mother died in 1S74 and the 
father in 1900. They were worthy people in every relation of life and were 
respected by all who knew them. 

George D. McDuffee was educatetl in the public schools of Dover and at 
Franklin Academy, and since then has de\'oted himself mainly to farming, 
owning 75 acres of well developed land. On January 19, 18S8, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Xellie 'SI. Furber, of Rochester, N. H., a daughter of 
Charles Furber, formerly of Farmington. Mr. and ]\[rs. McDuffee have one 
daughter, Muriel L. 

Mr. McDuffee is a very enterprising and careful agriculturist and is inter- 
ested in all the agencies that assist the farnier and the farmer's family. One 
of these without doubt is the organization widely known as the Patrons of 
Husbandry, with which he has been identified for many years and he is an 
acti\e member of Cocheco Grange, which he served several times as master. 
He belongs also to Mt. Pleasant Lodge of Odd Fallows, at Dover. As was his 
father, Mr. McDuffee is a Republican and for 19 years he has served as a 
memljer of the school board at Dover. \\'ith his family he belongs to the 
First Congregational church at Dover and is superintendent of the Sunday 
school. He stands as an honorable, upright, useful citizen of his community 
and as such enjoys public confidence and esteem. 

IR\'IXG E. GOODW IX, market gardener at Dover, who has lived in his 
comfortable residence at Xo. 809 Central avenue since 190J was born October 
18, 1865, at Eliot, Me., and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Lord) Goodwin. 
The Goodwin is an old family of Eliot and there Daniel Goodwin was born 
and still resides, being a son of Daniel Goodwin, who was of English ancestry, 

Ir\-ing E. Goodwin secured a public school education in his native place 
and was eighteen years of age when he came to Do\er, his mother's birthplace, 
and here learned the carpenters" trade. He continues to work at the same 
and is known as an expert and careful mechanic. On his land on Central 
avenue he carries on market gardening and takes a great deal of pleasure in 
his success in producing early vegetables. 

Mr. Goodwin was married to Miss Mabel Raitt, who was born at Eliot, Me., 
and they have had four children: Harold R., Eugene B., Frank E., and Clyde 
M., who is deceased. Mr. Goodwin is a Republican in politics but is no 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 679 

seeker for public office. He has lived a quiet, busy, self-respecting life and 
when his fellow citizens name over the reliable and stable men of their town 
they do not forget his name. 

GEORGE E. P'UGSLEY, who is overseer of the dressing rooms of Mill 3, 
Great Falls Manufacturing Company, efticiently tills one of the numerous posi- 
tions in this great industrial plant, which are very necessary to ensure the easy 
working which the quality and \olume of modern production demand. He 
has been identified more or less continuous!}- with this mill since 1872. He 
.was born at Acton, Me., July 19, 1849, and is a son of John M. and Mary 
(Grant) Pugsley. The family is of English extraction but the father was 
born at Sharpleigh and the mother at Acton, Me. 

George E. Pugsley was about thirteen years of age when his parents moved 
to the father's old home at Shapleigh, and there he completed his school 
attendance. He was about 20 years of age when he mc)\ed from there, where 
he had been a mill worker, and was employed in mills at other places. During 
several winter terms he taught school, being a successful and popular teacher 
at Acton, Shapleigh and Sanford, all in the state of jNIaine, having prepared 
for this line of work in the Western Normal School at Farmington, Me., and 
at the West Lebanon (Me.) Academy. In 1872, as mentioned above, he 
came to Great Falls, now Somersworth and entered the employ of the Great 
Falls Manufacturing Company. Here he has worked in various departments 
but during the greater part of the time has been in the dressing department of 
the works and since 1910 has been overseer of Mill 3, as already stated. 

Mr. Pugsley was united in marriage with Miss Olive Butler, of Lebanon. 
Me., and they have two children: \\'illiam A., who is a clerk in the U. S. 
Custom House, Boston: and John ?>.. who is principal of the high school at 
Somersworth, being a graduate of Colby College at ^^'aterville, Me. Mr. 
Pugsley and wife are members of the Free ^^'ill Baptist church, in which he 
is a deacon, and in this as in other connections enjoys the confidence and good 
will of those with whom he is associated. In his political views he is a Repub- 
lican and has served two terms as councilman from the Second Ward. For 
several years he has been a member of Libanus Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at 
Somersworth. Tlie family residence is at No. 30 Highland street. 

T. HERMAN HAM, general farmer and dairyman, and substitute rural 
mail carrier for Route No. 4, Dover, is one of the well known and substantial 
men of this part of Strafford county, where the family settled at a very early 
day. He was born in Dover, N. H., September 6, 1879, and is a son of Joshua 
M. and Mary A. (Wiggin) Ham. 



680 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Joshua M. Ham was born on the old Ham iKnnesteatl, located two miles 
from the city of Dover, a son of Walter Ham, and died on the old homestead 
farm in 1888. aged 48 years. He married Mary A. Wiggin. who sur\ives 
him and still li\es on the homestead. They had five children : Walter W., now 
decea.sed; Grace A., who is the wife of John T. Perkins of Dover; Hittie F., 
a teacher in the Dover school; Bertha M., who is the wife of J. Henry I.ock- 
wood, of Lawrence, Mass., and J. Herman. 

J. Herman Ham was educated in the Dover schools. Since the age of 
sixteen years he has been engaged in fanning and dairying and has carried on 
his industries with such good judgment that he has made them profitable. 
On April 17, 1907, he was united in marriage with Miss Annie Wright, who is 
a nati\e of Dover, a daughter r>f William and Mar)- (Greeneway) Wright. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ham have three children: Carlton W.. Dorothy E. and Phyllis. 
In politics, like his late father, ISIr. Ham is a Republican. He is a man of 
enterprise and believes in progress, being especially interested in keeping the 
public schools at a high standard. He belongs to Pleasant Lodge No. 16, 
L O. O. F., and Prescott Encampment Xo. 2;^. both of Dover, antl both he 
and his w ife are members of Do\er Grange No. 225, Patrons of Husbandry. 

LEONARD Z. CORSON, a well known resident of Dover, who has lived 
on his present farm situated on the Mast road, since March, 1889, wdiere he 
makes a s])ecialty of market gardening and poultry growing, was born in 
Rochester, N. H., Septemfier 27. 1852, and is a son of Zimri and Dorothy 
( \\'entworth ) Corson. 

Zimri Corson was born in Rochester, N. H., and s]:)ent his life there. He 
was a son of Joseph Corson, who was also born there, this being one of the 
old settled families of the state and of Scotch extraction. Famiing has been 
the main occupation of the generations of Corsons and they all have been men 
of industry and uprightness. Zimri Corson died in T898 and was interred 
in the Cold Spring cemetery at East Rochester. 

Leonard Z. Corson secured school training in his native neighborhood. In 
1877 he came from there to Dover and for the following 22 years was em- 
ployed in the Sawyer W'oolen Mills as an employe of the shipping department, 
retiring then to his farm of ten acres, on w hich he has resided e\'er since. Mr. 
Corson is an excellent manager and makes every foot of his ground gi\'e some 
return. He raises certain crops other than garden produce and each year has 
enough stock for liis own use. 

]Mr. Corson w as married to Miss Annie E. Moody, who was born in Balti- 
more county, ]\Id., a daughter of Christopher I\Ioody, a former well known 
resident of Baltimore county. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have two sons : Wilbur 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 681 

W ., whu is a letter carrier in tiie city cif Dover; and Edwin L.. wlio is shipping 
clerk for the C. E. Brewster w holesale drug house at Dover. In pohtics Mr. 
Corson is a Repubhcan as was his father, and he belongs fraternally to the 
Improved Order of Red Men at Do\'er. In a general way he enjoys the 
friendship and good will of his fellow citizens for he is always ready to bear 
his share of public responsibilities and further movements for the general 
welfare. 

JOHN H. DA^IE, one of Dover's well known, respected and substantial 
citizens, residing on Silver street, Dover, and the owner of a farm of twenty- 
seven acres, was born November 21, 1858, in Lee, N. H., of an old Strafford 
county family. His parents were Israel S. and Mary E. (Hanson) Dame, the 
father a native of Lee and the mother of Do\er, N. H. The paternal grand- 
father was Israel Dame, who was also born in Lee, his father having been 
one of the early settlers in that section of the state. Israel S. Dame spent his 
life as a farmer in the town of Lee and at times served in local offices there, 
being elected to the same on the Democratic ticket. He died at the age of 
65 years. He was a member of the Baptist church, while his wife belonged to 
the Society of Friends. 

John H. Dame spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, during 
the winter seasons attending the district schools. Afterward he learned the 
carpenters' trade, which he has followed at Dover for twenty-two years, and 
for several years past has also been interested in the lumber industrv. Pos- 
sessed of excellent luisiness judgment, Mr. Dame has prospered in his under- 
takings and is justly regarded one of the substantial nitn of Dover. Nom- 
inally he is a Republican but is too intelligent a man U> blindly follow party 
leading and is much disposed to cast his vote independently. For a number 
of years he has been interested in the workings of the Grange mo\ement and 
at pre.sent is overseer of the Dover Grange. 

Mr. Dame was married first to Miss Mary E. Hanson, a daughter of the 
late Sergeant Hanson, of Madbury, X. H. His second marriage was to 
Miss Edith B. Nason, a daughter of \\'illiam F. Nason, late of Eliot, Me. 
Two children were born to them: Frank H., who is deceased: and Marion A., 
who lives at home. Mrs. Dame is a member of the Free Will Baptist church. 

W. ASHTON HORN, a well known Inisiness man of Somersworth, N. 
H., manufacturer iif White Root Beer, ginger ale and all kinds of soda water, 
with quarters at No. 83 Green street, is a native of Somersworth, born Feb- 
ruary 6, 1858. His parents are Edwin P. and Elizabeth (Frost) Horn. 

Edwin P. Horn has spent his entire life at Somersworth, born here sev- 

40 



682 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

enty-seven years ago, a son of W'entworth Horn, a native of Berwick, Me. 
For o\er forty years he was active in the Ixisiness Hfe of Somersworth, for 
many years being the representative of the Portsmouth Brewing Company, 
of Portsmouth, N. H. Some years since he became proprietor of the Somers- 
worth BottHng Company and continued active until 1903, when he was suc- 
ceeded by his son, W. Ashton Horn, under whose management the business 
has continued to prosper. For two years in its early days, Air. Horn served 
as chief of the fire department of this city and in many ways has been a citizen 
of value. He married Elizabeth Frost, who was born at Shapleigh, Me. 

W. Ashton Horn was reared and educated at Somersworth. For fifteen 
years i)rior to 1903 he worked at the trade of iron molder, then succeeded his 
father, as above mentioned as proprietor of the Somersworth Bottling Works. 
He keeps five men employed at his plant and his products. White Root Beer, 
ginger ale and soda water of all flavors, the ginger ale being a specialty, are 
sold over Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. He is also agent and bottler 
of the Portsmouth Brewing Company's ale and lager I)eer — a satisfactory 
and reliable as well as enterjjrising business man. 

Mr. Horn married Mrs. Ella ( Nichols) Wiggins, of Moultonville, N. H., 
and they have one son, Archie A., who conducts an automobile and garage 
business at \\'olfboro, N. H. Mr. Horn is deemed a good citizen although 
he never has desired public olifice and votes according to the dictates of his 
own judgment. He belongs to the Odd Fellows at Meriden, Conn., and to 
the Elks at Dover. 

ORRIN J. PALMER, a well known citizen and prosperous business man 
of Dover, a contracting mason, with headcpiarters at No. 7 Lexington street, 
has been a pennanent resident here since 1S75. He was born at Efiingham, 
Carroll county. N. H., Alarch 9, 1857, and is a son of Luther S. and Mary D. 
(Woodson) Palmer, and a grandson of Joseph Palmer, this family being an 
old one in Carroll county. 

Orrin J. Palmer obtained a public school education in his native place. 
He was eighteen years of age when he began work at the trade of general 
mason, with his uncle, Morris D. Palmer, of Dover and he ser\-ed an appren- 
ticeship of four years there and three years at Fall River, Mass. In 1875 '^^ 
returned to Dover and almost ever since has been engaged in some branch of 
mason work as a contractor, in late years making a specialty of brick work 
and plastering. Long since he proved his skill and accuracy and he has been 
concerned in many of the large contracts whicli ha\e been successfully com- 
pleted here, keeping a large force of capable men employed. 

Mr. Palmer was married September 5. 1880, to Miss Gertrude Brown, 



•AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 683 

who was born at Dover, a daughter of the late Caleb Brown, who once was 
the leading carriage builder of Dover. Mrs. Palmer died April 15, 1908, 
a lady of many \'irtues and of beautiful character. Mr. Palmer is a member 
of the Free Will Baptist church on Washington street, in which he has been 
a deacon for many years and also has been church warden, at present being 
a member of the board of trustees. Politically he is a Republican and frater- 
nally belongs to the A. O. U. M. and to the Knights of Pythias at Dover. He 
is one of the city's solid, reputable men and deserves the high regard in which 
he is held by his fellow citizens. 

HON. HENRY E. PERRY, superintendent of the water works at Dover, 
N. H., is one of Straffortl county's popular and representative men. and has 
been a resident of Dover for the last thirty-five years. He was born at Ports- 
mouth, N. H., October 25, 1849. and is a son of Dr. Adams and Selissa Scott 
(Seagrave) Perry. Dr. Adams Perry was born at Plymouth. Mass.. in 1812, 
and his wife at Uxbridge, Mass. For over a half of a century Dr. Perry 
practiced medicine at Portsmouth, N. H., where his death occurred in 1880. 
Of his family of children but one'survives, Henry E. Perry of Dover. 

After his school days were over, Henry E. Perry learned the trade of 
machinist and steam engineering, serving his apprenticeship with the Swam- 
scott Machine Company, then located at South Newmarket, now Newfields, 
N. H. He continued to live there until 1878, when he came to Dover, where 
for 2t years he was employed as a machinist with the Sawyer Woolen Com- 
pany and during this time also gave attention to the duties of numerous civic 
offices. In 1903 he was appointed superintendent of the water works and in 
this position his practical knowledge has been of great use in relation to the 
efficiency of this important public utility. A zealous Reiniblican since man- 
hood, Mr. Perry has been frequently honored by his party. He served two 
years as a member of the city council from the Fourth Ward and also as alder- 
man, and for four years was a member of the school lioard of Dover and 
twice was elected a member of the New Hampshire legislature. 

On August 28, 1869, Mr. Perry was married to Miss Camelia M. Gilson, 
who was born at Nashua, N. H., a daughter of William E. and Melissa J. 
(Clay) Gilson. The father of Mrs. Perry was born at Concord, IMass,, and 
the mother at Madbury, N. H. In her childhood tliey moved to South New- 
market, N. H., where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have 
one daughter, Helen K. B., who is the wife of Prof. Robert J- Sisk, who is 
a graduate of Dartmouth College and is supervising principal of the public 
schools of Auburndale, Mass. Prof, and Mrs. Sisk have one son, Harland P. 
Mr. and Mrs. Perry take an active interest in all things that are educational 



684 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY' 

and uplifting in the life of their city and they are members of the First Parish 
Congregational church. 

JOSEPH GAGXER, a well kudwii citizen and enterlJri^ing and success- 
ful agriculturist, residing on his farm of IJ5 acres, located on the Drew- 
road, in the town of Dover, was horn on the St. Lawrence ri\er, in Kamoraska 
county, Province of Quebec, Canada, May 15, 1850, and is a son of Peter and 
Margaret M. (Hudon) Gagner, the parents of whom were early settlers in 
that county. 

Joseph Gagner remained in his native county until he was nineteen years 
of age and then spent a short time near Ottawa, and from there, in the 
spring of 1871. came to the United States and located at Horseheads, N. Y., 
at first, but soon afterward continued his travels until he reached New 
Hampshire. After a short season at Manchester he went on to Exeter, and 
in 1876 came to Dover. Here he was employed for a number of years in the 
print works of the Cocheco Mills, but in 1887 he turned his attention to agri- 
cultural pursuits and settled on his present farm on which he has lived ever 
since and which is regarded an excellent property. 

Mr. Gagner was married February 4, 1875, to Miss Margaret Cavanaugh, 
who was born in the north of Ireland, a daughter of John and Catherine 
(McConnell) Ca\-anaugh, both of whom died in her childhood. She was ten 
years old when she accompanied her brother Edward and sister, Mary Cav- 
anaugh, on the sailing vessel, the Isaac \\'ebb, out of Liverpool, for New 
York. After a voyage of 25 days they were safely landed in New York, 
harbor and from there came to Do\er, where she was educated in the parochial 
schools. Mr. and ]\Irs. Gagner have had three children, one of whom sur- 
vives, Frederick P., while both John and Joseph H. are deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gagner are members of St. Mary's Catholic church at Dover. In politics 
he is a Republican but takes only the interest of a good and law-abiding 
citizen. He and family are highly respected in their neighborhood. 

GEORGE A. TRIPE, who is one of the older residents, in point of settle- 
ment, on the Cocheco river, town of Dover, came to his present farm of 30 
acres over a half century ago and thus is one of the best known men in this 
neighborhood. He was born in York, ]\Ie., January 31, 1853, and is a son 
of Robert H. and .Mice D. 1 Bridges) Tripe. 

Robert H. Tripe, father of George A., was born in the town of Dover, a 
son of Sylvanus Tripe, who was also a native of Dover. While the greater 
part of his life was spent in Dover, for some years he lived in York, I\Ie., his 
occupation being farming. His death occurred in 1901. He married Alice D. 



AND KHPRESEXTATIVE CITIZENS 685 

Bridges, w ho was born at York. Me., and they liad one son. George A. George 
A. Tnpe was five years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal 
to Dover and here he was reared and edncated. 

BENJAMIN MASON NEALLEY died at his residence on W'ashino-ton 
street. Dover, N. H . Jnly 29. 1888. aged 77 years; he was born in N^.tting- 
ham and received his edncation in the schools there, bnt came to Dover in 
1824 and commenced work as bobbin boy in the Upper Factory Cotton Mill, 
the first cotton mannfactnring mill that was built in New Hampshire. He 
remained in the business more than half a century, and for many years was 
master of the work in which he began at the lowest grade. Mr. Nealley re- 
mained in the employ of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company up to 1834. 
Then being offered a more lucrative position in the mill of the Portsmoirth 
Manufacturing Company at South LSerwick. he went there and remained as 
overseer in one of the departments a score of years, and during that time 
raised a family of two bo)-s and two girls who made him proud and happy 
in his old age. as he had married, August 8, 1836, Miss Abby Pray, daughter of 
James and .\nnie (Fogg) Pray, descendants of the early .settlers of Old 
Kittery. She was born May i, iSi;. and died in Dover. January 29. 1895. 

In 1858 Mr. Nealley was offered a good position as overseer in one of 
the departments of the Laconia Cotton Mill at Biddeford; he accepted and 
resided there in charge of that department ten years, having become an 
expert in the use of the best, up-to-date machinery then available for cotton 
manufacturing. In 1868 he resigned his position with the Laconia Com- 
pany and accepted the position as agent of the Jute Mill at Salem. Mass.. which 
agency he held with success until he was obliged to gi\e it up, on account of 
failing health, in 1877. He then removed to Dover. N. H.. where his .sons 
were in business ; purchased a residence and ipiite a lot of land on Washington, 
street, where he spent the remainder of his years in comfort and ease. He 
could not be idle, however, so all the spring, summer and fall of each year, 
he cultivated his land and raised good crops of fruit, vegetables, and garden 
produce, thus showing he well remembered the training his father ga\e him 
on the farm in Notingham, when he wa> a Ixiv. 

In politics Mr. Nealley commenced voting with the \\'h\g part}^ in 18:52; 
being a cotton manufacturer he believed in i)rotection of home industries and 
he held to that belief to the end of life and taught his boys to .stand by the 
same principle in politics. He remained a Whig until the Republican party 
was formed, then he joined that, because it was a protectionist party, anfl he 
supported that ])arty as long as he lived. 

Mr. Nealley was a strong anti-slavery man and during his residence in 



686 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

South Berwick was "conductor" on the underground railroad which ran 
from Xew Hampsliire to Maine and up into Canada. He believed in equal 
rights and the principle of the Declaration of Independence adopted July 4, 
1776. He was equally radical on the temperance question, not only practicing 
total abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors himself, but advocating 
prohibition of its manufacture and sale for others to use to their ruin. 

Mr. Nealley and his wife were church-going people: previous to coming 
to Dover to reside they attended the Congregational Church; during the 
closing decade of his life they attended the Washington Street Free Baptist, 
where they were liberal givers, ever ready to lend a helping hand to all good 
causes. 

Mr. Nealley was fortunate in his ancestors and in his children : they were 
all well born and well bred. His father, Benjamin Nealley, was a well-to-do 
farmer who was born and lived at Nottingham, except a few of his later 
years ^\hich were spent with his sons at South Berwick. ^le., where he died 
in 1859. aged ■]•/ years. He was a highly respected citizen in both towns. 
His wife, Sally Ford, died at South Berwick, in 1849, ^%^^ '^S years. She 
was daughter of Capt. Eben Ford who served in the Revolutionary army, 
and his ancestors were among the early settlers of Newbury, Mass. Captain 
Ford was one of the early settlers in Nottingham. 

Benjamin Nealley was son of Sergeant Joseph Nealley and his wife 
Susannah Bowdoin of Exeter. Sergeant Nealley served three years in the 
Revolutionary army, and had a distinguished career; he was a participant 
in two of the most important events in the war. the surrender of Burgoyne's 
army, in October, 1777, and the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 
1781. Susannah Bowdoin was daughter of John Bowdoin of Exeter, a 
kinsman of the founder of Bowdoin College. 

Sergeant Joseph Nealley was son of Matthew and Margaret (Beverland) 
Nealley, of Nottingham, and grandson nf William Nealley. who was born in 
Londonberry, Ireland, in 1690, emigrated to New England in 1718 with the 
company that settled Londonderry, New Hampshire. Mr. Nealley with his 
family came to Nottingham and settled near The Square, where he pur- 
chased a farm from one of the Boston proprietors of Nottinghom, about 
1725. He and his descendants cover a period nf residence in that town of 
nearly 190 years. 

Benjamin Ma.son Nealley received hi> dnnlilc name from Benjamin Mason, 
uncle to his father Benjamin, who esteemed his kinsman very highly: Ben- 
jamin Mason married Polly Nealley, sister of Sergeant Joseph. Benjamin 
Mason Nealley's children were all born in South Berwick, and were educated 
in the public schools and the academy nf that town. His eldest son. Benjamin 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 687 

Franklin, \vas burn October 30, 1S39, and died in Dover, March, 1910. At 
the age of 18 he engaged in the dry goods business and continued in its 36 
years, A\itli niari<ed success. For many years he was officially connected with 
the Strafford Banks and various public institutions. He was prominent in 
the Masonic Fraternities and in the First Church. He was mayor of Dover 
in 1889 and 1890; Representative in the Legislature and State Senator. 

The younger son, John Haven Nealley was born August 4, 1853. He 
was clerk in his brother's dry goods store several years previous to 1893, 
when he purchased the entire business and his brother retired. Mr. Nealley 
continued in the dry goods business twenty years, retiring in 1913. He was 
Representative in the Legislature in 1S89-1890; he was mayor of Dover 
1904-1905 and State Senator in 1907. Mr. Nealley made good in business and 
in his official position. He is member of Strafford Lodge, A. F. & A. M., 
and St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar, of which he was Recorded 27 
years. He is also a 33d degree honorary member of the Supreme Council, 
Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, and Secretary of the New Hampshire Chapter, 
Rose Croix. 

On September 12, 1877, Mr. Nealley married Miss Emma C. Cushing, 
daughter of the late Thomas H. Cushing of Dover. They have no children. 

The eldest daughter became the wife of J. G. Deering, Esq., a lumber 
merchant in Biddeford. The younger daughter became the wife of Hon. 
Robert H. I^ss of Chicago. ]\Ir. Foss died several years ago and his widow 
now resides in Dover, N. H. 

FRED A. SYLVESTER, one of the leading business men of Rochester, 
with office and coal and wood yards at the foot of Silver street, was born in 
1862, in what was then Clifton, 111., a village long since absorbed by the city 
of Chicago, a son of Alonzo Sylvester. The latter formerly lived at Dover, 
N. H., but now resides at liaverhill, Mass., where he is manager of the Beach 
Soap Company. 

Fred A. Sylvester attended school at Dover and after his parents mo\ed 
to Haverhill was with the Beach Soap Company there for three years and 
afterward, for tiiirty years was manager for this company, at Lawrence, 
Mass. In 1912 he purchased the Moore Bros.' plant at Rochester and is num- 
bered with the aggressive and prosperous business men of this city. Mr. Syl- 
vester handles coal of all kinds, wood of all kinds, lime for builders, lime for 
the land, pine cone hydrated lime. Atlas Portland cement, Rutland pulp 
plaster, cattle hair, sand, bricks hard and red, fire bricks, fire clay, land drain- 
age title, Akron sewer pipe, Essex fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, land 
plaster. Surety roofing, sheathing papers, ceil board, Taylors' Anchor Edge 



688 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

flashing and cement blocks, operating under the style of the Rochester Coal 
Company. 

Mr. Sylvester married Miss Clara Chadwick of Bradford, Mass., and 
the}- ha\e four children: Ethel, who is her father's bookkeeper; Bertha, 
Burton and Florence, the last two being pupils in the Rochester High school. 
Mr. Sylvester and family attend the Congregational church. His fraternal 
connections are as follows : Monadnock Lodge, Xo. 145, I. O. O. F. ; Kearsage 
Encampment, No. 36; Canton Agawam, No. 17: Crystal Rebekah, No. 85; 
Lawrence Council, No. 17, R. A.; Mass. Council, L. A., No. 80; and Phoeni- 
cian Lodge, F. & A. ]\L, all of Lawrence, Mass. Mr. Sylvester votes accord- 
ing to his own judgment. Mr. S\l\ester has alwavs been crediteil with ha\ing 
high ideals of business honor and iiis integrity is no more doulited than is his 
commercial stability. He was a member of the city council of Lawrence, Mass., 
in the year 1893-4. 

ARTHUR H. KING. Contracting and building are very important 
adjuncts of the business life of a community and men of unusual energy and 
enterprise are those who engage in this line of work. Dover has reason to 
be proud of her capable and far-seeing builders, and one of these, who has been 
a resident since childhood, is found in Arthur H. King, who is established at 
No. 3 Atlantic avenue. He was born at Ivennebunkport, Me., May 30, 1869, 
and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Daney) King. 

Samuel King was born in Maine but now lives in New Hampshire, being 
in his sixtv-sixth year. Formerly he was engaged in building and contracting, 
for a time in Ashland, Mass., and afterward at Dover. He married Sarah 
Dane\-, who was born in New Hampshire and died in 1881. 

.\rthur H. King was an infant when his parents moved to Massachusetts 
and was ^•et young when they located at Dover, N. II. Under his father's 
suiierxision he learned the carpenter trade and for a >hort time was his partner 
in contracting and building, under the hrm name of Sanuiel King and Com- 
pany. Afterward, for a number of years he was superintendent for E. H. 
Frost, of Dover, a well known contractor, subsequently going into business 
for himself. He is a man of well known stability of character and is one of 
the leaders in his line in Stratford county. 

Mr. King married ^liss Eugenia Ransom, who was born in Durham, N. H., 
and is a daughter of Reuben Ransom, a well known former resident of Dur- 
ham. Mr. and Mrs. King have four children: Mildred F., Elsie L., Roscoe 
B. and Thomas L., the last named bearing his great-grandfather's name, 
Thomas L King, who was a native of England. Mr. King has been active 
and useful as a citizen and has served two terms as a member of the Dover 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 689 

city council, representing the Second Ward, and also for six years was a 
delegate from this ward to the Republican county convention. He is a mem- 
ber of Olive Branch Lodge, No. 6, Knights of Pythias of Dover; a member of 
Crescent Company, Uniform Rank, lieing lieutenant of the same; and is a 
member of the PMhian Sisters, all of Duver. He belongs also to the Impro\ed 
Order of Red Men, Do\-er, and to Strafford Lodge, A. I*'. & A. M., Dover 
and Belknap Charter, and also to Orphan Council at Dover. 

JOHN WINSLOW TIBBETTS, owner and proprietor of the Glendon 
House, the leading hotel in East Rochester, N. H., was born in Dover, N. H., 
Januar\- 5, 1831, a son of Samuel H. and Belinda (Cross) Tibbetts. The 
father, Samuel H. Tibbetts, was born at Heath House, this county, February 
II, 1807, of Scotch ancestry. He was a farmer and hotel keeper by occupa- 
tion, but sold out his property in 1852 and took up his residence on North 
Main street, Dover, where he died at the age of 53 years. He married Belinda 
Cross, who was born on the shores of Lake C"hamplain, April 23. 1808, their 
wedding taking place in Dover. She died in that city at the age of 35 years, 
having been the mother of six children, namely: Hannah, born Nov. 12. iSjj. 
who married a Mr. Hodson and is now deceased; J. W., the direct subject of 
this sketch; Mary H.. bom October 10. 1833; Ira, born July 18. 1836; Deb- 
orah, born September 8, 1838, now deceased; Esther J., born November 9, 

Tohn \\\ Tibbetts had but limited educational ad\antages, attending school 
in his boyhood about ten weeks in a year. He learned the carpenter's trade 
under Woodby S. Maines, of Dover, and in 1850 came to East Rochester, 
where he followed his trade for a while and also engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness, and at various times in other occupations. In 1854 he bought the lot on 
which his present hotel stands and erected a small house on it. He built the 
hotel about 1880, since which time he has been its proprietor. He is now the 
oldest hotel man in the county and has been engaged in the lumber business 
40 years. In politics he is a Republican, but in 1852. before the Republican 
party was organized, he voted for Gen. W'infield Scott, the ^^'hig candidate. 
In the se\'enties and later he tr)ok an acti\e part in local affairs, serving two 
years. 1874-1876; was a member of the New Hampshire Legislature; he served 
on the common council the first two years after the town was organized, and 
a^so served two years in the town government as selectman. He has advanced 
in Free Masonry as far as the council, and has taken all the degrees in Odd 
Fellowship, belonging to the local lodges. 

Mr. Tibbetts has been twice married : first to Charlotte F. Chamberlain, 
who died eight months after marriage ; secondly to Clara Blaisdell, who died 



690 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

J9 years ago. Of this second union there were two children: Cora Bellt, 
wife of Joseph Hayes, who had one son, Harry T. ; and Avie, wlio died in 
1893. Mr. Tibbetts has been a director of the Rochester Loan & Bank Com- 
pany for many years, and is widely known as one of the sterling citizens of 
East Rochester and has a host of friends. Though now in the evening of 
life he is still hale and hearty for one of his years and keeps well posted on 
current events. He has lived to see many wonderful inventions that were not 
dreamed of in his youthful days, but notwithstanding that, he knows that the 
old times had their own peculiar chann and that people enjoyed life then just 
as well as they do today, if not more so. 

DR. CHARLES WHITMAN HILLS, osteopathic physician, of Dover, 
N. H., is a native of Springfield, Mass., and son of Charles D. and Emma J. 
(Martin) Hills, his father being a Methodist minister. Beginning his educa- 
tion in the public schools. Dr. Hills subsequently entered Union College, where 
he was graduated in 1S92. He then became a student in the New York Law 
School, graduating there in 1896. On the breaking out of the war with 
Spain he \\as a member of the Brooklyn Naval Reserves and went with that 
organization into the United States auxiliary navy, serving as acting quarter- 
master during the war, finally recei\ing an honorable discharge. He was 
then for two years in the employ of the New York Telephone Company at 
New York City, after which he began the study of osteopathy and was grad- 
uated in that science in 1902. In the following 3ear he came to Dover, of 
which city he has since been a resident, having successfully practiced his pro- 
fession here for the last ten years. He is a member of the American and 
the New Hampshire Osteopathic Associations. 

Dr. Hills married Miss Gertrude Newhall Sullivan of Boston, Mass. They 
have had two children — Charles \\'hitman, Jr., who died in infancy, and 
Jeanne Champlain. Dr. Hills is a member of the Psi Upsilon college fraternity 
and is an active and up to date citizen, a good representative of the town in 
which he has made his home. 

JAMES B. EDGERLY, cashier of the Farmington National Bank, of 
Farmington, N. H., was born at Farmington, January 29, 1834, and has 
practically spent his entire life in his native place. He is a son of Josiah B. 
and Cordelia (Waldron) Edgerly, the father coming of Irish ancestry and 
the mother of English. Both parents are deceased, their place of burial being 
Pine Grove cemetery at Farmington. 

James B. Edgerly was the eldest of seven children. He was afiforded excel- 
lent educational advantages, attending the public school at Farmington and 




JAMES B. EDGERLY 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 693 

afterward Gilmanton academy, at Gilmanton, N. H. From the close of his 
school period to 1879, when he became associated with the Farmington National 
Bank, he was engaged in the shoe business, both as operative and owner. In 
September, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a musician in the 
Fifth New Hampshire regimental band and continued a member of this organi- 
zation until 1862, -when all regimental bands were discharged by an act of 
Congress, following which he returned to his home. As above mentioned he 
became identified with the Farmington National Bank, of which he has l^een 
cashier since 1S80. This institution was organized in 187J, on a solid, con- 
servative basis, and at present is operated with a capital of $50,000, and a 
surplus of $15,000. 

Mr. Edgerly was married in 1863 to Miss Maria J. Fernald, now deceased. 
She was a daughter of Robert and .\phia Fernald, natives of South Berwick, 
Me. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Edgerly: Agnes A., who died 
at the age of twelve years, and Annie M., who married Elmer F. Thayer, and 
resides at Farmington. 

Mr. Edgerly has always given his i)olitical support to the Republican party 
and as a substantial citizen has frequently been called upon to ser\'e in local 
offices, at different times being moderator of the town, town clerk and town 
treasurer. He is identified with the Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Farmington. 
Mr. Edgerly attends the Congregational church. 

NAPOLEON H. GILBERT, one of the leading business men of Somers- 
worth, senior member of the firm of Gilbert and St. Hilaire, wholesale bottlers 
and soda manufacturers and agents at Somersworth fijr the products of the 
Frank Jones' Brewing Company, of Portsmouth, N. H., sole agents at both 
Somersworth and Salmon Falls, He was born at St. John's. Quebec, Canada, 
October 16, 1839, and is a son of Paul J. and Soulange Gilbert. 

Napoleon H. Gilbert was nine years old when he accompanied his parents 
to Somersworth, w here his father died five years later and thus heavy respon- 
sibilities were thrown on the .shoulders of the youth before he was hardly able 
to bear them. For a numljcr of years he w orked in the mills of the Great Falls 
Manufacturing Company at Somersworth but before this he had ])ecn employed 
on farms. For a time he conducted a restaurant and in later years went into 
the hotel business at Somersworth, for four years conducting the Hotel 
Somersworth, which excellent property he yet owns. In 1896 he estab- 
lished his present bottling business, which he conducted alone until May, 
191 2, when he admitted Alfred St. Hilaire as a partner. They conduct their 
business at Nos. 23-25 Myrtle street, Somersworth, giving employment to 



694 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTV 

from eleven to Hfteen people, and sales are made all over Xew Ilaniijshire and 
Maine. In his youthful days Mr. Gill)ert was called upon to face many hard- 
ships and endure many deprivations but. through honesty, pluck and perse- 
verance, he athanced himself and now is numl)ered with the substantial and 
representative business men of this county. He is a Democrat in politics and 
in 1896 was elected a member of the legislature of Xew Hami)shire and 
ser\ed one term as representative from the Third Ward. 

Mr. Gilbert was married to Mrs. Annie Demers, of Somersworth, her 
maiden name having been Annie Charette. She married Alfred Demers and 
they had one daughter, Benedette. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have had one son, 
Xapoleon G., who is deceased. Mr. Gilbert belongs to the Elks at Dover and 
to numerous organizations at Scmiersworth. 

CHARLES E. LORD, chief of the Fire Department of Salmon Falls, of 
which he has been a member for many years was born at Salmon Falls, July 
31. 1850, and is a son of Temple and Silvina (Snow-) Lord. 

The I-ord family was founded in what is now South Berwick, Me., by 
Nathan Lord (I), who came from County Kent, England, in 1652, and 
Charles E. Lord is in the eighth generation of descent irom this ancestor. 

Temple Lord, father of our subject, was born in South Berwick, Me., a 
son of Xathan Lord, also of South Berwick. He came to Salmon Falls, X. H., 
in 1843 with his family and remained here until his death, which occurred 
in April. 1S82. He was a prominent member of the Republican party here 
and ser\ed in many offices with efficiency, was selectman of the town of 
Rollinsford and in 1871 and 1872 served in the X'^ew Hampshire legislature. 
He belonged also to the Masonic fraternity and was well known in many 
circles. 

Before his school days were over Charles E. Lord exhibited unusual musi- 
cal talent and has ever since been connected with musical organizations in 
this section. He was identified with the Union Cornet Band of Salmon Falls 
from 1867 to 1870; then, upon that organization disbanding, he organized 
the Salmon Falls Cornet Band in the summer of 1870 and was leader and 
director until 1878. He then joined the South Berwick, Maine, Cadet Band 
of that year and afterward joined the Salmon Falls Military Band, of which 
today he is an active member. The organizations with which he has been 
connected have met with popular favor and their music is a pleasing part of 
both public and many private entertainments. Since April, 1866. Mr. Lord 
has also been a member of the Salmon Falls Volunteer Fire Department and 
through efficiency earned his place as assistant chief in 1877, serving until 
1882, when he was elected chief engineer. He has held that office, with the 



AND REPRESENTATR^E CITIZENS 695 

exceptions of tlie years icSfjS to 1901, up to the present year 1914. At his 
present age 64, Mr. Lord is an acti\e, energetic, and progressive fireman and 
he beheves in all modern impro\ements to fight fires. He has been a delegate 
to the N. H. Firemen's Relief Convention for the past ten years. 

'Sir. Lord was married first to Miss Sarah A. Hardy, of Brushton, N. Y. 
'i"Iie\- had twii children, neither of whom are li\ing. His second marriage 
was to Miss Lena JJoule, of Salmon h'alls, an<l they have had eight children, 
the survivors being: Lena M.. who is the wife of A. C. I'arlow, of Taunton, 
Mass.: Charles X., who is a resident of Salmon h'alls; Ethel E., a graduate 
of Boston L'nixersit}- w Ik.i is a high school teacher in Mexico, Me. ; Florence 

A. and Helen V.. both of whom are students in the South Berwick Academy, 
Me.: and George T.. wlm attends school at Salmon h'alls. 

]Mr. Lord is a Kepulilican in politics and fraternalh' is C(jnnecte(l with the 

B. P. 0. E. at Dover, and the I. O. R. M. at Salmon Falls, and the Wetamoo 
Council of the Daughters of Pocahontas of Dover. 

Mr. Lord has been quite a traxeler in his time, haxing \isited the South 
and West, Mexico, and all of the states on the Pacific Coast, also Canada and 
other liritish possessions on tlu's Continent. 

BERNARD ( ). BOND, who is recognized as one of the able financiers 
of Strafford countv, is cashier of the Rochester National Bank, treasurer of the 
Norway Plains Savings Bank and a director in the Wolfboro National Bank. 
Mr. Bond was born in 1879, at Dalton, N. H., and is a son of P>ank P. and 
Emma ( Cushman ) B(_)nd. Frank I'. Boml was born in New Hampshire and 
has alwavs been a resident of his native state, at present living at Littleton, 
in Grafton countv. He is engaged there in the mercantile business and is a 
member of the directing board of- the Littleton Sa^-ings Bank. He married 
Emma Cushman and tiiey ha\e but one child. 

Bernard O. Boml attended school at Littlel<in and later entered Dartmouth 
College, where he was graduated in 1901. His first lianking experience was 
eained in the Littleton National Bank, where he remained three vears and 
was then called to the Rochester National Bank to succeed Henry M. Phuuer 
as cashier, assuming the duties of this position in 1907. His association w ith 
this bank has been very satisfactory to the directors, stockholders and the 
public and his main interests are centered here. As a citizen of Rochester he 
is deeply interested in all local movements promising good go\-ernment and 
readilv contributes to the same. Politically he is identified with the Republican 
partv and fraternally is a Mason. Mr. Bond was united in marriage with 
Miss Jessie Edward, who was born at Laconia, Belknap county, N. H., and 



696 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

tliey have two children, Marguerite and Frankhn, aged four and two years, 
respectively. Mr. Bond and wife attend the Congregational churcii. 

W ILLIAM T. GUXXISOX, attorney at law at Rochester and a member 
of the law firm of Felker & Gunnison, the senior partner being the governor 
of the state of New Hampshire, was born in Septemljcr, 1869, and is a son 
of Arvin and Sarah (Putnam) Gunnison. Arvin Gunnison was born in 
New Hampshire. After the close of the Civil war he went to Mississippi 
and became interested in growing cotton, purchasing a plantation. His death 
occurred while there, in middle age. He married Sarah Putnam, who was 
born at Milford, X. H., and they had a family of live children, the only sur- 
vivor being \\'illiam T. 

William T. Gunnison attended school at Milford. then became a student at 
Exeter Academy, from there entered Dartmouth College and in July, 1895, 
was graduated from the Harvard Law School. He then came to Rochester 
and became the partner of Governor Felker. This firm has a good law practice 
and he is iudge of the police court for the district of Rochester. He is a 
Republican in politics. 

Mr. Gunnison married 2\Iiss Grace Horney and tliey have two children, 
Arvin and John. b(jih attending school. Mr. Gunni.son in addition to his pro- 
fessional activities, is serving at present as judge of the police court and was 
formerly for some time a very useful member of the school board. He has 
long been identified with the Masonic fraternity. With his family he attends 
the Congregational church. 

THOMAS A. B.\R1L, secretary of the Rochester Board of Trade and 
interested in general insurance and in\estments, with offices at Xos. 24-5 
Dodge Block, is one of the progressive business men of tliis city. He was 
born in 1868, at Pottsdam, X. Y.. and was educated in the .schools of Lawrence, 
Mass. For twenty-three years after his school days were over, Mr. Baril 
was in the dry goods business, prior to 1890 at Lawrence and afterward at 
Rochester. In 1903 he went into the insurance business and became state 
agent for the Xew York Life Insurance Company, a position of responsibility 
he still holds : he later added fire insurance and liability and still later took on 
the line of investments. On December 30, 1908, Mr. Baril brought about the 
organization of the Board of Trade at Rochester, of which R. V. Sweet is 
the present president, Mr. Baril being the first secretary, which office he now 
fills, and is one of the leading members of the Merchants' Club. 

Mr. Baril married Miss Minnie J. Furlmsh. w ho was born at \Vest Lebanon. 
Me., and they have five children: hVed. Harold. Sjjcncer. Marie Felice, and 



AND REPRESEXTATR'E CITIZENS 697 

Roberre. Mr. Baril votes independently although nominally a Republican. 
He is identified officially with several of the leading fraternal bodies, being 
past exalted ruler of Doxer Lodge Xo. 184, Elks, and past worthy president 
of the Eagles. 

A. H. FOWNES. treasurer and manager of the C. F. Trask Manufactur- 
ing Company, with plant located (ju Ri\er street, Rochester, has been man- 
ager of this concern since June, 191 1, but continues the business under the 
old and well known name. Mr. Fowncs was born at Horton, Nova Scotia, in 
1867, O'l^ of ^ family of ele\en children born to his parents, who were 
Alexander and Mary (Finley) Fownes, the former of whom never came to 
the United States and died in 1878. 

A. H. Fownes passed his school period in Xova Scotia. He has been 
active in business since early manhood, first becoming identified with C. F. 
Trask in 1892 and continuing with him for four years. For the following 
ten years he was X'evv England manager for the Beechnut Packing Company 
and also was in business at Rochester with the firm of b'ownes & Henderson, 
dealers in boots, shoes and furnishings. The business associates of Mr. 
Fow nes in his present enterprise are : Albert E. Tutein, of Boston, president ; 
F. H. Hilton, an attorney of Framingham, Mass., vice pres. ; while, as noted 
above, Mr. Fownes is manager and treasurer. The output of this plant are 
paper boxes and box shooks and emplo}'ment is afTorded to from 60 to 65 
people. 

Mr. Fownes married Miss Marion B. Elilton, of South P>anfingham. 
Mass., and they have three children: Eleanor K., l-'rances and Lois. The 
fanfilv attends the Congregational church. IVilitically Mr. Fownes is a 
Repuljlican and fraternally a Mason. 

DANIEL WINGATE. Somersworth, N. H.. has among its honored 
retired residents men who have claimed this ])lace as their home all through 
life and one of these is Daniel Wingate, now residing at No. 214 High street, 
who was born here when the city was known as Great Falls, ^larch 8, 182O. 
His parents were Daniel and Sabina (Tibbetts) Wingate, the former a native 
of Rochester, N. H., and the latter of Berwick, Me. 

Daniel Wingate, the father, was a man of lousiness importance at Great 
Falls. He bore the name of his father, Daniel Wingate. who had been a 
Revolutionary soldier and probably was the founder of the family at Roches- 
ter, N. H., where he died in old age. The second Daniel W^ingate taught 
school at Great Falls in early manhood and afterward was a traveling sales- 
man for a time. Later he eiubarked in a mercantile Ixisiness, which he con- 



698 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

tinucd for many years, at last retiring to his farm, which was sitnated between 
Somersworth and Dover. Of his children there are three survivors: Daniel, 
the third of the name in succession; Airs. Harriet X. Hubbard, of Berwick, 
Me.; and iNIrs. Ina Ferguson, also of Berwick. 

Daniel Wingate attended the Somersworth schools in boyhood and 
remaineil at home until his se\tnteenth year. He then went to Boston to take 
instruction along lines for which he had developed considerable natural talent. 
He served there an apprenticeship of almost three years with a firm of car- 
riage and sign painters and then returned to Somersworth, where he went into 
business for himself, at the age of twent)- years becoming a contractor both 
in house and sign painting. He also conducted a store at Great Falls, where 
he handled paints, oils, glass, sash and blinds, to which he later added hard- 
ware. Included in his line of work was frescoing church interiors. At times 
he employed a large force of men and did work all over Strafiford county, 
N. H., and York county, Me., and for a long period the painting work on 
depots, bridges and signs re(|uired by the Boston & Maine and the Great 
Falls & Conway Railroads, was entrusted to him. After a long business 
career, marked with much success, he retired to enjoy the ease won by his 
former industry. 

Mr. Wingate married ]Miss Abigail J. \\'iggin. of Dover, and they had six 
children, the survivors being; William H. and Edward C, both residents 
of Nashua, N. H. ; Emma J., wife of Frank F. Feniald, a well known attor- 
ney of Dover; and M. Isabel, wife of Frank H. Morrison of Rochester. 
Mr. Wingate and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Somersworth. In public matters .Mr. \\ ingate was active and useful serving 
as a member of the first board of assessors after Somersworth was incorporated 
as a citv, for five years being chairman of the board. For several years he 
was the executive officer of the Ijoard of health and also was a selectman of the 
town of Somersworth in 1873 and 1874. The other members of the board 
were Hon. David G. Buffum, former president of the New Hampshire 
Senate ; Samuel D. Rollins, cashier of Somersworth National Bank, Hon. 
Tliomas Jameson and Enoch Whitehouse. He also served as street commis- 
>ioner and later as a member of the town .school committee with the late Judge 
William D. Knapp and Hon. James A. Edgerly. Mr. Wingate belongs to that 
type of citizenship wliose infiuence is lasting, for it is through its honest 
industry and high ideals that progress has been made and the welfare of all 
has been placed on a finn foundation. 

ANDREW' JACKSON, attorney at law and a member of the law firm of 
lackson & Hurlburt, with of=fices at No. 8 Hanson street, Rochester, was 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 699 

born at Littleton, N. H., in 1882, and is a son of James R. and Lydia (Drew) 
Jackson. James R. Jackson was a native of Vermont and from there came 
first to Dover, wliere lie married and later was a well known jtractitioner of 
law at Littleton. N. H. His family consisted of six children. 

Andrew Jackson attended the excellent public schools of Littleton and then 
entered Dartmouth College. After completing his collegiate studies he entered 
the educational field, teaching his first school at Lyndonville, Vt. He after- 
ward taught at Rochester for three years and for three years more was super- 
intendent of schools here before entering the Boston University Law School, 
where he secured his degree and in 1912 was admitted to the Massachusetts 
bar. He entered into practice at Boston as a member of the firm of Hurlburt, 
Jones & Cabot, in the following year opening his present office at Rochester. 
In his political sentiments ^Vlr. Jackson is a decided 13emocrat. 

FRANK B. MAGUIRE, who is one of the enterprising business men of 
Rochester, is proprietor of the Graves Corset Company and is also secretary 
and manager of the Rochester Agricultural and Mechanical .Association. He 
was born in 1861. at Danby. Vt., and is a son of John and Mary (Heney) 
Maguire and they had a famil)- of twelve children. The father was a native 
of Enniskillen. Ireland, and the mother was liorn in Dublin, Ireland, and they 
married there. They spent their married life at Danby and died tliere, the 
father living to the age of 82 years. 

Frank B. Maguire secured a public school education at Danliy, after which 
he was in a shoe factory in Hudson, Mass. In 1895 he came to Rochester and 
went into the shoe business but prior to this had been in the business for some 
years at Springvale, Me. The Graves Corset Company, of which Mr. Maguire 
has been proprietor since 1907, manufactures corsets and docs a large mail 
order business. A large i)art of Mr. Maguire's time is demanded by his duties 
in relation to the Fair Association, a very important and popular organiza- 
tion in Strafford county. I'olitically Mr. Maguire is a Republican. He served 
with extreme efficiency for one year in the New Hampshire legislature and 
for fifteen consecutive years has been an official of the city government. 
Mr. Maguire married Miss Lillian Weber, of Lynn, Mass., and they partake of 
the pleasant social life of the city. Mr. Alaguire is a Mason of high degree, 
belonging to the Shrine at Boston and to the lower branches, including the 
Commandery, at Rochester. He is identified also with the Odd Fellows. 

WILLIAM K. KIMBALL, who is one of Rochester's active business men, 
conducts a grain, flour, hay arid straw hiusiness on Hanson street and owns 
and operates a grain elevator. He is a native of Rochester, born in 1863, and 

41 



700 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

is a son of W. K. and Sarah J. (^Hoyt) Kimball, one of a family of two chil- 
dren. The father of Mr. Kimball was also born at Rochester and for many 
vears engaged in a grocery, confectionery and stationery business. His death 
occurred at Rochester on May ii, 18S4. 

W. K. Kimball attended the public schools through boyhood. His first 
place of employment was in the \\'allace Shoe factory where he became a shoe 
cutter. Afterward for eight years he was connected with the G. T. Laundry 
Company. In 1898 he embarked in his present business at Rochester and has 
expanded it into a large enterprise, employment being given to five people 
and trade connections maintained all through this section. Mr. Kimball mar- 
ried Miss Annie H. Jones, of S. Milton, N. H. He is identified politically 
with the Republican party and fraternally with the Masons. With his family 
he attends the Methodist Episcopal church. 

WALTER N. MORRISON, who belongs to the active and progressive 
business men of Rochester, does a large amount of work in the line of engineer- 
ing, heating and general mechanics, his location being on Front street, Roches- 
ter. He was born November 24, 1859, in Wolfboro, N. H., and is a son of 
Benjamin and Fannie (Foss) Morrison. They had three children, Ida, 
Walter N. and Fannie. The father, a native of Walton, was an engineer by 
profession, and died at the age of seventy-seven years, at Wolfboro. 

Walter N. Morrison attended the public schools of his native place. Having 
a natural inclination in the direction of mechanics, he learned engineering 
and worked as a stationary engineer until 1889, when he embarked in his 
present business at Rochester. He gives employment to from eight to ten 
men, a general line of machine and mechanical work being satisfactorily 
covered. 

Mr. Morrison married twice, his second wife having been prior to marriage 
Miss Ellen Pike. One daughter, Florence, born to his first marriage, resides 
at home. Mr. Morrison and family attend the Baptist church. In politics he 
is a Republican. He is a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons and belongs 
also to the Odd Fellows. 

G. E. DEx\N, who operates a grist mill on Railway avenue, Rochester, 
and deals in grain, flour, feed and hay, has been interested here since .\pril, 
1910. He was born in 1865, at Brownington, Vt., and is a son of G. M. and 
Ellen (Barrows) Dean. The parents are natives also of Vennont and still 
survive, the father being in his seventy-fifth year. Of their four children two 
are living, G. E. and a daughter, Mrs. Etta McLean. During his entire 
active life the father followed milling. 



AND REPRESENTATI\-E CITIZENS 701 

After liis school days were ended, G. E. Dean went to work in a bakery 
and so continued for five years and learned the business. He was ^3 years 
old when he became associated with his father in the mill and some years 
afterward bought a mill at Orleans, Vt., fomierly Barton Landing, which 
lie operated until he went to the West for a year, .\fter his return he went 
into his present business at Rochester, purchasing from J. C. Daniels & Son. 
He has equipped his mill with modern machinery and affords employment to 
two millers all the time and adds to his force as occasion demands. 

Mr. Dean married Miss Anna Goss and they have two daughters, Catherine 
and Pauline, aged fifteen and seven years respectively. In politics Mr. Dean 
is a Republican but his tastes have never been in the direction of public office. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Masons, Odd Fello\vs, Knights of Pythias, Red 
Men, the Grange and the American Alechanics. In his business relations he 
has won the confidence of his fellow citizens and is numbered with the reliable 
and representative men of Rochester. 

JOHN E. FISHER, a member of the firm of A. C. Fisher & Sons, lumber 
dealers and operators, was born in Canada in 1886, a son of Albert C. Fisher. 
The latter was also a native of Canada, who came to this country about 25 
years ago. He was a lumber sawyer, at first operating a stationery null and 
afterwards a portable mill, which he conducted until his death on February 
8. 1909. He married Emma Lavoie and they were the parents of four children. 
Charles E., John E., Frank E. and Xorman A. 

John E. Fisher was educated in the schools of Rochester and afterwards 
became associated with his father in the lumber business here. Since the lat- 
ter's death he and his brother, Charles E., have operated the business together. 
dealing in timber lots and lumber and running portable saw mills. They are 
doing a prosperous business and are numbered among the substantial and 
reliable citizens of Rochester. John E. Fisher was married three years ago 
to Ora Vachon, of Somersworth, and they ha\e two children, Brenda and 
Florence. Mr. Fisher is independent in politics and attends the French 
Catholic church. 

\\'ALTER J. ROBERTS, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medi- 
cine and surgery at Rochester, N. H., having an office at 46 Main street, 
was born in York county, Maine, a son of William E. and Cora B. (Carl) 
Roberts. His father, who was a farmer, is now living retired at Waterboro, 
Maine. 

W. J. Roberts was educated in the Maine schools and was graduated at the 
Medical School of Maine in 1906. He spent a year in the Maine General 



702 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Hospital, wliere he gained mucli practical experience and in 1907 came to 
Rochester, where he bought out the practice of Dr. John H. Neal and has 
since practiced his profession successfully here. He is medical referee for 
Strafford county and he Ijelongs fraternally to the Masons and Odd Fellows, 
ha\ing membership in the local lodges. He married Idella E. Ross of Phillips, 
Maine. 

MARTI X P. BENNETT, one of the well known citizens of Dover, where 
he has been in business for many years, is located at No. 8 Milk street and 
deals in wagons, carriages, harness, whips, etc., and is agent for the Brown 
automobile truck. He has the distinction of being the only dealer in his line 
in this section of the country. Mr. Bennett was born at Dover, in 1852, and 
is a son of George P. and Abbie P. (Straw) Bennett. 

George P. Bennett was a native of Maine but spent a number of years in 
Dover engaged as overseer in old No. 4 wea\'e room. Prior to the outbreak 
of the Civil war he went to Wakefield, N. H.. and there enlisted and served 
faithfully until he lost his life in the charge before Petersburg, Va., June 15, 
1864. The family then returned to Dover, where the mother died, ]\Iarch 10, 
1889. There were three children: Martin P., William H., and INIrs. Arabella 
W^atson. 

Martin P. Bennett started to work in a shoe shop at Dover after his school 
days were o\er. He then worked about fi\e years in the Cocheco Print Works 
and then went into the junk business in which he continued for thirty-five 
years, following which he embarked in his present line. As a business man 
he stands high and is numbered with the substantial men of the city. Left 
fatherless in boyhood he had to make his own w ay and what he owns he earned 
for himself. He owns considerable property, his investments having been 
made judiciously. 

Mr. Bennett was first married to iliss Mary E. Abbott, a daughter of 
John W. Abbott, who was survived by two children: Mrs. Angle ]\[. Brown, 
and Alice L. His second marriage was to Mrs. E. P. Churchill. Mrs. 
Churchill had two children: Albert IL and E. Ruth Churchill. The family 
belongs to the Central Avenue Baptist church. In politics Mr. Bennett is a 
Republican and has served in city ofifices, first as selectman, later as a mem- 
ber of the council for two years and for two years was alderman. Fraternally 
he is identified with the leading organizations, belonging to IMoses Paul Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M.: Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 16, Odd Fellows, Prescott Encamp- 
ment and Canton Parker, and has passed all the chairs in the above orders. He 
is a past chancellor of Olive Branch Xo. (>. Knights of Pythias, and belongs 
also to the Pvthian Sisters and the Rebeccas: also to A. O. O. Workmen, Gar- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 703 

rison Lodge No. 6. He has taken great interest in the Sons of Veterans, hav- 
ing passed through all the chairs and in 1910 was'elected Division Commander 
of his state. 

CHARLES W. VARXEY, of Charles W.'Varney & Co., general insur- 
ance, with office in the McDuffee Block. Rochester, X. H., and a member also 
of the firm of Crawford, Tolles & Co., of Somersworth, is a nati\'e of Lebanon, 
Me. His father, David W. Varney, was a lumberman and was also engaged 
in farming in Lebanon, Maine, where he always resided. He is now deceased. 
He married Abbie S. Tibbetts, of Rochester, N. H., and they had a family of 
four chiklren. 

Charles W Varney in his boyhood attended the district school in Lebanon, 
Me., and West Lebanon Academy, and also took a course at Bryant & Strat- 
ton's Business College of Boston, Mass. He then worked four years for the 
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company in their Boston office, ci>niing to Roches- 
ter Ajjril I, KjoCi. Here he is carrying on a general line of insurance and also 
transacts a loan business. Much of his time is devoted to the Somersworth 
firm of Crawford, Tolles & Company, of which he is a member. He is a 
thorough business man and a reliable citizen, which he has proven while in 
public office, having served as representative to the State legislature in 1913. 
He is a jjd degree Mason, memljer of the Odd Fellows, American Mechanics, 
and the Grange, having taken all seven degrees. At the present time he is serv- 
ing the office of lecturer of The New Hami>shire State Grange. In politics 
he is a Republican and he affiliates with the M. E. church. Mr. \'arney mar- 
ried Matilda Webster Shephenl. of Jamaica Plain, Mass.. and they have one 
child— Charles W., Jr. 

JOSEPH MORRILL, a former citizen of Dover who pas.sed away in 1870, 
will long be remembered for his many estimable personal qualities and his 
remarkable business ability, coupled with an admiraljle public spirit that made 
him a Ix-nefactor of the community in whicli he s])enl the greater part of his 
useful life. Generations yet unb(:>rn will enjoy the lieauty and shade of the 
long avenues of trees that it was his great ])leasure to ^et out to adorn the 
city. This single beneficence would entitle him to the gratitude of all. 

Little is known of the boyhood days of Joseph Morrill. He came to 
Dover when a young man and for over thirty years was employed in the local 
mills, for a long period being an overseer. He was the son of a farmer, 
but agricultural labors did not attract him, his business sense being so keen 
that he more enjoved the trade and l>arter of commercial life, and so unerring 
were his judgment and foresight that any enterprise he engaged in was usually 



704 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

successful. He was a careful iuvestor in real estate and for many years was 
the largest holder of the same in Dover. He also owned ships and a two-third 
interest in the Dover water works, besides having other wealth, w hich, when 
inherited by his family, caused them to be the largest tax payers in the county. 
He erected the two business blocks which Iiear his name, the first of brick, 
and the second, completed just before his death, of wood, this being then the 
most pretentious building in the cit}'. 

Joseph Morrill married Xancy Ouimby, who came from the old W'aldron 
family, some of the finest stock in the state. Of their nine children there are 
now three sunivors — Charles Joseph, Mrs. James E. Lothrop, and Rosena. 
Mr. Morrill donated the first drinking fountain in Dover. On this same spot 
his heirs erected a handsome memorial in granite, in 19 13. 

Charles Joseph Morrill, son of Joseph and Xancy ]\Iorrill, secured his edu- 
cation in the Dover schools. During his active years he was in the clothing 
business, but since his father's death he has been more or less fully occupied 
with taking care of the estate. He married Miss Annie D. Cushman. They 
had one son, James Lothrop, who was born in 1876 and died when two years 
old. Mr. Morrill is a Republican and has served in various public oftices. 

HON. WILLIAM G. BRz\DLEY, now living retired from active business, 
at Rochester, for many years has been a prominent citizen of Strafford county 
and through high efficiency in public office as well as through personal integ- 
rity, has won the confidence, respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. 
Bradley was born March 29, 184S, at Burlington, Mass., and is a son of 
Charles P. Bradley, a native of England, who, coming to the United States 
in boyhood, served as a sailor on the old United States frigate Constitution, 
familiarly called "Old Ironsides." He lived to the age of 78 years and died 
in Massachusetts. The mother of Mr. Bradley survived until 1875. He was 
the only child. 

William G. Bradley had but meager school advantages in boyhood and the 
greater part of his book knowledge was secured in night schools at Lowell. 
He was but 13 years of age when he found work, driving a team from Burling- 
ton to Boston, after which he returned to Lowell and worked in a shop until 
1866. In April, that year, ha\-ing saved a little money, he went West, but 
after spending his savings returned home. Then, in i86<), he went to Grafton 
and spent two years on a milk farm, subsequently returning to shop work. 
In 1876 he came to New Hampshire and was employed by a Dover firm for 
four months, follow ing which he came to Rochester and for the next three 
years was engaged in work at the Wallace Shoe factory. Mr. Bradley then 
embarked in the retail shoe business on Central Square, starting business 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 705 

August 25, 1879, and continuing in the same until December 31, 1896, when he 
sold all his stores. He made this city his home, while at the same time he con- 
ducted branch stores at Gonic, East Rochester, Salem and Newburyport. In 
1898 Mr. Bradley was elected mayor of Rochester, being re-elected in 1899, 
again in 1902, 1903. 1907, 1908 and 1909; having previously, in 1895, served 
in the New Hampshire legislature, elected on the Republican ticket. His good 
citizenship has been in many other ways recognized by his fellow citizen: 
For nine years — from 1899 to 1908 — he was manager of the Rochester Fair 
Association, being also a stockholder in the same. Although now retired 
from active Inisiness he still has large lumber and real estate interests which 
more or less claim attention, from 191 1 to January i, 191J, being associated 
in these lines with Mayor I'reston. He is also one of the trustees of the Gaf- 
nev Home fur the Aged. 

Since starting in business at Rochester Mr. Bradley has been a liberal con- 
tributor to all manufacturing plants coming to Rochester, East Rochester and 
Gonic. It was through his efforts that the street railway was extended to 
East Rochester, he assuming all responsibilities. He also had the fire engine 
house and town hall built at East Rochester. The president of the street rail- 
w^ay company was present at the dedication and in his speech said that the peo- 
ple of Rochester and East Rochester w ere indebted to Mr. Bradley alone for 
the street railroad to East Rochester. 

Mr. Bradley was united in marriage w ith Miss Louise M. Howe. Thev 
attend the Baptist church. Since 1871 he has been identified with the Masonic 
fraternity and belongs also to the Order of the Eastern Star. 

HARRY A. MORRISON, collector of taxes for Dover, N. H., a well 
kno«n, capable and trustworthy citizen, who is serving in his ninth year in 
the above office, was born at Do\er, December 14, 1873, and is a son of Andrew 
and Margaret (Anderson) Morrison. 

Andrew Morrison was born in South Boston, Mass., in 1839 and he and his 
wife are now highly esteemed residents of Dover. He was a brave soldier 
during the Civil war and is a A'alued member of the Grand Army post at Dover. 
In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party. 

Harry A. Morrison secured excellent educational training in the public 
schools of Dover and afterward, for a time, worked at the carpenter trade and 
then became chief clerk for D. L. Furber, who conducted a shoe store on 
Washington street, Dover, and also was a manufacturer. For several years 
Mr. Morrison was at the head of the retail department and continued with 
Mr. Furber until 1904, when he was elected tax collector for the first time and 
his efficiency in office has been rewarded ever since by re-election. 



706 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Mr. Morrison married Aliss Mabel L. Priestly, of Dover, and they have one 
daughter, Ruth E., who was bom ]\Iay 13, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Like his father, Mr. Morrison 
has been active in the affairs of the Republican party. He belongs to Moses 
Paul Lodge, A. F. & A. AL, and to the Knights of Pythias in all branches of 
that order, being a member of its board of trustees at Dover, and is treasurer 
and secretary of the building committee of the new Knights of Pythias' build- 
ing which is now under course of construction in this city. 

IRA G. STUDLEY, treasurer and manager of the Studley llox & Lumber 
Company, with plant located on Sil\er street, Rochester, N. H.. was born in 
1876. in Massachusetts, and is a son of Gideon and Elizal)eth CTotman) 
Studley. 

Gideon Studley, who is engaged in the box l>usiness at Rockland, Mass., 
is an experienced box manufacturer. In 1905 he came to Rochester and in 
association with his son, Ira G., founded the Studley Box & Lumber Company, 
the business of which has now grown into large volume, becoming one of the 
largest enterprises of this manufacturing city and affording employment to 
ijt men. Gideon Studley married Elizabeth Totman and twelve cliildren 
were born to them. 

Ira G. Studley attended the public schools in his nati\'e state and then took 
a course in the Institute of Technology at Boston, after which he was in the 
box manufacturing business with his father. Later he was in the business at 
Henniker, N. H., and from there, in April, 1905, came to Rochester and 
bought the plant which is now owned by the New England Cotton Yarn 
Company, to whom he sold and for lour }-ears afterward operated it for them. 
In the meanwhile he started his present business, utilizing the same building 
then standing but introducing all the improvements The business is dressing 
lumber in transit and manufacturing bo.x shooks. Capital, good business 
judgment and honorable methods have combined to make this a prosperous 
undertaking. Mr. Studley is not active politically Init gives his support to the 
Republican party. He is identified with several degrees of Masonry. 

JOHN CANNEY, a well know n and highly respected resident of the town 
of Dover, where he owns a farm of 20 acres, has been active in many local 
positions of responsibility since the close of his services as a soldier in the 
Civil war. He was born at Barrington, N. H., December 16, 1845, and is a 
son of Isaac and Betsy (Cater) Canney. 

Isaac Canney was a son of Isaac Canney, who was a son of the pioneer of 
the family, who was born in Ireland and who, when he came to the Ignited 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 707 

States, located among tlie early settlers in Madbury, Strafford county, N. H. 
Isaac Canney, father of John Canney, spent the greater part of his life in 
Dover, where he died at the age of fiy years. He followed farming and was 
also a dealer in cattle. He married Betsy Cater, who was born at Barring- 
ton, N. H. 

As soon as his boyhood school days were over, John Canney learned shoe 
making and worked at his trade and also as a farmer until he enlisted for 
service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company E. First N. H. 
Cavalry, which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. He served for 
almost one year, being mainly engaged in scouting and raiding, and was then 
honorably discharged and returned to his Do\-er farm. For twelve years 
Mr. Canney has been in charge of the Rochester Fair Grounds during the 
annual exhibitions and few men in the county- are more generally known, for 
the county fair brings residents of every section to Rochester, either as 
exhibitors or interested visitors. Dover also has reason to know him well 
and favorably, for he was assistant marshal on the police force of Dover for 
eight years. In politics he is nominally a Republican but has independent 
inclinations. Mr. Canney married Miss Cynthia Huntoon. and they have one 
son, Lyman Canney, who is now a resident of East Pepperill, Mass. 

LOREN D. CASLER. Not every man of really good intentions possesses 
the energy and enterprise that are necessary in order to advance, esi^ecially 
along the industrial lines in which competition is great. Loren D. Casler, who 
is one of Somerworth's respected and useful citizens, has demonstrated his 
capacity in his many years of business life and now occupies a responsible 
position as general overseer of the yards of the Great Falls Manufacturing 
Company. He was born at Little Falls. Herkimer county, X. Y., January 20, 
1849, and is a son of Myron C. and Catherine S. (Fink) Casler. 

The Casler family is an old and respected one in the Mohawk valle}', and 
when the German ancestors settled there they spelletl the name as they pro- 
nounced it, Keysler. In later generations it became Casler. Myron C. Casler 
and wife were both born there and during the childhood of their son, Loren 
D., removed to Montreal, Canada, which was the family home for many years, 
Myron C. Casler being foreman for the Montreal Water Works for 20 years. 
Both he and his wife died at Montreal. 

Loren D. Casler remained during his school period and early manhood in 
the city of Montreal and then came back to the United States. At Omaha, 
Nebr., in 1876, he enlisted in Company E, 4th U. S. Cavalry, and during his 
five years of subsequent service was stationed at points ranging from Dakota 
to Texas, and in 1881 received his honorable discharge at Fort Elliott, Texas. 



70S HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Mr. Casler soon afterward came to Great Falls, N. H., now Soinersworth, 
becoming a clerk in tlie store of William Plummer & Co., this firm at that 
time doing the largest grocery business in the place. After a number of years 
with this house Mr. Casler went with the Great Falls Bleachery and Dye 
Works, where for a number of years he had charge of the baling goods 
department, and his faithful service was rewarded by appointment to his 
present responsible position, on January ii, 191 1. 

On June 29, i88j, Mr. Casler was married to Miss Ella Isadore Plummer, 
who was born at Great Falls (Somers worth), N. H., and is a daughter of 
William and Mary A. (Home) Plummer. Her father was bom in Maine 
and her mother at Great Falls. Mrs. Casler is a lady of mental attainments 
and for eleven years was a teacher in the public schools before her marriage, 
for seven years being an instructor in the Somersworth High school. Mr. and 
Mrs. Casler have one son, Stanley Casler, who is a resident of Peabody, Mass. 
Mr. and Mrs. Casler are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which 
he has served in various offices, at present being church clerk. Politically 
he is a Republican and has been supervisor of the check list of Somersworth 
for the last twelve years. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Blue Lodge 
and Chapter at Somersworth and to the Commandery at Do\-er. 

DAVID CHALMERS, founder of the Chalmers conservatories at Roches- 
ter, whose death took place September 19, 1913. was born at Alva, Scotland, 
and came to this countr}- when a baby w ith his parents. In Scotland the name 
of Chalmers is a highly respected one, much honor having been conferred on 
it by the ministry and life work of Dr. Chalmers, the noted Scotch divine, 
known and revered throughout the land. 

On arriving in this country the parents of our subject settled first at Troy, 
New York, from which place they subsequently removed to Massachusetts, 
later coming to Rochester, X. LI., or about 40 years ago. For some years 
Da\id Chalmers worked for the Cocheco Company at East Rochester. In the 
meanwhile Mrs. Chalmers, with the assistance of her eldest son, Ernest D.. 
then only eleven years old, began raising vegetables for the market. They 
had such success that about 1890 Mr. Chalmers resigned his position w ith the 
Cocheco company and entered into the business also, taking up the raising of 
flowers and founding the widely known Chalmers conservatories. This plant 
consists of several glass houses 300 feet long, devoted to the raising of flowers 
for mortuory and other purposes, the trade in cut flow ers, which is large, being 
a specialty. The business is the largest of the kind in this section. 

Mr. Chalmers married Mabelle Gushing, who was born in Rochester, 
N. H., a daughter of Samuel Gushing, now one of the older residents of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 709 

Rochester, who came liere from Tannvorth, N. H., at the age of 20 years. 
Mr. Gushing is the oldest pansy grower in New Hampshire. His w ife, \\ hose 
maiden name was Ehiiira Wentworth, was born in this vicinity. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chahners were the parents of five children, namely : Ernest 
D., born in Rochester, N. H., December J5, 1S7S, who married Mary Hamil- 
ton and has two children — ( i ) Dwight, born July 25, 1908, and Dorothy, born 
July 9, 1909; (2) Forrest S., born July 9, 1883, who married Jennie Spring- 
field of Rochester and has one child — Harold S., born January 16, 1913: 
(3) Albert R., born August 9, 1885; (4) Harry O., born August 17, 1887; 
and Winnifred R., born May 17, 1891, who married Angie Roberts of 
Farmington. Mr. Chalmers' death caused much sorrow in this community, as 
he was a man widely known and respected. Among the floral tributes was a 
wreath of heather which came from Ole Bull's home in Norway and was 
given by the Shapleigh family of Lebanon, Me. He was a member of L'nity 
church and in politics was a Republican. The conservatories are now under 
the management of his widow and gi\x' full employment to three of his sons. 

AUGUSTINE S. PARSHLEY, whose death occurred December 1 1, igoi, 
was one of the foremost citizens and business men of Rochester, New Hamp- 
shire. He was a veteran of the Ci\il war and a man whom it pleased the 
people to elect to offices of trust upon \arirjns occasions. He had a large, 
well established insurance business, and also dealt in real estate. Mr. Parsh- 
ley was born in Strafford county, N. H., June 21, 1840, and was a son of 
Jolni W. and Mary A. (Foss) Parshley. both natives of Strafford county. 

John W. Parshley followed farming and was also a carpenter, both of 
which occupations he followed in Strafford throughout his active career. He 
was a politician in no sense of the Avon!, Ijut w as a free soiler. Religiously 
he and his wife were members of the Free \\ ill Piaptist church. He and 
his wife both died at the age of fifty-eight }-ears. They were parents of the 
following children: Charles, who died in infancy; John D., who died in 
Rochester in 1895: Sarah J., widow of A. C. Hall, who lives in Georgetown, 
Mass.; George C, deceased; and .Vugustine S. 

Augustine S. Parshley remained at home, following farming and car- 
pentering with his father, until the war. In 1862, he enlisted for three years' 
service as a member of Company F, 13th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., his enlistment 
terminating in June, 1865. He was advanced to the rank of corporal. He 
w as seriou.sly wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, and for one year was 
prevented from service with his regiment. When he returned to the front. 
he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and assigned to the defense 
of Washington. Upon the close of the war, he returned to Strafford and 



710 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

followed car])entcring until 1870. when he moved to Rochester and engaged in 
the insurance business. He was one of the pioneers in that field here and 
established a large and well paying agency. He also became interested in 
real estate and was secretary and treasurer of the Rochester Building and 
Loan Association for years. A republican in politics, he was in 1873 elected 
chairman of the Ijoard of selectmen, and was re-elected each term until 1882, 
serving a part of the time as town treasurer. When first incumbent of the 
latter position, the town indebtedness was $62,000, because of the war, and 
when he left the ofBce the town was free of debt. When he stood for re-elec- 
tion in 1875, he received all but forty-five of a total of 1,200, which evidences 
the esteem in which he was held by his fellowmen. In 1873 '^^ ^^'^^ chosen to 
represent his district in the State Legislature. In 1884 he was again elected 
chairman of selectmen, serving two years. He declined the nomination for 
mayor, although strongly imjxjrtuned to accept it. 

Mr. Parshley was married in i860 to Miss Georgiana Clough, who died, 
leaving a datighter, Nellie. This daughter, now deceased, was born June 
24, 1861 ; married in July, 1886, Benjamin ]\I. Flanders (also now deceased), 
and had one son, Philip R. Flanders, who was born July i, 1887, and is at 
the present time in business in Boston. 

In April, 1866, ^Ir. Parshley was united in marriage with Miss Ellen F. 
Buzzell of Strafford, and their union was blessed with four children: Abbie 
F., who was born August 14, 1867, and died while yet in her teens; Lillian E., 
born August 16, 1868, who became librarian of the Rochester Public Library 
when it was established in 1893, and has served efficiently in that capacity ever 
since; Charles A., who was born October 4, 1871. and died February 15, 
1899, at Southern Pines. North Carolina; and Mary E.. born September 2, 
1876, who holds a responsible position as bookkeeper. Charles A. Parshley, 
who was in the insurance business with his father, was married in 1894 to 
Miss Sadie Hanson. He was a }kIason and a member of the Sons of Veterans. 

Mr. Parshley was one of the founders of the Rochester Fair Associa- 
tion, and ser\'ed as secretary of the board until some three years prior to his 
death. He was a devout member of the Free Will Baptist church, and for 
25 years was superintendent of the Sabbath school. Rev. John Manter of 
that church ofiiciated at his funeral services, which were largely attended by 
a host of friends and fraternal brothers. Mr. Parshley was a member of 
Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F. ; Humane Lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M. ; Temple 
Chapter No. 20, R. A. M. ; Runnanville Tribe No. 9, I. O. R. ; Sampson 
Post No. 18, G. A. R. ; and of the Rochester Board of Trade. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 711 

ALBERT I. HALL, a man of recognized business ability and standing 
of Rochester, N. H., is a dealer in farm machinery and sawmill equipment, in 
addition to which he sells real estate. He also is meeting with great success 
as a fruit grower and dealer. Mr. Hall was born in Barrington, N. H.. in 
1856, and is a son of John B. and Lydia S. (Foss) Hall. The father was a 
native of New Hampshire, and except for his early years in the shoe manu- 
facturing business in Havershill, followed farming. He and his esteemed 
wife reared four children. 

Albert I. Hall was reared and received his educational training in Barring- 
ton and Dover. Throughout nearly the entire of his business career he has 
engaged in the sale of farm machinery, being much of the time tra\'eling. 
He has been located at Rochester for 24 years, his oftice and residence being 
at No. 92 Charles street. He is the most extensive grower of apples in this 
vicinity, having 100 acres devoted to that fruit, and he markets from 2,000 
to 5,000 barrels per year. Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Esther 
S. Young, a daughter of Judge Jacob D. Young of Madljury. and their 
home has been blessed with three children: Irene J\I., Olive F., and Rosvvell. 
the last mentioned being now deceased. Politically Mr. Hall is a Republican. 
He is a man of wide acquaintance and is held in high esteem. 

CHARLES F. PRAY,* station agent at Rollinsford, N. IL, for the Boston 
and Maine Railroad, has been identified with railroad work ever since he 
reached manhood. He was born at Rullinsford, September 27,, 185 1, and is 
a son of Humphrey and Eunice (Stackpole) Pray. The father was born in 
York, Me., and the mother in Strafford county, N. FI. The Pray family is of 
Scotch ancestry. 

Charles F. Pray attended the public schools of his native place and the 
Salmon Falls High school. Having decided on railroad work as his occupation, 
he learned the art of telegraphing, beginning as an operator, August 15, 1870, 
with the Boston and Maine Railroad. Two and a half years later he was 
appointed station agent and ever since has filled both positions. This is a busy 
railroad point and Mr. Fray's duties occupy all of his time during working 
days, while his church and Sunday school activities fill the first day of the 
week, especially as he is church organist. 

Mr. Pray has been twice married, first to Miss Novella A. Libbey, of Lowell, 
Mass. They had two children: Charles B. and Harry E., the latter being 
assistant superintendent of the Sayles' Bleachery, of Saylesville, R. I. The 
second marriage of Mr. Pray was to Miss Lucy B. Lord, of Lebanon, Me., a 
highly educated lady who had been formerly a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Pray 



712 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

are members of the Methodist Episcopal cluirch of South Berwick, in which he 
used to be Sunday school superintendent. He is a member of the Odd Fellows 
lodge at Salmon Falls. Politically a Republican, he belongs to that wing of 
the party that particularly advocates temperance. Mr. Pray is one of Strafi'ord 
county's well known and most popular citizens. 

FORREST L. KEAY, M. D., of Rochester, N. U.. having an office at 
19 S. Main street, was born at Lynn, Mass., April i. 1865. His father, 
Frank Keay, was until iSfxj engaged in the maunfacture of shoes at Lynn, 
Mass. He then became a resident of East Rochester, N. H., where he con- 
ducted a grocery store. Later he engaged in brick manufacturing at 
Lebanon, Me. His death took place at Ocean Park, Old Orchard, Me., in 
1907, when he was 72 years old. He married Releaf Goodwin Jones and 
their family numbered seven children. 

Forrest L. Keay was educated in the schools of Rochester, including the 
high school, from which he graduated in 1883, and Dartmouth College, 
graduating from that institution in 188S. In the fall of 1893 he was gradu- 
ated from Dartmouth Medical Cullegc. after wliich he six;nt one year in 
St. Elizabeth Hospital, Boston. He then began the practice of his profes- 
sion in East Rochester, N. H., remaining there five years and a half, or until 
February i, 1900, at which time he took up his present location in Rochester. 
He has made a good record in his profession, and, being appointed medical 
referee, served in that position for six years, from 1907 to 1913. He was 
county physician for eight years and is now secretary of the board of health 
and overseer of the poor. He was also for several years medical examiner of 
pension applicants and served on the school board one term. He is a member 
of the County, State and American Medical Associations, belongs to the 
Rochester Country Club, and is a 32d degree Rfason, having been High 
Priest of Temple Chapter four years, from 1900 to 1904, and for three 
years' time Eminent Commander of Palestine Commandery, from 1908 to 
191 1. Dr. Keay married Lillian 'SI. Ouimby, of E. Rochester, on June 
20, 1895. In politics he is a Republican and in all things a reliable and 
patriotic citizen. 

FRED C. SMALLEY, who is engaged in the monument and building busi- 
ness at Dover and also at Portsmouth, is one of the representative men of 
Strafford county, progressive and enterprising and more or less a leader on 
account of these qualities. He was born in 1866, in Rutland county, Vt., a son 




FRED C. SMALLEY 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 715 

of Christopher and Virginia (Guard) Snialley. They had a family of live 
children, four sons and one daughter, all surviving but one son. The father 
was a farmer in Rutland county and died at the age of Tj years. 

Fred C. Smalley enjoyed excellent educational advantages, attending school 
at Black River Academy and later at Albany. N. Y., and afterward taught 
school during several winters. In 1890 he became an employer in the office 
of the Vermont Marble Company at Proctor, Vt., where he continued for 
three years and then was employed for two years in their branch office at 
St. Louis, Mo. He spent the following two years in traveling through the 
Central States. In 1896, with a partner, he embarked in a monument business 
of his own at South Berwick, Me., but two years later the partners bought 
the Dover plant. Later he purchased his partner's interest and in 1906 bought 
his Portsmouth business place and operates them -both. He has two large 
quarries, in partnership with his brother, at Milford, N. H., and at Westerly, 
R. I. His location at Dover is Nos. 297-301 Central avenue, and at Ports- 
mouth, No. 19 \\'ater street. 

Mr. Smalley married Miss Grace M. Hanson, of South Berwick, Me., and 
they have four children; Virginia, Elizabeth, Frederick and Harry. In 
politics he is a Republican and at present is serving on the board of aldermen. 
He belongs to Moses Paul Lodge No. 96, A. F. & A. M., and to the Royal 
Arcanum. With his family he attends the L^nitarian church. 

C. W. LOWE, who is associated with his son, H. C. Lowe, in the livery 
and undertaking business, at Rochester, was born at North Shapley, Me., in 
1855, and is the oldest of the family of six children born to his parents, who 
were John and Hannah (Hargraves) Lowe. The father was also born in 
Maine and died at North Shapley at the age of 74 years. During his entire 
active life he was a spinner in a mill. 

C. W. Lowe left school at the age of eleven years to become a worker in 
a textile mill, where he continued until 18 years old. He then spent one 
.summer in Boston, after which he located at Milton Mills, N. H., later mov- 
ing to L'nion, where he bought a marble shop, still later entering a woolen 
mill at Springvale. He remained there as carpenter for 18 months and then 
came to Rochester, where he was car inspector for two years. In 1904 he 
embarked in the livery business and in 191 1 his son, H. C. Lowe, went into 
the undertaking business, and the two lines have since been carried on in 
partnership. 

C. W. Lowe married Miss Adelia Chamberlain, and they have one son, 
H. C. Lowe. He was born and attended school at Milton Mills, N. H., later 
taking a business course at Dover. His first employment was in a railroad 



716 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

freight house. In preparation for the undertaking business he attended the 
Boston Embalming Scliool, but prior to that had worked for seven years 
witli a local undertaker. He married Miss Eva Webber and they have two 
clnldren: Robert and Elizabeth. C. W. Lowe and son are identified with 
the Republican party politically and fraternally widi the Odd Fellows, and 
the younger member of the firm belongs also to the Grange, the Red Men 
and to the American Mechanics. As reliable business men and excellent 
citizens they stand high in public regard. 

BENJAMIN TYLER RICHARDS, one of Rochester's respected cit- 
izens, now retired, residing at No. 220 North Main street, was born at 
Lynn, Mass., April 2-j, 1835, and has spent his entire life in the New England 
states. He attended the village schools in boyhood but as soon as old enough 
took his place on the shoemaker's bench to learn the trade. At that time no 
one had even dreamed of the present great shoe factories with their special- 
ized machinery, able to turn out thousands of completed footwear a day, and 
he learned the trade in the old way and with the old instruments. Now 
hand-made shoes are a luxury while then they were a necessity. Mr. Richards 
continued to live at Lynn until he was 30 years of age. In 1855 he went to 
Redficld, Kennebec county, Me., which was his home for thirteen years and 
during eleven years of this time he was postmaster of that city and for seven 
years town clerk. He returned then to Lynn, :\Iass., where he remained for 
ei"-ht more years and then came to Rochester as foreman in the shoe-cutting 
department of a factory belonging to F. W. Breed of Lynn, Mass. Mr. Rich- 
ards continued in this capacity until about 1901, when he retired, after a 
busy and useful life. 

Mr. Richards was married in early manhood to Miss Marilla M. Elliott, 
of Readfield, Me., and five children were born to them: David Elliott, who 
is unmarried and lives at Kansas City; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Ben- 
jamin Router, of Lynn, Mass., resides at Rochester and has one daughter, 
Mildred, who is tlie wife of William Jenness, and two grandchildren (great- 
grandchildren of our subject), Lloyd and Natalene Jenness; \\'illiam Tyler, 
who is a resident of Lynn, Mass., married Elma Newhall and they have 
five children, Florence, Grace. Hazel, Chester and Ruth. Grace being the wife 
of Daniel McDonald and the mother of one daughter, Lillian ; Marilla, who 
died at the age of 18 months; and Isabelle, who is the wife of John H. Shep- 
pard and has six children — William, Harold, Marion, Frances, Gladys and 

Mary. 

For many years Mr. Richards took a very active interest in Republican 
politics, casting his first vote in 1856, and while a resident of Maine was active 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 717 

in his support of Hon. Anson P. Morrill, who was elected to the United 
States Congress in i860. Since residing at Rochester Mr. Richards has 
merely voted as lie has deemed right for a good citizen. He attends the 
Universalist church, cherishing a kindly creed and e-xemjilifying it in his life. 
Since 1864 Mr. Richards has been a Mason, uniting with the fraternity in 
Maine, and is a memlter of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council at Rochester. 

EUGENE C. FOSS, manager of the Henry Evans & Co. Hardware Com- 
pany, at No. 43 Main street, Rochester, N. H., is recognized as a thoroughly 
experienced business man and a citizen of worth. He was born at Tufton- 
boro, N. H., February 18, 1866, and was educated in his native place. At the 
age of 18 years Mr. Foss came to Rochester and entered the employ of F. \\'. 
Emery & Co., as a clerk. Later, in the same capacity, he was with Ira B. 
Moore & Company, No. 55 Hanson street, for 19 years. Mr. Foss then went 
to Dover, where, for 18 months he was connected in business with J. Herbert 
Seavey, returning then to Rochester and for six months prior to associating 
himself as junior partner and manager of his present fimi, was with the 
firm of Berry & Shorey. Thus almost all of his business life has been spent 
at Rochester and here his other interests are centered. 

Mr. Foss was married to Miss Fannie L. Clark, a <laughter of Jacob Clark, 
of Rochester, and they have had two children : Bernice, who is a school girl 
of twelve years; and Irvin, who died at tlie age of four years. The family 
home is at No. 33 Leonard street. In politics Mr. Foss is active in the Demo- 
cratic party and is a member of the city council representing the Sixth A\'ard, 
which has a normal Republican majority. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, belonging to Blue Lodge and Chapter at Rochester and to the Eastern 
Star. For 26 years he has been a member (a charter member) of Rumanitt 
Tribe No. 9, Red Men and is G. T. Sachem of the state of New Hampshire 
(year of 1913), belonging also to the local Grange. He is a man of genial 
personality and has a wide circle of friends. 

CHARLES H. HENDERSON, a representative citizen of Rochester, 
city assessor and prominent in Democratic politics, belongs to an old family 
of the town of Rochester. He was born on the Henderson farm, on the 
Farmington road, three miles northwest of Rochester Square, November 23, 
1850, and is a son of Daniel M. and Ruth fMcDuffee) Henderson. 

Charles H. Henderson attended school at Rochester and Wolfboro and 
afterward took a business course in a commercial college at Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y. For a short time afterward he worked in a finishing shoe shop and 
then went with George H. Atwell, a Milwaukee dealer, and afterward was 

42 



718 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

with ilie C. H. Fargo & Company, of Chicago, handling boots and slioes. 
The death of his lather recalled him to Strafford county and here he has 
remained since settling his father's estate, making his home with his brother 
in the Fourth Ward, at No. 183 North Alain street, Rochester. Air. Hender- 
son attends the Baptist church. He is one of the assessors for the city of 
Rochester. 

HON. FRANK B. CLARK, formerly a member of the New Hampsliire 
State Senate and for several terms a member of the Lower House, is one of 
the leading business men and progressive citizens of Strafford county. He 
was born on the old family homestead at Canaan, Grafton county, N. H., the 
native place of his father and grandfather, on Alay 2j, 185 1. His parents 
were Robert B. and Elvira G. (Stevens) Clark. 

Robert B. Clark was a son of Capt. Ro!)ert Clark, who was an officer in 
the New Hampshire militia and a man of local imi)ortance. Robert B. Clark 
passed his long and honorable life as an agriculturist. Lie married Elvira G. 
Stevens, a member of an old family of Went worth, N. H. 

Frank B. Clark was educated in the public schools of Canaan and at 
Tilton Seminary, Tilton, N. H. When about 18 years of age he became a 
salesman for the Singer Sewing Machine Company and continued with that 
well known house for a number of years, the last two years having charge of 
northern New Hampshire, with local office at Concord, N. H. He continued 
in the sewing machine business for four years more, having his own office at 
Manchester, N. H. In 1884 he came to Dover and for a number of years 
afterw^ard was a successful piano salesman for the J. E. Lothrop Company. 
For the last 18 years he has given his attention to the lumlier industry, and 
has become one of the best known and most successful luml)er dealers in his 
state. He has been a member of the board of directors of the New Hampshire 
Lumbermen's Association since it was organized. He has additional business 
interests, being first vice president of the Alerchants Savings Bank of Dover 
and also a director of the Merchants National Bank, of which institution he 
was one of the founders. 

Mr. Clark has been equally prominent in politics and has served his con- 
stituents faithfully and honorably both House and Senate, in the former 
representing the First Ward ami in the latter the 22A Senatorial District, 
being elected to office ou the Republican ticket. In the House he was an active 
and influential member of the railroad committee, one of importance in this 
section at that time. 

Senator Clark married, November 20, 1877, at Claremont. N. H., Miss 
Lillea M. Davis, then of Claremont, but a native of Burlington. Vt. They 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 719 

have one daughter, Alice B., who is a graduate of Smith College. With his 
wife and daughter Senator Clark attends the I'ierce Memorial Universalist 
church. He is a member of the various i\Iasonic bodies, being a 32d degree 
Mason and a member of Bektash Shrine at Concord. He is identified also 
with the Knights of Pythias at Dover and with other organizations largely 
social in character. The family residence stands at No. 36 Summer Street, 
Dover. 

REV. C. S. LACROIX, pastor of Holy Rosary church, Rochester, N. H., 
was born in Canada in 1861. He is a son of Honora Lacroix, a Canadian, by 
his wife Josephine, whose maiden name was Lavoie, the father of our sub- 
ject being a laborer by occupation. 

C. S. Lacroix, who was the youngest child of his parents, was educated in 
the Canadian schools and studied for the priesthood at St. Hyacinthe College, 
being ordained in New Hampshire by the late Bishop Bradley, December 22,, 
1893. He was appointed curate at Suncook, from which place lie went to 
Manchester, N. H., and from there in 1900 he was sent as pastor to North 
Conway. There he remained until September, 1909, when he was appointed 
to his present charge in Rochester. His parish has a membership of over 1900, 
the church being in a flourishing condition. He is a careful pastor, zealous 
in his work, and has gained the love of his congregation, as well as the respect 
of the people of Rochester generally. 

JAMES W. WALLACE, one of the best known citizens of Somersworth, 
where his life has mainly been spent, was born here when this city was yet 
known as Great Falls. His parents were Michael and Margaret ( Magner) 
Wallace. 

From Ireland, Michael \\'allace, and his wife and their one daughter, 
came to America early in the forties. They lived for a short time at Port- 
land, Me., and then came to Great Falls, now Somersworth. and settled here 
permanently and here five more children were born, Ellen, Margaret and 
James W., yet surviving of the family, and all residing together in the old 
homestead at No. 353 Main street. One member of the family, as are the 
parents, is deceased — T. H., who became a inan of great nrominence in the 
Catholic church. 

The Right Reverend Monseignor T. H. Wallace, whose death occurred 
at Lewiston, Me., November i, 1907, at the age of 61 years, was born and 
reared at Somersworth. He attended the public schools, the Holy Cross Col- 
lege at Worcester, Mass., and spent three additional years in the Montreal 
Seminary, at Montreal. Can. He was a man of great talent and of churchly 



\ 



720 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

zeal and was known, \alued. admired and beloxed tliroughout Xew Hampshire 
and Maine. His influence w ill long be felt and his memory cherished. 

James \\'. Wallace attended the common and high schools at Somers- 
worth, after which he spent two years as a student in the Holy Cross College 
at Worcester. ]Mass. With his sisters he belongs to the Holy Trinity Catholic 
ciiurch at Somerswnrth. }>Ir. Wallace is numliered with the substantial men 
of Somersworth and his good citizenship has long since been established. He 
has never been willing to accept public office but is one of the stanch Demo- 
crats of Somersworth. 

CHARLES F. WORCESTER, a well known, respected and useful cit- 
izen of Somersworth. of which city he has been a resident for 26 years, has 
been identified with the Great Falls [Manufacturing Company as foreman of 
the belt and roller shop fur a long time. He was born at Ipswich. Mass., 
February 10, 1858, and is a son of Daniel C. and Sarah (Tenney) Worcester, 
both parents being natives of Ipswich. The ancestry of the Worcester family 
leads back to England and the family is an old one in Lebanon, yie. The 
mother of Charles F. Worcester is now deceased but the father, now a ven- 
erable man in his eighties, still lives at Lynn, Mass. 

Charles F. Worcester spent the first ten 3-ears of his life at Ipswich and 
then accompanied his parents w hen they removed to Xewburyport, where he 
completed his education in the public school. He was about 21 years of age 
when he went to Haverhill, in his native state, but the wider field of business 
opportunity offered by Great Falls, now Somersworth, soon became apparent 
and he came to this city, a move he has never regretted. 

Mr. Worcester has been twice married and of the three children born to 
his first union there are two sundvors, one of these being Mrs. Blanche T. 
Woodman, of West Somerville, Mass. His second marriage was to Mrs. 
Dora (Southerland) Sanborn, of Lisbon, Me. In politics Mr. Worcester 
is a Republican and served one term as a selectman of Somersworth, being 
chairman of the board. He is identified with the order of Knights of Pythias 
and is serving as chancellor commander of this body. Both he and his wife 
attend the first Baptist church. 

1 CHRISTOPHER [MORGAN, overseer of the carding department of mill 
No. 2 of the Great Falls [Manufacturing Company, is a man whose long ex- 
perience in the textile industry has qualified him for a position of responsibil- 
ity. He was born at Lowell, Mass., August 8, 1845. and is a son of Christo- 
pher and Eliza (Howard) Morgan. The father was an overseer for the 



AXD REPRESEXTATIVE CITIZENS 721 

Lawrence Alanufacturing Company of Lowell, Mass., for over a half centur)-. 
His death occurred in his 79th year. 

Christopher ^Morgan attended school at Lowell until he was 12 years of 
age and then, like the greater number of his boy comrades, went to work in a 
cotton mill. He remained in the same mill at Lowell until he was 18 years of 
age. It being connected with the plant of the Lawrence Manufacturing Com- 
pany, and by that time had become expert enough to be ai)pointed a foreman 
in the spinning and winding department, where he continued for seven years. 
He then resigned and went to Laconia, N. H., where he accepted a position as 
foreman of the spinning department of a hosiery mill, but later returned to 
his native city for a time, when he was tendered a position with a company 
of expert mill machinists \\ ho were preparing to go to Shanghai, China, at 
the request of some Chinese capitalists, to introduce occidental methods and 
install ginning, picking and carding machinery in mills owned bj^ a large 
Chinese firm. Not only did Mr. Morgan assist and superintendent the instal- 
lation of this machinery but he remained as overseer of the ginning, picking 
and carding departments of that mill for three years. After this uiuisual 
experience he returned to America and shortly afterward — March 6, 1893 — 
took up his present position with the Great Falls Manufacturing Company at 
Soniersworth. 

Mr. Morgan married, first, Miss Rosella S. Badger, of Lowell. Mass.. 
who died at Somersworth. February 3, 1912. Mr. Morgan's second marriage 
was to Mrs. Sarah J. (Livingston) Stevenson. She was born at Peacham. Vt.. 
a daughter of Harvey B. and Elizabeth (Way) Livingston. While not a 
member of any particular church, Mr. Morgan is a willing contributor to all 
moral movements and worthy charities. He belongs to Libanas Blue Lodge. 
A. F. & A. M.. at Somersworth; to Edwards Chapter, Somersworth; and St. 
Paul Commandery at Dover; and also to Friendship Lodge. I. O. O. F.. of 
Hookset, X. H. 

WILL.ARD H. KIMBALL, master mechanic, has been identified with the 
Great Falls Bleachery and Dye Works, of Somersworth, N. H., for many 
years, and maintains his home at Berwick, Me., where he is held in high 
esteem as a citizen. Mr. Kimball was born at Amherst. Me.. March 28, 1865, 
and is a son of George S. and Olive (Frost) Kimball, the former of whom 
was born at Waterville and the latter at Mariaville. Me. The father was a 
farmer and once was prominent in the lumber industry. 

Willard H. Kimball attended the public schools of Amherst but had no 
other educational advantages, having, to a large extent, provided for himself 
through life. In 1887 he started to work for the Great Falls Manufacturing 



722 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Company in tlie firing room, from which he w as promoted to the machine shop 
where he worked for two years. In 189 1 he assisted in placing the machinery 
in the Great Falls Bleachery, afterward being permanently employed in the 
machinist's department of this plant, for five years being head machinist, and 
in July, 1899, was made master mechanic of the Great Falls Bleachery and 
Dye Works, a position of responsibility which he still holds. This fact of 
itself indicates that Mr. Kimball is a trusted and capable man in his line of 
work for only such ever attain such prominence in the great industrial plants 
of the present day. 

In December, 1S89, Mr. Kimball was married to Miss Lillian Lawrence, 
who died February' 4, 1906, the mother of six children: Flora ^I., who is the 
wife of Omar L. Pratt, of Laconia, N. H. ; and Beulah F., Earl L., How ard S., 
Helen M., and Ralph L., all of whom reside at home. On June 21, 1911, 
Mr. Kimball was married secondly to Miss Martha E. Worster, who was 
born at Berwick, Me., a daughter of Ebenezer Worster, formerly of Berwick. 
Mrs. Kimball passed away June 14, 1913. In 1887 J\Ir. Kimball settled at 
Somersworth and continued to reside there until 1895, when he removed his 
home to Berwick, Me., his residence being on the corner of Merriam and 
Berwick streets. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic lodge at South 
Berwick, Me., and belongs also to Washington Lodge, Odd Fellows, at 
Somersworth. 

WILLIAM H. CHAMPLIN, who owns and operates the largest box 
manufacturing plant in New Hampshire and the second largest in all New- 
England, has his factory and planing mill on Glenwood avenue at Rochester, 
N. H. He was born at Warwick, R. I., and was educated there and at East 
Greenwich Academy. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Champlin came to 
Rochester and in 1906 began the erection of his first planing mill. This was 
destroyed by fire on October 7, 1913. with considerable loss to him, but a new 
mill is in course of construction, equipped with every modern facility for car- 
rying on the box making business, which is the specialty, and by January i, 
1914, it will be in full operation. Mr. Champlin also carries on a general 
wholesale lumber business and gives employment to 200 men. Energy and 
efficiency have marked every step of his business career and undoubtedly his 
undertaking has a still more prosperous course in the future as long as he 
lives to direct its management. ]\Iany business men are the best of citizens 
without taking a very active interest in political matters and this is the case 
with Mr. Champlin. He votes the Republican ticket and lends his interest to 
public-spirited movements but declines to serve in public office. He is identi- 
fied w^ith the Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Episcopal church. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 723 

EDWIN W. FOLSOAI, one uf the old established business men of 
Soniersuorth. jeweler and optieian, located at No. 17 Main street, came to 
Great Emails in 1874, and, practically, has been continuously in the same busi- 
ness stated above during all these years, and is at present 'in the oi-tical busi- 
ness at No. 3 Main street. He was born at Acton, Me., September _>9, 1S49, 
and IS a son of \\'illiam P. and Lucy (Goodwin) Folsom, both of \\hom uere 
l)orn m Maine and probably were of English ancestry. 

Edwin \y. Folsom was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents 
in their removal to Springvale, Me., and some years later to East Rochester, 
N. H. A few years later he went to Manchester, N. H., and after serving an 
apprenticeship to the jeweler's trade for four years, remained there two years 
longer and then came to Great Falls, now Somersworth, and immediately 
embarked in business. He is vice president and a director in the Somersworth 
National Bank and is one of the city's stable and representative men of affairs. 

Mr. Folsom \vas united in marriage with Miss Delia Marston, who was 
born at Somersworth, a daughter of Thomas F. Marston, a former \\ell known 
resident of Somersworth, and they have five children: Flora, the wife of 
Harry Graf, who is connected with the postoffice at Manchester; Ethel, the 
wife of Harry Campbell, who is assistant treasurer of the Dwight Manu- 
facturing Company of Chicopee, Mass., with main office at Boston; Nellie L., 
the wife of Malcom M. McKenzie, a teacher of mechanical engineering and 
drawing in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston; Olive M., the 
wife of George B. Sargent, who is in the banking business at Boston, Mass.; 
and W^illiam M., who is with the Great Falls Bleachery and Dye \Vorks, as 
a business student, at Somersworth. Mr. Folsom is an important factor in the 
business life of this city and at present is treasurer of the Somersworth 
Board of Trade. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and is identified with 
all the local Masonic bodies and belongs also to Washington Lodge, Odd 
Fellows, at Somersworth. 

E. A. CORSON, who is one of tlie leading business men of East 
Rochester, conducts one of the largest greenhouses in Strafford county, 
which is located on Autumn street, while his office is at No. 60 Hanson 
street, Rochester. He was born at East Rochester, N. H. in 1867. and is 
a son of Benjamin and Mary E. (Noyes) Corson. 

Benjamin Corson was born in Strafford county and in his earlier years 
was engaged in farming but later went into the shoe business at East Roches- 
ter, in which he continued practically as long as he lived, being 84 years old 
at time of his death. He was a quiet, industrious, steadv-going man. one 
who did his full duty in every position in which circumstances placed him. 



724 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

E. A. Corson attended the East Rochester schools and as he was one of 
a large family, early began to learn a self-supporting trade. He went into 
a shoe factory and gradually pushed ahead until be became foreman of 
the cutting room. ,\lthough he became an e.xpert in that line his real tastes 
lay in the direction of his present business which he started 18 }-ears ago 
and has built up to large proportions, having now 6,000 feet under glass. 
He has so equipped his plant that he can ha\e flowers for almost e\ery pur- 
pose on demand, but his si)ecialties are potted plants and funeral designs. 

Mr. Corson was united in marriage with Miss Miriam Aimie Noyes, a 
native of Deerfield and they have two children: Royal W'., who married 
Miss Zilla M. Southard, of Buston, and Bertha I., who lives with her par- 
ents. In politics a Reptiblican, ^Ir. Corson has sen-ed a term in the state 
legislature and is now in his second year as a member of the city council. 
His fraternal connections include membership in the Grange and with the 
Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. With his famil)- he belongs to the 
Baptist church. 

FRED J. HANSON, manager and half owner of the Nutter Heel Com- 
pany, an important industry at Farmington, has been identified with the 
leather business almost all his working life and has been engaged as a 
manufacturer of specialties for more than 30 years. He was born at Dover, 
N. H., January 16, 1857, and is a son of Joseph H. and Sarah Elizabeth 
(Maine) Hanson, the latter of whom died in 1881, her burial being in Pine 
Hill cemetery at Dover. She was born at Farmington, N. H., in 1836. One 
of her ancestors was Parson Maine, a statue of whom stands in the public 
square at Rochester, N. H. On the paternal side of the original ancestor 
was Thomas Hanson, who came from England in 1657 and settled in Straf- 
ford county, N. H. three miles below^ Dover. Joseph H. Hanson, father of 
our subject, married twice. Of his first marriage six children were l)orn, 
Fred T- being the second in order of birth. 

Up to the age of sixteen years Fred J. Hanson attended school at Dover. 
Then his industrial life began, his first work being at the trade of cutting 
heels. In 1880 he embarked in the manufacturing business at Boston, Mass., 
where he remained for four years. He then sold out and came to Farming- 
ton, in 1885 establishing his factory here for the manufacture of soles, taps 
and heel lifts and heels for all kinds of shoes. The business is now con- 
ducted as a partnership under the style of the Nutter Heel Company, the 
concern occupying a three-story building and doing an extensive business. 
Mr. Hanson has additional interests, being a stockholder in the Farmington 
National Bank. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 725 

In January. 1879. Mr. Hanson was united ni marriage with Miss Edna 
M. Smith, who is a daughter of the late (ieorge K. and Hannah (Colomy) 
Smith. The father was l)orn at Bradford, ^lass., and the mother at Farm- 
ington, X. H. Botii are deceased, their remains resting in Pine Gro\e ceme- 
tery, Farmington. Mrs. Hanson was l)i:>rn October 4, 1864, the seventh in 
a family of eight children. She is well known in many circles, belonging 
to the Daughters of Rebekah and to the Woman's Club, at Farmington. and 
being the organist of the Baptist church. While always voting the Repulili- 
can ticket, Mr. Hanson has never consented to accept a political office fi>r 
himself. His fraternal connections are with Harmony Lodge, I. O. O. i'\, 
and with Mystic Lodge K. of P., huth of I-'armington. 

\MLLIAM SA\\'YER, a scion of one of the old and representative 
families of Dover, in which city he spent his life, was born July 24, 1849 and 
died May 17, 1913. His parents were Thomas E. and Elizabeth (Moody) 
Sawyer. 

Thomas E. Sawyer was Ixirn Xo\ember 21, 1798, in Do\er, where his 
name is yet publicly commemorated in the handsome school building, located 
on Fifth street. His death took place February 27, 1879. He was a bril- 
liant member of the Do\er bar, a man of sterling worth and was at one time 
mayor of Dover. In 1813 he married Elizabeth Watson, who died in 1847. 
He later married Elizabeth Moody, who was a native of Effingham, X. H. 

William Sawyer was reared at Dover and had many educational and 
social advantages. His business antl family interests were centered here 
and this city remained his chosen home. He was affiliated widi the Re]nibli- 
can party and was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
For a number of years he was identified with the Improved Order of Red 
Men. 

On September 22, 1882, Mr. Sawyer was married to Miss Sarah Ran- 
dall, of Conway, N. H., a daughter of Xathaniel and Mehitable M. (Brough- 
ton) Randall, both of whom were natives of Conway and both are now de- 
ceased. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer: Jessie, who 
is the wife of Ben P. Brierly, of Stratham, N. H. ; Edith B., who resides 
with her mother at Dover; and Thomas E., who is a resident of Frank- 
lin, N. H. Mrs. Sawyer occupies the family residence at No. 14 St. John 
street, Dover. She a-.id her daughter belong to tlie Episcopal church and 
they take part in many of the plea.sant social activities of this old city, where 
the family name has been known and respected for generations. 



726 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

HOx\. FRANK B. PRESTON, of Rochester, wlio is one of the city's 
representative men, botli in business and pubhc affairs, was born at Straf- 
ford Bow Lake, February ii, 1856, and is a son of Wingate T. and Mary 
J. Preston. They had four children, iMrs. Cyrena A. Rand, of South Ber- 
wick, Me., Frank B. and George W. of Rochester, and Alberton D., of 
Barrington. The mother died several years ago, and the father died March, 
1913, aged 82 years. 

Frank B. Preston had excellent educational training, attending school 
at Strafford, Barrington, Franklin Academy, Dover, N. H., West Lebanon 
Academy, Lebanon, Me., and New Hampton Literary Listitute and Com- 
mercial College, New Hampton, N. H. He has been a contractor and builder 
in Rochester for 15 years. For the next 15 years, he was manager and 
part owner with Governor Samuel D. Felker of the Rochester Lumber Com- 
pany. For the past six years, he has been interested in real estate and lumber, 
exclusively, having an office in Dodge Building, 

He was elected moderator of Barrington in 1881. He was married to 
Miss Fannie C. Foss in 1881, and moved to Rochester, where he has resided 
ever since. They have three children, Vinton \\'., who married Ada E. 
Mason; Mary Florence, a graduate of Rochester High School, and of New 
Hampton Literary Institute, also a student of Bates College, and Verne F. 
a member of the senior class of the Rochester High school. 

He was elected moderator of Rochester for 1887, he also served as 
moderator at the state election in 1888, at which election he was elected 
a member of the Constitutional Convention from Ward 6. He was one of 
the Presidential electors on the Democratic ticket in 1900. He has served 
four years upon the school lioard as a member from Ward 2, namely, 1909- 
1910-191 1-1912. and since then as president of the board. Fie was elected 
a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention for 1912, from Ward 2, 
without a dissenting vote. 

He was elected Mayor of Rochester, for the year 1913, and was re-elected 
to serve for the year 1914, without opposition, all parties uniting upon him. 
In politics he has always been a Democrat, and for six years was a member 
of the Democratic State Committee. He was elected in 1904, and every 
year since, corresponding secretary and manager of the Gafney Home, and 
at present is a trustee of that institution. He was elected president of the 
People's Building Loan Association in 1907, and has held the position ever 
since. For several years, he has been a trustee of the New Hampton Lit- 
erary Institution. He is a Free Baptist, and has served as director for several 
years, and at present is president of the society. Fraternally, he is identified 
with the Odd Fellows at Rochester, a member of the Rebekah Lodge, also 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 727 

a member of the Rochester Grange, I'atrons of Husbandry, and one of 
New Eastern New Hampsliire Pomona Grange. 

RUPERT G. BISHOP was born in King's County, Nova Scotia, August . 
7, 1843, son of Leander L. and Rebecca (Burbridgej Bishop, but his ances- 
tors were good, old Connecticut stock, of the Bishop family of New Haven, 
whose forbears were among the first settlers from England in that ancient 
and historic town. Leander L. was son of Peter Bishop, Jr., and his wife 
Amy Bishop of New Haven, Conn., and Peter, Jr., was son of Peter 
Bishop, Sr., and his wife Phebe Hamilton of New Haven. Peter, Sr., was 
born in New Haven about 1730, and his Bishop ancestors had li\ed there 
from the beginning of things in that town. In June, 1755, Peter, Sr., and 
three brothers were privates in a company of Connecticut militia which were 
serving under Governor Shirley of ^Massachusetts, in the land and naval 
armament which lie sent from Boston to the head of the Bay of b'undy, 
where they captured the I'rench forts and took military possession ui the 
land of Acadia, and later the Acadians were dri\en from the land and 
scattered all along the New England coast, and the Atlantic coast of the 
Southern States. Longfellow, in his beautiful poem. '"Evangeline," tells the 
story of their jjanishment and cruel sufferings. 

In this expedition the Bishop brothers became acquainted with the fine 
.'\cadian farms, whose broad and fertile meadows are dikcil to keep out the 
high tides that are characteristic of the arms of the Bay of Fiuidy. After 
the Acadians had all been deported, and the Bishop brothers had completed 
their term of military service, the four brothers emigrated from New Haven 
to Nova Scotia and settled in King's county. They took with them four New 
Ha\'en girls for wix'cs. and were allotted farms where the Acadians had 
dwelt. Peter Bishop took Pliebe Hamilton for his wife, and they raised 
a family of 16 children, boys and girls, and some of their descendants 
are farmers in Acadia today. His sons all came back to New Haven. Conn., 
to select girls for their wives; his son Peter made choice of Miss Amy 
Bowles, daughter of one of the old families of that town, and they com- 
menced housekeeping where the French had vacated. It may be they lived 
on the identical farm from which Longfellow's heroine, Evangeline, was 
deported, but his grandson in Dover is not informed in regard to that point 
in history, but he never gets weary reading Longfellow's delightful poem in 
which is a description of Benedict Bellfontaine's farm where Evangeline 
lived. 

Peter Bishop, Jr., was bom about 1770, and he and his good wife died 
in King's County. Their son Leander L., father of the subject of this 



•28 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



s 
\\a 



sketch, was born in 1813. He learned the trade of carriage huiltier. and 
.\as engaged in that occnpation in King's County, Nova Scotia, until about 
1870, when he renio\ed to the I'acitic Coast and settled at Taconia, \\ ash- 
ington. His wife, Rebecca Bnrbridge, was daughter of John and Abby 
( Fitch j Burbridge of King's County, and grand-daughter of Col. J')hn Bur- 
bridge, an officer of the English Army, who had settled in Nova Scotia 
when he retired from the army. 

Rupert G. Bishop had none of the educational advantages now given 
the children and youth, but his parents sent him to a small private school 
conducted at Kentsville, near his home, and as soon as old enough to be 
trusted with tools he learned the cari>enter trade under an uncle, James 
Burbridge, with whom he remained for several years. It was in 1870 that 
Mr. Bishop came to the United States, finding work at his trade in the city 
of Boston, Mass., working, according to the custom of the time, as a journey- 
man and became a contractor and builder in that city and vicinity. In 1878 
he came from there to Dover, soon finding an excellent business field here 
and has continued until the present, having been concerned in many large 
building contracts in StraiYord county and is noted for his strict integrity in 
his Inisiness transactions. 

Mr. Bishop married Mrs. Ellen Smith, widow of Mark Smith, formerly 
of Dover, daughter of Peletiah and Comfort (Chase) Daniels of Strafiford, 
near Bow Pond. Mrs. Daniels was a native of Vermont; Mr. Daniels was 
a great grandson of Joseph Daniels of Portsmouth, who settled m Liar- 
rington before the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have no children. He 
has never held any public office or aspired to hold any, nor is he a member 
of any secret society, but his fellow citizens esteem him as one of the best 
of men; he is a willing and liberal contributor to worthy charity, and gi'ves 
a helping hand to all causes of public niorabty. 

BERT WENTW'ORTH. justice of the peace and notary public, with 
offices at No. 44 Fourth street, Dover, is well known all over Strafford 
County and far beyond. He has acceptably tilled many public offices and 
aside from these has won an interstate reputation as a scientific expert on 
finger prints and the Bertillon measurements, the accepted systems of identi- 
fying criminals. He was bom at Dover, January 4, 1857, and is a son of 
George T. and Olive A. (Whitten) Wentworth. 

George T. Wentworth was a life long resident of Dover, by profession 
a lawyer, and all his mature life he was active in public affairs. He was 
appointed postmaster of Dover by President Zachary Taylor and was sub- 
sequently reappointed by President Fillmore. He was a man of fine natural 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 729 

ability and (if engaging personaiit)-. His death took place when he was in 
his 59th year. 



Bert W'entworth in his boyhood attended sehool at Do\er. H 



e was T 



/ 



years of age when his father died and he became an employe of the Cocheco 
Manufacturing Company that same year, entering the print works as a 
student and sul>se(picntly l)ec(iming foreman of a num]]er of departiP.ents 
there. I'or many years public life has claimed ^^Ir. W'entworth's attention. 
He served seven years as deputy sheriff of Strafford County, and five years 
as police commissioner of Dover, under aijpointnient of Gov. John Mcl.ane, 
resigning this office in order to accept that of a deputy United States marshal 
at Washington, D. C., iu's duties being confined to the District of Cohimliia. 
After 13 months in Washington his health failed, the chanL;e of climate 
not agreeing with him, hence he resigned his office and returned to Do\-er. 
Mr. U'entworth was united in marriage with Miss Emma J. \Vendell, 
a daughter of William Wendell, a well known resident of Do\er, now 
deceased, and they have had two sons, Harry J- and Wendell L., tlic latter 
being now deceased. The former is a ci\'il engineer connected with the 
Fitchburg Division of the Boston & Maine Railroad, with headquarters at 
Fitchburg, Mass. Mr. Wentworth is a ^2(1 degree Mason and belongs also 
to the Royal Arcanum at Dover. With his wife and son he Ijelongs also 
to the First Parish Congregational Church at l-)over. Fie is deeiilv inter- 
ested in his scientific studies and when not engaged in his official duties 
may usually be found in his library. 

EDWIN HARRIS THOMAS, one of the representative and influential 
men of Strafford county, has lieen more or less identified with the printing 
business since he was 17 years of age, and has been a resident of Farm- 
ingtou for the past 14 years, where he issues the Farmington News, of which 
he is editor and owner. Mr. Thomas was born at Lawrence. St. Lawrence 
county, N. Y., November 19, 1857, and is a son of Harris J. and l.v.ry D. 
(Wright) Thomas, natives of Vermont, both now deceased. The father 
was twice married and Edwin Harris was the youngest born of the lamily 
of four children to his first imion. 

Edwin Harris Thomas secured his education in the schools of Nichol- 
ville, N. Y., and St. Albans, Vt. He was 17 years old when he became an 
apprentice to the printing trade in the office of Col. Albert Clarke, at Rut- 
land, Vt., and after completing his apprenticeship worked in the same Cjffice 
as a journeyman until November, i8S_^, when he resigned in order to 
become foreman of an office at Montreal, Canada, where, after one year, 
he was made superintendent of the whole plant. After his subsecpient return 



73U HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

to Rutland, Vt., lie took charge of the inechaiiical department of the Rutland 
Herald, owned by Col. Albert Clarke, on which journal he was also a si>ecial 
reporter for five years. Failing health caused his retirement from business for 
two years but in the meanwhile he assisted in establishing the Rutland Even- 
ing News. In November, 1899, he came to Farmington and luirchased the 
News, which he has since issued as a weekly newspaper. It is in a very pros- 
perous condition, with a circulation of 1400 copies, its political polic}' beuig 
independent, although personally Mr. Thomas is a Republican. On many 
occasions he has been a delegate to state convenlidiis and in 1912 headed his 
delegation for the Republican choice at that time. The job office conducted 
in connection with the newspaper, is a very important adjunct of the business, 
although its equipment with up-to-date machinery cost Mr. Thomas a large 
expenditure after he took charge. His office thus supplied with new type and 
all necessary machinery is liberally patronized, especially by the shoe factories, 
a large amount of printing being done for each plant. Mr. Thomas has been 
president of the board of trade for some years and is serving in his fourth 
vear as president of the public library. 

In 1880 Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Jennie I. Shipman, who was 
born August 14, 1837, third in a family of five children, her parents being 
of Hardwick, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have two sons: Carl S., who is 
associated with his father in the publishing business; and Guy E., who is a 
resident of Farmington but is employed in the office of the New England Cot- 
ton Yam Company, at Rochester. 

For ten years Mr. Thomas was a member of the Ransom Guards, a noted 
military organization of Vermont. In his fraternal connection with the 
Alasons he belongs to Fraternal Lodge No. 71 and is high priest of Columbian 
Chapter No. 18, R. A. M. He belongs also to Harmony Lodge No. 11. 
Knights of Pythias, in which order he has passed all the chairs and has ser\ ed 
as district deputy. Both he and wife are members of the Eastern Star, of 
which he has been worthy patron for the past four years. They attend the 
Congregational church. 

JAMES B. TOWLE, general farmer and dairyman, owning a \alual)le 
estate of 80 acres, situated on the Back River road, town of Dover, was born 
in Dover, N. H., July 2, 1856, and is a son of Jeremy B. and Mary (Nute) 
Towle. 

Jeremy B. Towle was born at Wolfsboro, N. H., and is still a resident of 
New Hampshire, having lived in Dover for almost 80 years. He married ?^Iary 
Nute. who was born in Madbury, N. H., and died many years ago. Their sur- 
viving children are: Levi W.. James B., and Hiram G., all of Dover; Edwin 



AND REPRESKXTATR'E CITIZENS 731 

D., a practicing physician of Salem, Mass.; and Cora A., a graduate nurse uf 
Boston, Mass. 

James B. Towle was educated in the public schools of Dover, after which, 
for ten years, he was employed as a wool sorter in the old Sawyer Mills at 
Dover. He then went to South Dakota and was engaged in farming for several 
years and subsequently, for several years, was manager of the large dairy farm 
belonging to E. A. Smith, who, at that time, was roadmaster on the Boston 
and Maine Railroad. Mr. Towlc also, f< t a short time, was engaged in farm- 
ing in Worcester county, Mass., before returning to Dover, in 1890, when he 
located on his own farm, where he has carried on a general farmino- line, 
including dairying, having a ready market at Dover. 

Mr. Towle married Miss Georgia E. Prescott, who was born in Iowa and 
is a daughter of George Prescott, of near Fitchburg, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. 
Towle have three children: Mary T., who is a graduate of the Westminster 
High school and of the State Normal school at Salem, Mass.; Harriet E., 
who is a trained nurse, a graduate of the Mas.sachusetts General Hospital at 
Boston; and Ralph A., who is a resident of St. Petersburg, Fla. Mr. Towle 
gives his political support to the Democratic party. 

JEREMIAH J. MORIN, M. D., whose office is located at No. 95 North 
Main street, Rochester, N. H., was born in Canada, May 4, 1885. His father, 
Louis Morin, was a Canadian who came to the United States when his son, 
the subject of this sketch, was but a year old. He now resides in Portland, 
Me., where he is engaged in the pa])er manufacturing industr\-. He married 
Amanda Beaubien, and they had two children, Jeremiah J. and a daughter 
who is now deceased. 

Jeremiah J. Morin was educated in the schools of Bellows Falls, \'t., 
Syracuse University, and the Uni\-ersity of Vermont, graduating from the 
College of Medicine in 1909. He came to Rochester in May, 1910, after 
spending the interval in the Hartford Hospital and at Cummington, Mass., 
and has already laid the foundation of a good practice, being recognized as a 
fully competent man in his profession. He is a member of Rochester, Straf- 
ford County and State Medical societies, and American Medical Association. 
His fraternal affiliations include membership in the orders of Maccabees, 
Moose, Catholic Order of Foresters, Association Canado-American, L'Union 
St. Jean Baptiste, Local St. Jean Baptiste, and Knights of Columbus. He 
married Mary B. Dailey and he and his wife are members of the French 
Catholic church. 



732 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

H. E. ANDERSON, M. D., physician and surgeon, with office and resi- 
dence at Acton, Me., and Mihon ^^lills. X. H.. inclusive, enjoys a substantial 
practice that covers a wide extent of country. He was born April i, 1887, at 
Liniington. Me., and is the only child born to Edward A. and Nettie S. 
( Purinton) Anderson. The mother of Dr. Anderson died at Limington, 
Me., in 1896. She was a daughter of Stephen Purinton, who formerly was a 
county commissioner of York county. Me. The father of Dr. Antlerson was 
sheriff of York county for six years. He died at Alfred, Me., in March, 191 1. 
H. E. Anderson was eleven years old when his parents moved from Lim- 
ineton to Alfred, Me., where he continued his schooling. Later he attended 
the Lewiston High school for two years, after which he returned to Limington 
and completed his academic studies there. Subsequently he had medical col- 
lege advantages at Boston. Brunswick and Portland, and after receiving his 
degree he located at Acton (Milton Mills) and has remained here, becoming a 
leading citizen and physician in whom great confidence is placed. He is town 
physician of Acton, chairman of the board of health, superintendent of schools, 
and town clerk of the west end of the southern part of the town of Acton. 
His area of practice covers Union, Middleton, Acton ( IMilton Mills) Lebanon 
and Shapleigh and, as may be judged, his time is very fully occupied. He is 
affiliated with the Republican party and belongs to the leading fraternal organ- 
izations, being a member of Springvale Lodge No. 192, A. F. & A. M. : 
Miltonia Lodge No. 52, L O. O. F. ; Rebecca Lodge No. 79, and is identified 
also with the ^lilton Grange. 

Dr. Anderson married IMiss Abbie Small, who is a daughter of \\'. S. 
and Kate Small, of Limington, Me. Mrs. Anderson is a highly educated and 
talented lady and devotes much time to music, having pupils at Acton and 
Milton Mills. She belongs to the Sisters of Rebecca and also to the Eastern 
Star. Dr. Anderson and wife take a prominent part in the social activities of 
Acton. 

EVERETT L. CHAPMAN, M. D,, of Dover, was born at Columbia. 
N. H., February 3, 1887, being one of the three children of William G. and 
Nora (Hutchinson) Chapman. His father was a dealer in timber and also 
engaged in the real estate business, buying and selling famis. The subject of 
this sketch, who was one of three children born to his parents, began his 
education in the public schools and also attended the high school of North 
Strafford, and the University of Vermont, where he was graduated in 1910 
from the medical department. He then took a post graduate course in the 
Mary Fletcher Hospital of Burlington, Vt., and then a course in the S. R. 
Smith General Hospital and later in New York Lying-in Institute, of New 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 733 

York, on Aug. ii, 191 1, coming to Dover, where he has already made a very 
favorable impression, being recognized as a competent physician and surgeon, 
a good citizen, and a man of agreeable personality. With such (jualihcations 
doubtless the future holds much in store for him. He is a member of (he 
County Aledical Society, the State Medical Society, and also the local medical 
society. He is a Republican in politics and is affiliated with the IMasonic order. 
His office is located in the Alasonic Temple. 

ALPHEUS L. FAUXCE, of Somersworth, N. H., a prominent Republi- 
can and a veteran of the Civil war. was born at Oxford, Oxford county, Me., 
in 1842. and is a son of Aaron D. and Emily J. ( Lennell) Faunce. The 
father was born in Maine and in early manhood was a mill operative. After 
coming to Somersworth he embarked in the undertaking business and con- 
tinued until his death, at the age of se\-enty-four years. He married Emily J. 
Lennell and they had nine children. 

Alpheus L. Faunce attended school at Oxford in boyhood and afterward 
worked in a woolen mill. About 1888 he caine to Somersworth and was 
engaged in the undertaking business until his appointment as postmaster by 
former President Roosevelt. In 1863 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, 
in Company C, 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry, serving a second enlistment in 
;the 27th unassigned company of Maine, and being honorably discharged at the 
close of the war. For six years he served as deputy sheriff of Strafford county. 

Mr. Faunce was married to Miss Sibelia A. Gaslin, who, at death, left no 
children. His second marriage was to Miss Alice Littlewood, and they have 
tw o children, Clyde L., who carries on an undertaking business here, and Nina 
Belle. Mr. Faunce and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He 
belongs to the Masons, Elks, and Knights of Pythias and is a member of the 
local post of the G. A. R. 

LEWIS E. WENTWORTH,* a well known citizen of Rollinsford, N. H. 
where he is engaged in truck farming and poultry raising, was born in Straf- 
ford county, N. H., February 11, 1859, and is a son of James M. and Meribah 
K. (Bartlett) Wentworth. 

James M. Wentworth was born at Exeter, N. H., and was quite young 
when his father died. His mother, with her two sons, moved tiien to Dover. 
He was early thrown on his own resources and through force of character 
became a man of standing and substance. For a number of years he worked 
in a manufacturing plant at Salmon Falls and was advanced in position from 
time to time until he was made overseer of the dressing room. Later he was 
employed as a machinist in a cotton mil! at South Berwick, Me. His death 

43 



734 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

occurred in 1882. He married Aleribah K. Bartlett, who was born at Eliot, 
Me., and of their children two survive: Lizzie, who is the wife of George T. 
Clark, of Berwick, ]\Ie. ; and Lewis E. 

Lewis E. Wentworth attended the public schools of RoUinsford and the 
Salmon Falls High school. He has made truck fanning, vegetable growing 
and poultry raising his main interests and devotes his fourteen acres of land 
to these industries. He makes a specialty of the White Wyandotte strain of 
fowls and has accommodations for a flock of 100 of these beautiful birds. 

On December 28, 1895, Mr. ^Ventworth was married to Miss Mary P. 
Rollins, a daughter of Andrew Rollins, a well known citizen of RoUinsford, 
N. H., and they have four children: Rollins, Ellen A., iMarion and Andrew. 
Mr. Wentworth is a member, with his wife, of the Hiram R. Roberts Grange, 
Patrons of Husbandry', and he belongs also to the order of the Golden Cross, 
at South Berwick, Me. He has long been active in the fonner organization 
and has served in many official positions. Li his views on public matters he 
is broad-minded and has identified himself with the Progressive party. 

DOWNING V. OSBORNE, who is engaged in the manufacture of shoes 
at Farmington, under the style of the Thayer-Osborne Shoe Company, can 
scarcely remember the time when he was not actively interested in his present 
line of industry. He was born at Rochester. N. H., April 27, 1864, and is a 
son of James L. and Lydia (Baldwin) Osborne. They were natives of New 
Hampshire and spent their entire lixes at Rochester. Of their eight children, 
Downing V. was the seventh in order of birth. 

Downing V. Osborne was born in a section of the country where several 
industries flourish and after completing his period of school attendance at 
the age of 16 years, decided to learn the carpenter's trade. He soon, how- 
ever, became more interested in the shoe business and entered a shoe factory 
at Rochester, where he remained one year, going from there to Wolfboro, 
where he was employed for one and a half years. For about 16 years Mr. 
Osbome worked as an operative in the manufacture of shoes, a period of 
training that prepared him for the responsibilities he now bears as one of 
the large manufacturers of this section. In 1902, in partnership with Elmer 
F. Thayer, he purchased a manufacturing concern at Alton, N. H., and the 
present'firm style was adopted there in 1904, the same partnership continuing 
to the present. In 1906 removal was made to Farmington. The company was 
incorporated with a capital of $125,000, and employment is given 500 people. 
The two plants have 100,000 square feet of floor space and are equipped with 
machinerv' capable of turning out 5,000 pairs of boys' and youths' shoes a 




DOWNING V. OSBORNE 



AND REPRESENTATIXE CITIZENS 737 

day. The rapid expansion of this business has been marvelous and its trans- 
actions at the present time represent a million dollars annually. 

Mr. Osbonie was married in 1887 to Miss Martha A. Tuttle. Mr. Osborne 
votes with the Republican party but has never been desirous of holding public 
office. He is a T,2d degree Mason and belongs also to the Odd Fellows. In 
addition to his large business interests at Farmington, he owns valuable real 
estate at Rochester, N. H. 

FRED F. SEAVEY, a partner in the lumber firm of R. F. & F. F. Sea\ ey, 
of Rochester, with residence at No. 23 Woodman street, was born in Boston, 
Mass., August 16, 1879, a son of Joseph \V. and Nellie R. (Nowlin) Seavey. 
His father, a resident of Everett, Mass., is a cutter in a wholesale clothing 
establishment. Fred F. Seavey was the only child of his parents, his mother 
dying at his birth. He was educated in the schools of Everett, Mass., and sub- 
sequently found employment with the Batchelder & Lincoln Company, w hole- 
sale boot and shoe dealers, of Boston, with whom he remained three years. 
He then came to Rochester, N. H., in 1901, and entered into the luml)er l)usi- 
ness, which he conducted for about seven years for himself, becoming a part- 
ner in the fimi above mentioned in 1908. He is an up-to-date business man, 
progressive, and of tried integrity. In politics a Republican, he served as a 
member of the State Republican committee from Rochester two years ago 
and did useful work for his party. Air. Seavey married Miss Faye Woodruff, 
of Everett, Mass., and has two children — Dorothy and Samuel F. Mr. Sea\ey 
is a past master of Rochester Grange, P. of H., and is also a Mason, being 
thrice illustrious master of Orient Council and Captain General of I'alestine 
Commandery. In addition to the political activities mentioned above he .served 
for one term as a memlier of the school boartl. He attends the Congregational 
church. 

WILLL\M H. W'HITEHOUSE. The textile mills of New England are 
a source of great wealth to many communities and employment is afforded 
thousands of individuals in the various departments. Many of these must 
be expert along some certain line of the manufacturing process and the most 
expert are usually chosen for such positions as superintendents or oxerseers. 
Since May, 1903, William H. Whitehouse has been overseer of the dressing 
rooms of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company at Somersworth. known 
as No. I and No. 2 mills, and in this responsible position he is giving the 
utmost satisfaction. Mr. Whitehouse was born at Dover, N. H., August 31. 
1855, a son of John H. and Mary A. (Allen) Whitehouse. 

lohn H. Whitehouse was Iwrn at Tamworth, N. H., and was a son of 



738 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

William Whitehouse, also of Taiinvorih. John H. W hitehouse enlisted for 
service in the Civil war and was a brave soldier, although he did not meet 
death on the field of battle, ha\ing been accidentally shot by a member of his 
own company, on January i, 18O2. He married Mary A. Allen, who was 
born at Wakefield, N. H., and survixeil until iS8j. 

W illiam H. \\ hitehouse was an infant of three weeks when his parents 
moved to Great Falls, now Somersworth, and was seven years old when he 
lost his father. His mother subsecpiently married Phineas D. Hoitt and in 
1864 the family moved to Portsmouth, X. H., where the youth attended school. 
In 1878 he came back to Great P'alls and from then until the present, with the 
exception of nine years spent in the grocery business at Somersworth, has been 
connected with the departments in the Great Falls Manufacturing Company's 
mills with which he is yet identified. 

Mr. Whitehouse married Miss Annah M. Doe, and they have one daugh- 
ter, Annie V., w'ho is an accomplished young, lady, a graduate of the Somers- 
worth High school. Mr. Whitehouse is a member of the Baptist church at 
Somersworth, in which he is a deacon. He belongs to Libanus Lodge No. 49, 
A. F. & A. M., at Somersworth, in which he is senior warden, and belongs to 
Washington Lodge No. 4. I. O. O. F., Somersworth, and for the past fifteen 
years has been treasurer of this lodge, and also is a member of Stephen J. 
Went worth Camp No. 14, Sons of Veterans. Mr. Whitehouse has also 
passed the chairs in the Great Falls Encampment, No. 15, his interest in this 
fraternal organization having been continuous since early manhood. 

ARTHUR L. FOOTE, a prominent member of the Strafford county bar, 
having an office in the Masonic Temple, Dover, was born in Lewiston, Me., 
December 25. 1863. a son of William L. and Elizabeth ( Meserve) Foote. 
The father of our subject, son of William L. Foote, w as a lilacksmith. A. L. 
Foote, who was one of six children, after graduating from the Great Falls 
high school in 1883, read law under George E. P.eachem, of Somersworth, 
N. H., and was admitted to the bar March 11, 1887. He immediately became 
Mr. P,eachem"s partner, this association being continued until the latter's 
death. From i8r>5 until November 22. 1886, he was a resident of Sanbon- 
ville and while living there practiced law at Somersworth until 1908, when he 
came to Dover. He was president of the l>ar there from 1904 to 1908. While 
residing in Carroll county, N. H.. he served as county solicitor. On January 
29. 1908, Mr. Foote located in Dover, of which city he has since been a resi- 
dent and where he has gained a high reputation as a capable attorney. Fra- 
ternally he belongs to the Masons, the Red Men and the Elks. In politics he 
is a Republican. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 739 

Mr. Foote married Miss Carrie B. Sanbom, who died in the spring of the 
present year, 1913, leaving one child, Lowell S. The family affiliate relig- 
iously w ith the Episcopal church. 

AUGUST G. BERNIER,* contractor and builder, is one of the repre- 
sentative business men of Somerswortli, to which city he came in 1892 and is 
established at No. 45 Franklin street. He was born in the province of Quebec, 
near Quebec, Canada, August 22, 1859, and is a son of Damase Bernier, who 
died in Quebec when aged 74 years. 

After his school days August G. Bernier assisted his father, who was a 
carpenter and builder, and under him learned his trade. At the age of 19 
years he came to the United States and prior to locating at Great Falls, N. H. 
(now Somerswortli), he worked in various places. He spent several years at 
Muskegon and Grand Haven, Mich., six years in the province of Quebec, on 
the river Du Loup, and four years in New Brunswick. In 1892 he came to 
Great Falls, where he has been in business for himself for tlie last i ^ years, 
prior to this having been foreman for George E. Hanson, a well known 
builder at Somersworth. Mr. Beniier has been concerned in a large amount 
of building here and his reputation is that of a skilled workman, careful 
contractor and honest man. 

Mr. Bernier was married January 14, 1884, to Miss Adalena Demers, who 
was born in the province of Oueliec. and they lia\'e had six children : Joseph, 
who is a resident of Salem, Mass. ; John C, Alfred, and Arthur, all of whom 
live at Somersworth; and two who are deceased. Mr. Bernier and family 
are members of St. Martin's Roman Catholic church at Somerswnrth and 
he is identified with sexeral organizations. He has lieen (piite acti\'e politically 
and at one time was the candidate of the Republican party for representative 
of the Third Ward in the New Hampshire legislature, failing of election by 
the small margin of 17 votes. He is a progressive, earnest and public-spirited 
citizen and as such reflects credit im the comnumity. 

JOHN R. PATTEF, M. D., physician and surgeon, of Dover, was born 
in Campton, N. H., December 22, iSC^o. a son of John W. and Charlotte Polly 
Pattee. He was educated in the public schools and gained his medical educa- 
tion in the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating there in 
'888. He began the practice of his profession in Canterbury, N. EL, where 
he remained for ten years. Locating in Do\Tr in 1896, he has since remained 
a resident of this city and by hard work and close attention to his profession, 
has built up a lucrative practice. While residing in Canterbury he sen-ed as 
county physician, also as chairman of the board of health. He has a con- 



740 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

venient office at 392 Central A\enue. He is a member of the Strafford County 
Medical Society and of the State Medical Society, and is affiliated fraternally 
with the order of Owls. 

Dr. Pattee was first united in marriage with Miss Georgia E. Kimball, now 
deceased; they had two children — Ruth E. and John A. His present wife 
was in maidenhood Miss Alice Howarth, a daughter of Richard Howarth, 
they having adopted one child. Marion E. The family residence is located at 
No. 16 Second street. Dr. Platte is a close student of his profession, keeping 
well abreast of its progress in the various departments. As a citizen he is 
reliable and patriotic and always in favor of any movement calculated to pro- 
mote the general good of the community, along either moral or material lines. 

A\'ILLLAI\I E. RINES. assessor of \\'ard Xo. i, Dover, who operates 
35 acres of land in Dover de\'oted to dairying and poultry raising, was bom in 
Bath. Me., June 20. 1846, a son of William H. and Roxana ( Tibbetts) Rines. 
Both his parents were natives of New England. \\'illiam H. Rines, the 
father, came with his family from Bath to Dover about 1848. He served in 
the U. S. Navy for three vears during the Civil war and subsequentlv resided 
in Dover until his death, which took ]>lace about 25 years ago. He was a 
prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the work of 
which society he took much interest. Of his children three are now living: 
William E,, whose name begins this sketch; Annie S. and Nellie ]\I., both of 
whom also reside in Dover. The father, William H., was a member of the 
Free Will Baptist church and a Republican in politics. 

William E. Rines was a child but two years old when he came ^vith his 
parents to Dover and here he was reared to manhood, attending the public 
schools of the city, in which he gained his literary education. This he has 
since enlarged by reading and study. After leaving school he learned the 
machinist's trade, which he followed for some years in and around Boston, 
Mass. Later returning to Dover, he engaged in farming in which line of 
business he has since continued. He is a Republican in politics and is now 
serving his eighth year as assessor of Ward i, and has just been re-elected for 
another temi of two years, being very popular both as a man and public 
official. He belongs to Mt. Pleasant Lodge, L O. O. F., at Dover, and to 
Major A. J. H. Buzzell Camp, Sons of Veterans, at Dover, N. H., of which 
he is a charter member. Mr. Rines married Ellen M. Russell, of West Cam- 
bridge, now Arlington, Mass. They have a pleasant home and a wide circle 
of friends throughout this section. 



AND REPRESEXTATR'E CITIZENS 741 

F. K. SI EVENS, who conducts a grocery and feed store and also operates 
a grain elevator at Lebanon, Ale., has long been ranked among the fore- 
most citizens of East Rochester, N. H. He is a native of Maine, having been 
born in the town of Industry, and is a son of James Aladison and Velsonia 
(Freerick) Stevens. 

James Madison Stevens was born in Green township and was reared at 
Lewiston. He followed farming some five years prior to the Civil war, in 
which he served most creditably, and upon his return from the front worked 
in the Androscoggin Alills at Lewiston, as machinist, lo years. He then 
went to Madison, Me., where he lived until his death at the age of 63 years. 
He and his estimable wife became the parents of three children: F. K., sub- 
ject of this record; Nellie and Grace. The two last named are deceased. 

V. K. Stevens was reared in Maine until his nineteenth vear, when he 
crossed the line into New Hampshire. Here he has since lived, except for a 
period of four years when he was engaged at Keene as overseer of spinners 
for the h'aulkner and Colony Company. He then returned and after farming 
about two years started his present business operations, which he has been 
carrying on for five years. He carries a complete general line of merchan- 
dise, also hay, grain and wood. He purchased the Iniildings of Charles Brad- 
ley, but in the main he has made the impro\'ements himself. He has the oidv 
business of the kind at this point, and is meeting with success. 

Mr. Stevens was joined in marriage with Miss Hamie A. Canney of Dover, 
and the following children have blessed their home : Harold, Carl, Grace, and 
Florence Maybelle. Fraternally Mr. Stevens is a member of the Knights of 
Pvthias at East Rochester. He is a Republican in politics. 

COL. HORACE L. WORCESTER, one of Rochester's best known resi- 
dents, who has honorably filled many public positions, retired from active mer- 
cantile life in 1900. but continues to be closely interested in all matters afTect- 
ing the general welfare of the city. He was born March 28, 1846, at Lebanon, 
York county. Me., and is a son of Lemuel and Margaret (Pray) Worcester. 
His parents were natives of Maine, where the father, a farmer, lived to the 
age of over 80 years. Of their four children two died in infancy. The sur- 
vivors are Horace L. and Mrs. Mary A. Wallingford, the latter a resident of 
North Berwick, Me. 

Col. Worcester, after leaving school, learned the trade of shoemaker and 
followed it for many years in Rochester, Dover, Farmington and Natick. In 
1864, although but 18 years of age, he enlisted at Portland, Me., on the U. S. 
ship Sabine, for sen-ice in the Ci^'il war, but served on the U. S. .S. Lacka- 
wana. His manly appearance, together with his stor}- that he was 21 years of 



742 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

age caused liim to bp accepted w ithout the consent ot his father. He ser\ed in 
tlie West Gulf Squadron under Admirals Farragut and Thatcher until the 
close of the war. He is Past Department Commander of the Grand Army of 
the Republic of New Hampshire, and a member of Sampson Post No. 22 of 
Rochester. During the administration of Governor Jordan he was appointed 
a member of the Governor's staff with the rank of colonel, a title he still 
retains and prizes. 

Owing to ill health Col. \\'orcester retired from the shoe business and 
accepted a position that would give him a more active life and for three years 
was baggagemaster on the Great Falls Railway. He was for 20 years engaged 
in the book and stationery business, 12 years of that time being a co-partner 
with Frank Greenfield. For many years he has been connected officially with 
the Norway Plains Savings Bank, being a trustee and during a part of the 
time president, which office he resigned in 1902 on account of his prolonged 
absence in the west. 

For a long period Col. Worcester has been actively interested in public 
afifairs. From 1880 until 1884 inclusive he was town clerk. He served as a 
member of the New Hampshire Legislature of 1903, resigning to accept the 
position of U. S. Consul to Saltillo, Mexico, .\mong other positions filled 
efficiently by him were those of city clerk, clerk and collector for the water 
works, clerk of the police court, and at present time is clerk of the district 
court for Rochester, and trustee of the Rochester Public Librar>% and in 1900 
he was elected mayor of Rochester, serving two years, after which he spent 
some time in the Black Hills region, Dakota. The Colonel is a Knight 
Templar Mason, and a member of the Farragut Associates (composed of 
officers and men who served in Farragut's Fleet). 

On June 27, 1872, Col. Worcester was married to Miss Millie A. Green- 
field, daughter of the late Charles Greenfield, fonnerly president and a 
director of the Norway Savings Bank. Mrs. Worcester was very prominent 
in social life and of rare executive ability. She was one of the honorary mem- 
bers of the Board of Women Managers of the Pan-American Exposition at 
Buffalo. N. Y. : was the first president of the Rochester Woman's Clul) and one 
of its managers: a member of the ]\Iargery Sullivan Chapter of the D. A. R. 
of Dover; past department president of the \Voman's Relief Corps of New 
Hampshire : grand treasurer of the order of Eastern Star, and later assistant 
matron and matron of James Farrington Chapter of the order of Eastern Star ; 
she was also the organizer and first regent of Mary Torr Chapter, D. A. R.. of 
Rochester. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 74:J 

ALEXANDER STEWMRT,* wlio carries on a large business at No. 
44 Orange street, Soniersworth, as a contracting house painter and paper 
hanger, is well known in this city, where his work meets with general approval. 
He was born in Leath, Scotland, in June, 1846, and is a son of John 
and .'\gnes Stewart. 

In 1854 Alexander Stewart accompanied his parents to the United States 
and the family settled at Soniersworth, N. H., where he grew to manhood 
and learned his kindred trade. In May, 1861, he enlisted for service in the 
Civil war, entering Company K, 2nd N. H. Volunteer Infantry, Army of the 
Potomac. He saw hard service, participating in 32 engagements from the 
first battle of Bull Run to the surrender of General Lee, many of them being 
the greatest battles of the war, including Bull Rim ( i), siege of Yorktown, 
Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Strawberry Plains, ]\Ialvern Hill, Bull Run (2d), 
Malvern Hill (2d), under General Hooker, Kettle Run, Chantilly, Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Shortly before the battle of Chantilly 
he was transferred to Company K, 4th U. S. Artillery. Having completed 
all the terms of his first enlistment, he reenlisted February 11, 1864, for three 
years more and was honoral)Iy discharged l-'eljruary 11, 1867. After the 
surrender of General Lee he was stationed at \\'ashington, D. C, and after- 
ward, for one year, was at Fort Delaware, where he recei\'ed his second 
honorable discharge and then returned to Somersworth. 

Mr. Stewart married Miss Ellen Carbry, a native of Scotland, who died 
November 13, 1909. Mr. Stewart is a member of the ^Methodist Episcopal 
church. He belongs to Washington lodge of Odd Fellows at Somersworth. 
Now one of the busy, useful and respected citizens of Somersworth, he has 
won through his own perseverance and honesty this place of high standing 
and he has proved that a faithful soldier in times of war may be a valued 
citizen in days of peace. 

ROBERT H. GO'DDARD,* one of Dover's Avell known and respected 
citizens who is engaged in farming and stock raising to some extent, has 
been a resident of New Hampshire since the spring of 1888 and of the town 
of Dover since 1895. He was born April 26, 1861, at Durham, Me., and is a 
son of James and Jane (Douglass) Goddard. James Goddard was a native 
of Brunswick and his wife of Durham, I\Ie. The paternal grandfather, Robert 
Goddard, was also born in Brunswick. 

Robert H. Goddard is a self made man in the sense of having had to 
depend upon his own efforts and judgment from boyhood. He was but six 
years of age when his father died and only twelve years old when his mother 
passed away. He remained in the vicinity of Durham until he was 18 years 



744 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

old and then went to Amesbury, Mass., and prior to coming to New Hamp- 
shire, spent one year in Michigan. Mr. Goddard Hved at Madbury, Strafford 
county, for twelve years and then settled on his present farm in Dover town 
where he has been engaged in agricultural activities ever since. He is deemed 
a very capable farmer and is held in esteem by his fellow citizens as a 
dependable and honorable neighlior. 

In March, 1881, Mr. Goddard was married to Miss Hattie Chambers, 
who was born at Bath, Me., a daughter of the late William Chambers, who 
was a native of Nova Scotia. Mr. and Mrs. Cloddard have had eight children : 
Herbert H. ; Jennie E., who is the wife of Ernest \V. Pickens, of Lawrence, 
Mass.: Bertha M.. who is the wife of Henry J. Tetreau, of Lawrence, Mass.; 
Fred C, who is a student in the medical department of Tuft's College. Boston. 
]\Iass. ; May E. and Malissa M., who reside at home; and William and Doris 
A., who are deceased. Mr. Goddard has never been very active in political 
affairs ])ut always casts his vote with the Repulilican party. 

EVERETT A. PL'GSLEY. superintendent of the public schools of 
Rochester, N. H., is a well known educator of Strafford county, a man of 
acknowledged scholastic attainments who since completing his education has 
devoted his whole life to teaching. He was born at Rochester, in 1858. and 
is a son of Frank and Mahala (Hamilton) Pugsley. 

Frank Pugsley was born at North Shapleigh, Me., and his boyhood and 
youth were spent there and at Acton. In early manhood he engaged in the 
shoe trade at Lynn. Mass.. later he moved to Great Falls, N. H., and sub- 
sequently came to Rochester. He married Mahala Hamilton, a native of 
Rochester, and they had four children: Alvin L., now deceased; Everett 
A.; Fremont L., who is an attorney at law, residing at ^Melrose, Mass.; and 
Bertha, who is a resident of Rochester. 

Everett A. Pugsley attended the public schools of Rochester and Austin 
Academy at Strafford. N. H., and still later the New Hampton Literary 
Institute at New Hampton, N. H.. subsequently graduating from Bowdoin 
College. In the course of his busy life he has been engaged in teaching a 
wide range of subjects and has filled se\-eral important educational positions 
for long periods. For some time he was a principal of the Northwood 
Academy at Northwood, N. H., then was instructor in history and English 
at St. Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y. For a time he was principal of 
the schools of Salmon Falls, N. H.. and for the past four years has been 
superintendent of the Rochester schools. He is connected with numerous 
educational bodies and is a recognized force in school advancement in this 
section of New Hampshire. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 745 

Mr. Pugsley married Miss Elizzie D. Felker of Rochester, N. H., of the 
family from whom comes the present governor, Samuel D. Felker, of New 
Hampshire, and they have one son, Raymond P., who is a pupil in the 
Rochester High school. Mr. Pugsley and family attend the Congregational 
church. Politically he is affiliated with the Repulilican party. Mr. Pugsley 
takes a deep interest in all movements for the benefit of his city, state and 
the country at large; he belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry, being a member 
ol the Hiram R. Roberts Grange of Rollinsford, N. H. 

CHARLES H. HUSSEY,* a well known resident of Dover and the 
owner of 140 acres of excellent land, 100 of which comprise his home farm, 
was born in Somersworth, N. H., March i. 1861, and is a son of John and 
Sallie Hussey, and a grandson of John S. Hussey. No family in the town 
of Somersworth stands higher in public regard and it is one of the old 
pioneer ones of that section. John Hussey and wife were residents of Do\er 
for many years, he being an extensive farmer during middle life. 

Charles H. Hussey attended the public .schools during boyhood, after 
which he learned the carpenter's trade, which, in conjunction with farming, 
he has carried on ever since. Since 191 1 he has lived on his present place. 
He takes only a good citizen's interest in public affairs, not desiring office 
for himself, and gives his political support to the candidates of the Democratic 
party. He is well known in many parts of the county and enjoys the respect 
and friendship of all who have done business w ith him. 

HON. JAMES A. LOCKE. — On Friday, January 19, 191 -', there passed 
from earth's scenes one of Somcrsworth's most honored sons, James A. Locke, 
a man well lo\ed and held in deep regard no; only by his immediate family, 
in which he was a model husband and father, but by practically the entire 
community, which he had often served faitli fully and efficiently in public 
affairs. 

Mr. Locke was born on Fayette .street, this city, February 8, 1847, a son 
of Howard and Eunice fWentworth) Locke. After acquiring his education 
in the public schools of Somersworth, he enlisted, on Augu.st 16, 1862, at 
the age of 15 years, in the JJ. S. navy, from Portsmouth, N. H., as a first 
class boy. He was drafted to the l^. S. school ship "Macedonian,"' under 
Captain Stone, and was honorably discharged March 10, 1863. Ten days 
after he re-enlisted on the "Ohio" at Portsmouth, as landsman. This time 
he was drafted to the U. S. bark "Restless," and was honorably discharged 
May 6, 1864. He enlisted for the third time on August 22, 1864, on board 
the receiving ship, "Vandalia," lying at Portsmouth, and was drafted to the 



746 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

U. S. S. '-Colorado," to rank as a gunner. He was honorably discharged 
September 7, 1867, when in the Mediterranean station. While in the naval 
service lie took part in the attack on Fort Fisher, he being then a member of 
Admiral (then Lieutenant) Dewey's gig crew. His brother, Edwin H., who 
enlisted the same day, was with him in the attack. 

Mr. Locke began his industrial life in his father's grocery store, the firm 
being known as Locke & Hill, with location at the corner of Fore and Main 
streets. In February, 1871, the store was burned and Mr. Locke next pur- 
chased the High street bakerv', of which he was proprietor for several years, 
when he sold to Hon. Freeman A. Hussey. He was then made selectman of 
the town of Great Falls and held the office in connection with that of road 
commissioner four years. He was then but 2- years of age and was the 
youngest selectman that had ever held that office. After serving eificiently 
in both these positions he bought out the trucking business of John Decatur, 
which he kept for a year, when he again went into jiublic office, first as deputy 
sheriff for a few months, and then as street commissioner for a year. About 
this time he was kicked in the temple by a horse and was obliged to be out 
of business for a year, when he bought out the meat business of Charles 
L. Estes, now or recently city marshal. After conducting this for a few 
months he accepted the position of yard superintendent for the Great Falls 
Manufacturing Company, a position which he held for 24 years with honor 
to himself and advantage to the company. He resigned December i, 1910. 
on account of ill health. He then purchased the market on Sullivan Square, 
Berwick, but was not able to continue it and soon sold out to Z. P. Dolby, 
the present proprietor. 

In addition to the pul)lic offices mentioned above Mr. Locke was the only 
Republican alderman ever elected from Ward 4, and after becoming a resident 
of Ward 3, he was prominently associated with the politics of that ward. 
He was elected to the State senate in 1901 from the T2th Senatorial District 
and subsequently represented his ward at the constitutional convention and 
was a candidate for the office of county commissioner. He was a member 
of Littlefield Post, No. 8, G. A. R. ; also of Libanus Lodge, No. 49, A. F. ^ 
A. M. ; Edwards Chapter, No. 21, R. .\. M.. and Orphans Council of Dover. 
He ioined the Green Street Free Baptist church in 1875 and was a liberal 
contributor to it. 

Mr. Locke married, July 3, 1S69, T^liss Susan A. Hamilton, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Ivory W. Hamilton, of South Waterboro, Me. At his death, 
which occurred after about a year's illness, he left, besides his wife, three 
sons and two daughters, namely: Guy Howard, of Melrose Highlands, 
Mass.; Roy Hamilton, of Ameslmry, Mass.; Edwin Cecil, of Roslindale, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 747 

Mass.; Mr>. Annie Belle Merrill, of Wa.shington, D. C, and ]\Iiss S, Agnes, 
of this city; also two grandchildren, Stephanie Hamilton Locke, of Roslindale, 
and James Willis Merrill, of Washington; a brother, Charles Henry Locke, 
of Brockton, Mass., and an aged aunt, Mrs. Maria Emery of Somers- 
worth, with nephews and nieces. The daughter. Miss Agnes, is a teacher in 
this city. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. B. F. Tilton, of the 
Green Street Free Baptist church, and were participated in with impressive 
ceremonies by Littlefield Post, G. A, R. Interment was made in the family 
burial lot in Forest Glade Cemetery. A pathetic and touching incident was 
the coming in a body, at about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, of some forty 
men who worked for him when he was su})erinlentlent of the yard for the 
Great Falls Manufacturing Company, some of whom had gone to work w itli 
him 24 years previously and are still in the employ of the company. Many 
of them could not restrain their tears as they gazed their last on one whom 
they had learned to love. The casket was draped with the Hag which he had 
fought to save, and about it a large and beautiful collection of lloral gifts from 
friends. 

As a husband and father Mr. Ldcke was "generous and self sacrificing; 
as a business man his career was upright and honorable and won high praise 
from his associates; as a servant of the company and of the city he was ever 
faithful. Some of his best friends were of the laboring class, with whom his 
sterling qualities and his generosity made him a favorite. 

CHARLES F. H.VLL,* who is one of Dover's most respected citizens, 
has resided on his well cultivated farm of five acres for the past 20 years. 
He is one of the honored \eterans of the Ci\'il war and iircjbably to the close 
of his life will be a sufferer from the hardships and dangers endured during 
his military service. He was born at JMilton, N. H., May 31, 1843, and is a 
son of Elijah S. and Mary (Bickford) Hall, a grandson of Daniel Hall and 
a direct descendant of Deacon John Hall, well known in the early history of 
Strafford county. The Hall family has been firmly established here for 
generations. 

Charles F. Hall was three years old when his parents left Milton and 
moved to Dover and there he attended the district school and helped his 
father in every way an industrious youth could think of. In June, 1862, he 
enlisted for service in the Civil war. becoming a member of the 9th N. H. 
Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the 9th Army Corps in the Army 
of the Potomac. He took part in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam 
and in the latter was so severely wounded that he was not able to return to 
the field after being confined in a military hospital near Frederick City, Md., 



748 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

iruni September, 1862, until March 9, 1863. when lie was honorably dis- 
charged. He returned to Dover where for many years afterward he followed 
shoemaking and then settled on his present farm. 

.Mr. Hall was married to Miss Ida Howe, of Barrington, N. H., who is 
survived by one daughter, ^label E., who is the wife of Edward Burgess, 
of Son-ier\'ille. Mass. Mr. Hall was married secondly to Miss Cora H. 
W'iggin, who was born at Farmington, X. H., a daughter of Lewis R. and 
Delia (Decatur) \Viggin, the former of whom was born at Moultonboro, 
and the latter at New Durham, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have reared Helen 
E. Rowe, a grand-niece of Mr. Hall, as their daughter, and have given her 
educational and social advantages. Mr. Hall is a Republican in his political 
views. 

DENNIS ANDREW' JOFIXSOX,^^ who is one of the well known and 
highly respected citizens of Dover, X. H., belongs to a very old family of 
Strafford county, the Johnsons having settled very early in the vicinity of 
Barrington, where both his father and grandfather were born. He was born 
at Dover, December 12, 1836, and is a son of Dennis and Sarah (Weeks) 
Johnson. 

Dennis Johnson, the father, was a son of yVndrcw Johnson, and it is 
possible that the founder of the family came from Ireland to Straft'ord county, 
N. H,, prior to the latter's birth at Barrington. Dennis Johnson had reached 
manhood when he settled at Dover, N. H., where for many years afterward 
he was a custom boot and shoemaker, subsequently becoming a farmer. He 
lived a quiet, industrious life which was prolonged into old age, his death 
occurring in 188S when he was in his 85th year. In his early ix)litical activities 
he was a Whig and later became a Republican. He married Sarah Weeks, 
who was iwrn at Kittery, York county. ^le., and they had the following 
children: Dennis A. and William H., both of whom live at Dover; Joseph, 
who makes his home in Nebraska; Isaiah and Elzira, both of wliom reside 
at Dover; and John G., Hannah E., Sarah A. and James H., who are deceased. 
John G. Johnson was once sheriff of Straft'ord county. 

Dennis A. Johnson attended the Long Hill district school in boyhood 
and afterward assisted his father, mainly on the farm, and during the greater 
part of his life he has been engaged in farm pursuits and now owns and 
oversees a well cultivated tract of 34 acres in the vicinity of Dover. 

In Tuly, 1873, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Addie E. Stevens, who 
died November iq, 1876. She is survived by an only daughter, Addie E., who 
is the wife of Arthur Pettigrew. of Kittery, Me. Mrs. Johnson was a daughter 
of Samuel Stevens, a former resident of Dover. She attended the .\dventist 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 749 

church. Mr. Johnson casts his vote with the KepnbHcan party but has never 
consented to accept public office. He has been a worthy citizen, however, 
ever lending his influence to advance movements that have promised to be 
beneficial to his section of country. 

WALTER ENGLAND,* proprietor of "The Maples," a fine agricultural 
tract situated on the corner of Oak and Cocheco streets, Dover, N. H., is 
one of the well known men of this section, practically all of his life having 
been passed in Strafford county. He was born near Gonic, N. H., February 
13, 1859, and is a son of Michael and Phebe J. (Roberts) England. 

Michael England was born in England and was 18 years old when he 
came to the Lhiited States, shortly afterward securing employment in a cotton 
mill at Salmon Falls, N. H., where he continued to work for se\eral years. 
He then moved to Gonic and in that \icinity was engaged in farming until 
his death, which occurred early in the seventies. He married Phebe J. Roberts, 
who was born in Strafford county, N. H., and of their children the following 
survive : Sarah A., who is the widow of \\ alter \\'iggin, a former resident of 
New Market, N. H., she now living at Dover; \Villiam H., wdio is a resident 
of Lowell, ^lass. ; George \\\, whose home is at Amesburg, Mass.; Walter, 
who lives at Do\er; and Freeman, who is a resident of Gonic. 

Walter England attended the public schools until he was about 15 years 
of age, at which time his father died. He worked as a farmer for others 
until he was 17 years old. He then went to Rollinsford and in the follow- 
ing year began to farm on his own responsiliility. He continued a farmer 
there for over a quarter of a century and then located on his present place. 
As a good citizen, Mr. England has been interested in the substantial de\-elop- 
ment of Strafford county at all times but has never consented to accept any 
public office. In his political views he is a Democrat. 

ENOCH O. Tx\SKER, who has been an active business man at Dover 
since 1873, is well known all over Straft'ord county. He owns an excellent 
farm of 65 acres in the suburb of Dover but resides in the city, his residence 
being at No. 16 Prospect street. He was born March 26. 1847, on Rochester 
Neck. Strafford county, and is a son of Thomas J. and Comfort (Bickford) 
Tasker. 

Thomas J. Tasker was born in Madbury, where his father, Ebenezer 
Tasker was born, and his ancestors had lived tw'O centuries, the immigrant 
ancestor being ^^'illiam Tasker. Thomas J. Tasker passed the greater part 
of his life in Rochester, where he was a farmer and also followed the carpenter 
trade. He was a good fanner, an expert carpenter, an honest man in all his 



7oO HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

dealings with others and, though not a memUer, was a worthy supixjrter of 
llie Free Will Baptist Church at Gonic, of which his wife was a devout 
member. Having lust his father when six years old, his success in life was 
creditable in every w ay and he had the esteem and confidence of all his fellow 
citizens. Fie married Comfort Bickford, who was a native of Rochester 
Xcck, and whose immigrant ancestor, Thomas Bickford, was a resident of 
Do\er in ifi.^o. 

Enoch O. Tasker grew to manhood on Rochester Xeck. in the meanwhile 
being afforded educational advantages, attending Stratford Academy and 
both public school and a private school at Rochester, so that he was better 
qualified tlian many when he started into business for himself in 1873 at 
Dover. Here he associated himself with his brother. John C. Tasker, in the 
mercantile business, the firm style being John C. Tasker & Co., which con- 
tinued for some years and ;\Ir. Tasker remained in the mercantile line for a 
quarter of a century. 

Wlien Mr. Tasker and his brother dissolved partnership he entered in 
the grocery and provision business with ]Mr. John L. Kimball, July i, 18S6. 
Mr. Kimball withdrew and ^Ir. Tasker admitted Mr. \Vm. F. Cartland as his 
partner in the business, which was then conducted in a store on Washington 
street, east of the old Strafford Bank building. When Mr. Anderton com- 
pleted his brick Iilock on Locust street they removed to that street and occupiefl 
the large double store where now Mr. Cartland is located. The firm name was 
Tasker & Cartland. and became one of the largest grocery and pro\ision 
dealers in the citv. Mr. Tasker retired from the business January- i, 1898. 
having the esteem and confidence of all his numerous customers and the public 
in o-eneral. In recent years he has given considerable attention to his farming 
interests and also carries on a teaming business at Dover. 

On November 12. 1878, Mr. Tasker married Ursula M. \\'inkley. daughter 
of Darius \\'inklev. who for many years conducted a mill at Barrington and 
was a leading citizen there and widely known. They have three children: 
Bernice Winklev. who is the wife of N. Arthur Gifford of Somerville, Mass.: 
Sumner T-. who is a resident of San Francisco, Cal. ; and Cecil P.. who is 
located in Bo.ston, Mass. 

Mr. Talker and family are members of the First Farish. of which Rev. 
W. A. Morgan is pastor. For many years he has been a member of ]\It. 
Pleasant Lodge I. O. O. F. and practices the professions of that benevolent 
order in an exemplary manner. 

GEORGE M. BEARD,* whose farm of 70 acres, in the town of Dover, 
is devoted to general farming and stock raising, is a member of an old 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 751 

Strafford county family and has been identified with business affairs at Dover 
since 1896. He was bom at Farmington, X. H., November 19, 1858, and is 
a son of Arthur L. and Aljigail (Sanborn) Eeard, the former of whom was 
born at Lebanon and the latter at Alton, N. H. For many years they resided 
at Farmington and there George M. Beard, their only child, grew to manhood. 
Arthur L. Beard died at Farmington in 1907, having survived his wife two 
years. 

George M. Beard attended the public schools at Farmington until he was 
16 years of age, when he 'became an employe in a shoe manufactory and he 
remained connected with the shoemaking industry at Farmington for a number 
of years. When he first came to Dover he entered the employ of |. H. 
Ireland & Company, shoe manufacturer^, with which firm he remained for 
five years, afterward becoming associated with the shoe manufacturing firm 
of D. L. Furber & Company, where he continues and now is foreman of the 
upper leather room. In 1900 Mr. Beard located on the farm which is his 
place of residence and here he carries on his agricultural industries with results 
that indicate judicious farming methods. 

Mr. Beard married Miss Hannah E. Bolo, of Dover, X. H., and they have 
an adopted son, George F. Beard. Mr. Beard has always given his political 
support to the Democratic party. He has been identified with the Masonic 
fraternity for many years, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Farmington and 
also to the Chapter at Farmington, and to the Commandery at Dover. 

LLEWELLYN T. ^^'EBBER,* who is engaged in farming and stock- 
raising near Rollinsford, N. H., located on his fifty acres of excellent land 
in 1909 and has every reason to be satisfied with his success as an agricul- 
turist. He was born at Monroe, Waldo county. Me., March 15, 1859, and is 
a son of Elbridge and Mary (Warf) Webber. The original family settler 
was Wolfoid W'ebber, who came to America from Holland and after reach- 
ing the city of New York entered into Imsiness relations there and passed 
the rest of his life in the metropolis. He had two sons, one of whom settled 
on the Kennebec and the other on the Penobscot river, and Llewellyn T. 
Webber is a descendant of the latter. His father was born in Waldo 
county and his mother in a county bordering the Kennebec river. 

Reared and educated in Waldo county, Llewellyn T. W^ebber, remained 

in the home neighborhood until he was 25 years old and then went to 

Lowell, Mass., where he lived, although not quite continuously, for ten 

years, moving afterward to Chelsea, Mass., where he was in the employ of 

the state for seven years as an engineer at a pumping station. He lived 

at other places in Massachusetts, including Peabody, and it was from there 
44 



752 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

tlial he came to Rollinsford. Although he has not had a hfe experience on 
a farm, as have some of his neighbors, he finds no difficuUy in carrying 
on his operations on his land and finds both pleasure and profit in these 
activities. 

Mr. Webber married Miss Cassie Taylor, of Earlton. Xova Scotia. In 
politics he has always been a Republican but has unmistakable progressive 
proclivities. For a number of years he has been identified with the Masonic 
fraternity and belongs to the lodge at Salmon Falls, N. H. 

HON. SAMUEL H. JEXNESS, who is one of Dover's substantial 
business men, has been a resident of this city for 43 years and has occupied 
his present handsome residence at Xo. 611 Central avenue since Xovember, 
1907. He has been prominently identified with much of the substantial 
progress made here during that period. He was l.iorn at Somersworth, N. H., 
September i, i86j, and is a son of Stephen A. and Hannah J. (Cook) 
Jenness, the former of whom was born at Dover and the latter at Somers- 
worth. The Jenness family was established early in the vicinity of Rochester, 
N. H., by William Jenness, who was succeeded by his son, Stephen Jenness, 
who was the grandfather of Samuel H. Jenness. Stephen A. Jenness spent 
the greater part of his life at Rochester, on a farm, removing to Dover in 
1870, where he died in 1880. 

Samuel H. Jenness was a babe when his parents moved to Rochester and 
he accompanied them to Do\er in 1870. where he has maintained his home 
ever since. He attended the public schools and Franklin Academy, well known 
as a fine educational institution in his youth, and was there under the instruc- 
tion of Prof. John Scales. For a short time afterward he was a clerk in a 
mercantile h.ouse here. In 1S94 he was appointed assistant postmaster of 
Dover and ser\-ed in that capacity for three years, subsequently being apjwinted 
postmaster during the second administration of President Cleveland and 
serving one year. During igoi and again in 1902 Mr. Jenness served as a 
member of the board of aldermen of Dover, representing the Second Ward. 
After retiring as postmaster he embarked in the mercantile business in which 
he continued for ten years, but for the past 20 years he has been in the 
real estate business. 

Mr. Jenness is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. He is a past grand of Wecohamet Lodge Xo. 3 and a past chief 
patriot of Ouocheco Encampment No. 2. He is chairman of the Odd 
Fellows' Building Committee, who have charge of the Odd Fellows' property, 
and is also a member of IMajor Council Royal Arcanum No. 989. He is an 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 753 

active member of the Dover Realty Company and is a member of the Board 
of Directors. 

Mr. Jenness was first married to Miss NelHe G. Coleman of Dover, who 
died m 1S90. His second marriage was to Mrs. Nettie L. King, widow of 
Theodore King, a former resident of Dover who left two children: Mary 
W., who IS the wife of A. Roy Kennard, of Dover; and Millard O King 
also of Dover. Mr. and Mrs. Jenness attend the Methodist Episcopal church. 

JAMES GOODWIN.* one of the best known residents of Rollins ford, 
N. H., resides on his farm of 50 acres, on which he has carried on agricultural 
activities ever since he reached manhood. He was born here December 27. 
1848, and is the sixth of his name in direct line of descent. He is a son 
of Capt. James and Elizabeth (Sabory) Goodwin. 

Capt. James Goodwin was born at Lebanon, Me., and was a son of James 
and a grandson of James Goodwin. The original ancestor was Daniel Good- 
win, who, at a very early day. came to the American colonies from Eng- 
land and settled in Maine. Capt. James Goodwin was engaged for 40 years 
in the business of getting out lumber for shipl)uilding purposes and he was 
a farmer after removing to Rollinsford. N. H., where many years of his 
life were spent. He was captain of a militia company in Maine and in that 
capacity met General LaFayette. and at the time of' his death, in his 78th 
year, was the only member left of that organization. He was a man of 
local prominence and at times served as selectman of what was then known 
as Somersworth. 

James Goodwin attended the schools in his native town in his boyhood 
and through subsequem: reading and interest in current e\-ents has kept well 
posted in world history. General farming has been his chosen occupation. 
On June 20, 1887. Mr. Goodwin was married to Mrs. Armine A. Foss, widow 
of Amos A. Foss, formerly of Bingham, Me., and a daughter of Isaac Decatur, 
of Barrington. N. H. Mrs. Goodwin died October 7, 1910. By her first 
marriage she had four children : Ernest S., who is a resident of Somersworth. 
N. H. ; Isaac N., who lives in California: Pearl, who is a resident of Swamp- 
scott, Mass.; and Minnie, who is the wife of Fred Spencer, who is in the 
undertaking business at Berwick, Me. Mr. Goodwin has accepted the prin- 
ciples that are at the foundation of the Progressive party. 

HON. JOSEPH B. NOLETTE.* a member of the New Hampshire legis- 
lature and a prosperous business man of Salmon Falls, is justly held in 
esteem by his fellow citizens. He was born in Canada, in Megantic county. 



754 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

90 miles from Quebec, March 21, 1868, and is a son of Abram and Desange 
(Deseault) Xolelte, natives also of Canada. 

Joseph B. Nolette has made his own way in the world and his success 
is illustrative of what may be the reward of industry, courage and adherence 
to the teachings of a good mother. He was merely a child when he lost 
his father by death and was eleven years old when his mother came to the 
United States and settled at Somersworth, X. II., where he grew to manhood 
and had school opportunities. He had few of the pleasures of boyhood 
because as soon as old enough he had to become self supporting. For three 
\ears he worked in a cotton mill at Somersworth and later, for a short 
time, was a clerk in a store and then assisted his brother, Frank X. Nolette, 
in his meat and provision store. He thus learned the business and in 1893 
came to Salmon Falls ynd embarked in the meat business for himself on 
I'^ront street, \\here he has been very successful and continues. 

On August 4, 1889, Mr. Nolette was married at Somersworth to Miss 
I'hilosise Cadorette, and they huve five children: Hilaire G., who is one 
of the board of selectmen at Rollinsford; Arthur J., who lives at Salmon 
Falls ; Albino, who is organist of St. Mary's Catholic church at Salmon Falls ; 
and Joseph and Alberta, both of whom live at home. Mr, Nolette and family 
are members of St. Mary's Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat, 
with independent proclivities. He is a man of energy, enterprise and proper 
public spirit and has made a very good impression in the General Assembly, 
h'or some years he has been identified with the order of Eagles at Somersworth 
and with the Red Men at Salmon Falls. 

CHARUES W. WHITEHOUSE,* who does an excellent business in 
the line of fruit, ice cream and confectionery, at Fannington, N. H., was 
burn at Farmington, January- 31, 1S81, and is a son of Daniel P. and Marilla 
J. (Howard) Whitehouse. They are natives and well known and respected 
residents of this town. 

Charles W. Whitehouse is the eldest of his parents' family of five children, 
and was educated in the public schools of Farmington. When 21 years old 
he started out to take care of himself, engaging as a clerk in the store of 
F. E. Breen, with whom he continued until September 26, 1906, when he 
bought Mr. Breen's interest and stock and has since continued the business 
alone. He has a wide acquaintance and both his methods and goods are 
calculated not only to secure patronage but also to retain it. He owns his 
residence and his parents reside with him. 

Mr. Whitehouse is a Republican in politics Init not as actively interested 
in ])ublic affairs as he is in his many fraternal associations. He is a member 



AND REPRESENTATRE CITIZENS 755 

of tlie Unifonii Rank. Knights uf Pythias, uf the tJdd Fellows Lodge and 
Encampment and also the Rebekahs, belongs also to the Blue Lodge, A. [\ 
& A. M., and the Eastern Star, and to the junior Order of United American 
Mechanics. Mr. Whitehouse is unmarried. 

JAMES LUCEY, JR.,* owner and proprietor of the Cocheco Bottling 
^\'orks. at No. 25 Summer street, Rochester, is one of the busy and enter- 
prising business men of this city. He was born at South Groveland, Mass., 
and is a son of James Lucey. He was educated in the public schools of 
Rochester and afterward, for ten years, was with the firm of Fineman Bros. 
In 1904 he came to his present location and opened the Cocheco Bottling 
Works for the manufacture of soda and mineral waters, and has met with 
deserved success. He now gives continuous empluyment to four men and 
operates two teams, his product having advertised itself through its qualitv. 
Mr. Lucey married Miss Mary O'Brien, of Rochester, and they have three 
sons. Gerald. Richard and Donald. Mr. Luce_\- and faniilv l)elong to the 
Catholic church. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally is identified 
with the A. O. H.. the Elks and the Cominercial Travellers' Association. 

EUGENE S. HUNTRESS, M. D.,* who has been actively engage.l in 
the practice of medicine at Farmington since 191 1, was born Octolier jo, 
1858. at Portsmouth, N. H., the fifth child in a family of six born to his 
parents, Seth \\'. and Catherine H. (Palmer) Huntress. They were natives 
of New Hampshire and both are now deceased, the burial of the father bcin.g 
at Portsmouth and that of the mother at Farmington. 

Eugene S. Huntress attended the public schools at Portsmouth, gratluat- 
ing from the grammar school, after which he applied himself to medical 
study. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and also of the Boston 
University, in medicine and surgery. His first 17 years of practice were spent 
at Wolfboro, N. H., then for two years he was in Boston, Mass., two more 
years he practiced at Keene. N. H., spent the following two years at Dairy, 
N. H.. and from there, in September, 191 1, came to Farmington. where his 
.skill in the line of his profession has been speedily reco.gnized. 

In Tune. 1879, Dr. Huntress was married to Miss Flora B. Pinkham. 
who was born at Farmington August 30, i860, a daughter of Frank B. Pink- 
ham. They had two children: Ida F., who is the wife of George Moses, of 
Lynn, Mass., and Frederick E., who also lives at Lynn, with wife and one 
child. On April 17. 1906, Dr. Huntress was married secondly to Mrs. Elise 
M. Caulstone. who was born in Switzerland, January 30. J 639, a dau.ghter of 
Armand and Rosalie (Monod) Shopfer, They spent their lives in Switzer- 



756 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

land and their burial \\as in the cemetery at Vevey. By her former mar- 
riage JMrs. Huntress had five Hving children: Joliet Louise, who married 
Dr. Killory, then of Boston, now of Somerville, Mass. ; Charles \\'., who lives 
at home; Pauline E., who is an employe of the Boston postoffice; and Emile 
A. and Albert R., both of whom reside at home. 

In his political views Dr. Huntress has always been a Republican but has 
ne\-er desired any public office. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias. 
With his family he belongs to the Congregational church. :\Irs. Huntress is 
a member of the Farmington Ladies' Club. 

LESLIE W. GLIDDEN, mortician and funeral director, located at Nos. 
20-26 Locust street, Dover, carries on business under the finn of Glidden & 
Glidden, the junior partner being his wife. Mr. Glidden was born at Dover, 
N. H., December 16, 1875, and is a son of George W. and Jennie A. (Winn) 
Glidden. The father was born also in New Hampshire and for a few years 
after marriage lived at Dover but died in a western state when his only child 
was young. The mother survives and resides at Wells, Me. 

Leslie W. Glidden attended the South Berwick Academy and Bates Col- 
lege, afterward taught school for several terms, and then engaged in farming 
until 1906, when he embarked in his present business. In order to properly 
prepare for it, Mr. Glidden attended the Massachusetts College of Embalming 
at Boston and was then associated with his uncle, the late John A. Glidden, 
until the latter's death in February, 1913. For forty years he had been in 
the undertaking business and was a man well and favorably known all over 
this section. 

John A. Glidden was born March 14, 1836, at Tuftonboro, N. H., the 
third child of John and Pluma (Dame) Glidden. A carpenter by trade, he 
came to Dover in 1868 and was employed as carpenter and general repair 
man in the Cocheco Mills until he severed that connection in 1S69 and in 1873 
established an undertaking and livery business. He was a Republican in poli- 
tics and while living at Barrington was superintendent of schools. At Dover 
he served on the board of aldermen, and in 1899 was a member of the lower 
house in the state legislature. He was a thirty-third degree Mason and since 
1872 had been an Odd Fellow, l)elonging to all the l>ranches of the order. 
He served with the rank of major on the staff of Gen. A. J. Farrington. In 
many ways the late John A. Glidden was one of the leading men of Dover. 
On May 12, i860, John A. Glidden was married to ?^lary Addie Manson, 
a daughter of James and Sophia (Sherburn) ]\L-inson. Mrs. Glidden was 
a highly educated woman and even after marriage was her husband's assistant 




LESLIE W. GLIDDEN 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 759 

teacher in school work. She died September i6, 1S91. John A. Ghdden was 
a prominent member of the Advent church. 

LesHe W. Glidden was married May 17, 1898, to Miss Ozza Noble, who 
is a graduate of the New England Institute of Anatomy and Sanitary Science 
of Boston, where she secured her diploma and is in full partnership with her 
husband. Mr. and Mrs. Glidden have four children: Robert L., Irma L., 
Earl E. and John A. In politics Mr. Glidden is a Republican. He is a Mason 
and an Odd Fellow and is very prominent in the latter organization, belonging 
to Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 16, Prescott Encampment No. 23 and Canton 
Parker No. 3, of which he is commantler and is also district deputy grand 
patriarch. He is also a member of Olive Branch No. 64, K. of P. 

The firm of Glidden & Glidden have every equipment for the proper 
and dignified conduct of their business, possess the confidence of the public 
and the esteem of a large circle of personal friends. 

COL. FRANK L. KENDALL, who is proprietor of the largest insur- 
ance agency in Strafford County, has been established at Rochester since 
1902. He was born in 1870, at St. Johnsbury, Vt., and is a son of L. L. and 
Maria A. (Poland) Kendall and an only child. The father passed his entire 
life in Vennont, where he was a merchant for many years and died when 
aged 76 years. 

Frank L. Kendall was educated in the public schools at St. Johnsbury 
Academy, and for some years afterward followed railroading. In 1892 he 
embarked in the insurance business at Laconia in Belknap county, N. H., and 
from there came to Rochester in 1902, where he has built up an enormous 
volume of business, covering every line of insurance. He is a man of great 
enterprise and ready recognition of business opportunity and is additionally 
interested as secretary and treasurer of the Rochester Building and Loan 
Company, as a director of the Rochester Loan and Banking Company, as 
treasurer of the Rochester Fair Association and one of the organizers and a 
former president of the Rochester Country Club. 

Mr, Kendall was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Kennett, and 
they have one son, Kennett Russell, now aged four years. In politics 
Mr. Kendall is a Republican and secured his military title as a member of 
the staff of Governor Batchelder. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and 
also an Odd Fellow. 

CHARLES SIDNEY WHITEHOUSE* was born September 3, 1827, 
and died March 4, 1899. The interim of those dates marks the lifetime of a 
man whose great energy and boundless enthusiasm carried him into many 



760 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

fields of acti\ ity, aside from his private business. A leader in thought and 
action, he was always found in the front rank fighting for that which would 
benefit his home town, county, state or nation, and it can truthfully be said 
he left an impress on the community which time has not effaced. His 
chief business activity was in woolen manufacture at Gonic and Rochester, 
New Hampshire, along which line his father before him established a repu- 
tation which was by no means confined to this state. 

Mr. Whitehouse was born in Gonic, N. H., and was a son of Nicholas V. 
and Susan (Place) Whitehouse. Tlie manner in which Hon. Nicholas V. 
Whitehouse won his way in the world from poor circumstances, with little 
education and no means, to a station of affluence and prestige, is told else- 
where. The Whitehouse family in America dates back to early colonial 
days, haxing come from Wales to New England, although the earliest names 
and dates have been obscured by time. The earliest of whom we have knowl- 
edge was Edward Whitehouse, whose name appears as a "third share pro- 
prietor" in the schedule of the original proprietors of Rochester, N. H.. 
bearing date of May 12, 1722, under charter of that date granted by King 
George HI. There were many families of the name in Rochester and sur- 
rounding towns, all people in moderate circmnstances, given to farming, the 
trades and ordinary labor. At a later date we find some who developed 
ability along different lines and became influential, among whom may be 
mentioned Hon. George L. Whitehouse (born in 1797 and died in 1887), a 
civil engineer of Farmington. N. H., a builder of railroads, sheriff, registrar 
of deeds, and judge in the Court of Common Pleas. Turner Whitehouse. 
an ancestor to whom the last named directly traces, was one of the 198 
citizens of Rochester who, on October 13, 177^, signed the declaration: 
"We, the subscrilters, do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will, to 
the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes with arms 
oppose the hostile proceeding of the British fleet and armies against United 
American Colonies." Israel W'hitehouse. father of Hon. Nicholas V. White- 
house, was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving for a time in Capt. .Xndrew 
Pierce's company, and later in the company of Capt. John Haven. 

The Place familv. from whoui the subject of this sketch came on the 
maternal side, also had numerous representatives in and surrounding Roches- 
ter. The Rev. Joseph Haven, during a pastorate extending from 1776 to 
1824, recorded the baptism and marriage of ^2 persons of that name. Rev. 
Enoch Place (born in 1786 and died in 1865) was for 57 years a minister of 
the Free W^ill Baptist church. There were some of the name who partici- 
pated in the French and Indians war as early as 1748, also many of the name 
in the Continental army during the Revolutionary struggle. Mrs. White- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 761 

house was a great-granddaughter of Richard llace, who it is thought came 
from Devonshire, England, about tlie year 1688, with his father, John 
Place, settling in Newington. N. H. Richard Place married his cousin, 
Susannah Thompson, daughter of Xoah Thompson of Berwick, Maine, and 
among their children was Col. l)a\id Place, of Revolutionary War distinc- 
tion. A\ho was born in 1741 and died in 1824. David Place raised a company 
for the Second Continental Regiment, under Colonel James Reed, in 177''). 
He ser\ed first as captain and later as colonel, and after the war was a man 
of influence in all town affairs. His smi, Ste])hen Place, married h^lizabeth 
Chesley, a daughter of James Chesley, who lived to the remarkable age of 
loi years. Of the seven children nf this marriage, Susan Thompson Place 
(Mrs. Whitehouse) was the second in order of l)irth. She was horn in 1803 
and died in 1888. 

Charles Sidney \\'hitehousc attended village schoul from the time he was 
old enough until he was thirteen years of age, then in 1840 began attendance 
at the academy of Centre Strafford, where he remained two terms under the 
instruction of Francis W. Upham, a native of Rochester, N. H. During the 
summers of 1841 and 1842 he attended the academy at Durham, N. H., and 
during fall and winter of those years attended academy at Rochester, under 
Marrison C. Hobart, to whom he was much indebted for his high ideals anil 
the moulding of his future life. In 1843 he entered Phillips Exeter Acad- 
em}-, which he attended two years, lacking little of being prepared for col- 
lege when ill health brought his schooling to a close. Mr. Whitehouse first 
began work as clerk in the store of E. & W. .Andrews at Dover, with whom 
he remained a little more than a year. Early in 1846 he entered the employ 
of Benjamin T. Hardy in the dry goods business at Lowell, continuing at 
this occupation until January, 1848. He returned to his home at Gonic and 
entered the mill of his father to learn the woolen manufacturing business. 
which was to be his field of operations for the following 30 years. Through 
his personal efiforts, a postof¥ice was established in Gonic in 185 1 and he was 
installed as the first postmaster, an office he filled efficiently for 26 years. In 
1858 the Gonic Manufacturing Company was incorporated with his father 
as agent, and he, himself, as superintendent and clerk. He discharged the 
duties of these positions until the fall of 1875. In 1862 he had joined 
with his father, Nicholas V. Whitehouse, John Hall, Samuel B. Rindge of 
Boston, and a few others, in the organization of the Cocheco W^oolen Com- 
pany at East Rochester, N. H., and during that and the following year he 
superintend the construction of the large brick mill of the Gonic Manu- 
facturing Company, and improved its water power. In August, 1875, he 
severed his connection with the Gonic Manufacturing Company and assumed 



762 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

nianagenient of the Cocheco Company at East Rochester. During his five 
years' tenure of that position, he evidenced exceptional executi\e abihty and 
caused many improvements to be made, not alone in the matter of com- 
pany property, but in the beautifying of the streets with shade trees and 
the encouragement he gave toward the erection of a new schoolhouse on an 
enlarged lot. In 1880 Colonel \Vhitehouse retired permanently from the 
woolen business. 

Charles Sidney Whitehouse evinced a deep interest in political affairs 
from his earliest manhood. He was a firm believer in protection to home 
industries and was an ardent Whig. His first vote, cast when he was 21 
years old, was for Zachary Taylor for president. In 1849 li<-'' '^'^'^'i others, 
organized the Rochester Phalanx, a military organization which included in 
its roster many of the prominent young men of the town and existed until 
1856. In 1852 he was the leading spirit in organizing the Tiger Engine Com- 
pany, of which he was treasurer for many years. In 1854-1855, years in 
which politics grew to fever heat, he was a potent factor in the political evo- 
lution which gave rise to the Republican party in New Hampshire and ended 
the rule of the Democratic party in town and state in 1855. Ralph Metcalf 
was elected governor, and the subject of this record received appointment as 
one of his aides, receiving the honorary title of colonel. When the Fremont 
campaign opened at Wcjlfboro, September 8, 1856, he. in association with 
his brother, Freeman Whitehouse, George and Smith Scates and William 
Beedle organized a glee clul). In terms of the present day, their entrance 
into the campaign was a decided "hit," and instantly their services were 
sought for all mass meetings, flag raisings and other patriotic gatherings. 
Many of the songs sung were composed by Colonel Whitehouse. When the 
time came for the raising of companies for service in the Civil war, he 
encouraged with earnest speech and money, and during the war he gave aid, 
advice and care to the families of those patriots who had gone to the front 
He gave invaluable assistance to the Sanitary Commission, raising money by 
means of public entertainment to be used for the comfort of those at the 
front. In 1862 he served as a representative in the New Hampshire Legis- 
lature, and during 1863 and 1864 was a member of the State Senate. In 
1868, combining with the Gonic Fire Engine Company, and the people of the 
villa.ge, he caused to be built the Gonic Hall, which was properly arranged 
for the giving of public entertainments, shows, etc., being fully equipped with 
scenery. Well did it serve its purpose until January 6, 1885, when destroyed 
by fire. There was no public improvement in which he was not interested. 
In iScS he enthusiastically lent his efforts toward the erection of a new school 
in the village, and in 1872 toward the remodeling of the church. He was an 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 763 

earnest churcli worker, serving as superintendent of the Sabbath school, 
teaching the children to sing, and planning and conducting festivals. His 
interest being enlisted in any project or movement, he knew no fatigue until 
success was attained and the oljject accomplished. In iSjj Colonel White- 
house was chosen Ijy the Republican party as one of the delegates to the Phila- 
delphia convention which nominated General Grant for his second term in 
1S74. In conjunction with I. W. Springfield and a few others, lie started the 
Rochester Town I'air Association, the .success of which institution lias Ijeen 
made apparent with each succeeding fair since. In 1S73 he recei\-ed the nomi- 
nation for member of congress after a hard fight, in which he was contested 
by some eight or ten other influential Kejiublican^. Ilowexer, he was defeated 
by the Democratic candidate, ]\Ir. l'>ank Jones, after a vigorous campaign 
in which he added many friends. Pie declined the nomination for that office 
at the succeeding con\-ention, although victory was certain. In i88j Colonel 
W'hitehouse was appointed weigher in the Boston custom house, of which 
Roland Worthington was then collector, and for three years he continued 
as such. In the meantime he had been appointed by Governor Charles H. 
Bell as the first state auditor under the new law. lie was re-appointed in 
1883, and the same year again represented Rochester in the State Legislature. 
In 1888 he was elected presidential elector and in the electoral college cast his 
vote for Benjamin Harrison and Levi P. Alorton for president and \-ice-presi- 
dent, respectively. For se\'eral years jjrior to 1891 the expediency of chang- 
ing the town to a city organization had been discussed by leading men of 
Rochester, but no one had appeared to direct the movement or to attempt to 
crystalize public sentiment in its favor. Colonel Whilehouse took command 
of the situation and with Henry Kimball, a lawyer of Rochester, formulated 
a charter, which was approved and passed by the legislature of 1891. In 
December following he was elected and on January 6, 1892, was inaugurated 
as the first mayor of the city. In 1893 he was elected councilman, represent- 
ing the third ward in the council for three years. January i, 1897, he 
announced his retirement from all further ])articipation in public affairs. 

September 30, 1852, Charles Sidney \Miitehouse was joined in marriage 
with Ellen Frances Foster of Norway, Maine, and they reared two children: 
\\'a!ter Barker Whitehouse, born September 25, 1854, and Alice Atberton, 
born November 9, 1862. The last named was married to Mr. W. C. Sanborn, 
by whom she has four children: Alice Louise, whose profession is that of a 
trained nurse: Marion F. : Charles Sidney; and Joseph M. Mrs. Whitehouse, 
a lady of culture and refinement, resides in Gonic, where she is surrounded 
by friends of long years' standing. 



764 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTY 

HON. NICHOLAS \'. W HFrEIKJUSK .- uhu passed from this lite 
more than thirty-five years ago, still lives in the memory of the people of 
Strafford county. New Hampshire, who were living in his time, and of 
younger generations who ha\e had recounted to them his greatness and his 
achie\eiuents through a long and honorable career. It was the \illage of 
Gonic, New Hampshire, which claimed his residence and was the chief seat 
of iiis business operations, but the county and state also knew him well and 
were pleased to honor him. He was born in Gonic, October 22, 1802, and 
was a son of Israel and Olive (Varney) W'hitehouse. His father was born 
in 1778 and died March i, 1841, whilst his mother was burn in 1775 and 
died i\Iarch 10, 1839. 

Coming of a family but little blessed with worldly goods, struggling liard 
to eke out a living, with few pleasures and no luxuries, it is small wonder 
that Nicholas V. Whitehouse's schooling was but meager. He attended the 
common school during the winter and summer terms, each of six weeks' dura- 
tion, until he was twelve years of age, and thereafter only during the winter 
term, as he was kept busy with such work as he could do for his father and 
neighboring families. When fifteen years old he learned something of the 
shoemaking trade from his father in trips among the neighboring farmers, as 
was the custom in those days. When seventeen years old he left the parental 
roof, \\alking to Boston, Mass., a journey which consumed two days' time. 
Arriving at his destination he found work with a man named Griggs who 
lived at Brookline, Mass., and continued with him for two years. His remun- 
eration was ten dollars per month and found. He was a lad who inspired con- 
fidence, both as to ability and integrity, and it was but a short time until young 
W'hitehouse was intrusted with driving the market wagon to Boston every 
other morning, there selling the ]iroduct of the farm. .\t the end of two 
years he returned to Gonic, and the following spring went to Salmon Falls, 
where he was employed in the wheel pit and trenches of a factory then in 
course of construction. It was heavy work and his constitution, far from 
rugged, did not stand the strain more than a few weeks. Me again returned 
to Gonic and accepted employment as clerk in the general store of John 
Plumnier. It was the village store conducted in a cheap frame building on 
what now is the village square. He displayed considerable aptitude for the 
business, and when 2t, years old embarked in the. business for himself in a 
brick store which he had erected. He put in a complete stock of goods, and 
also fitted up the second story of the building as a residence. This he fur- 
nished in modest fashion, and on July 31, 1825, did what he often said was 
"the best day's work of my life," that is, married Susan Place, a daughter of 
Stephen and Elizabeth (Chesley) Place. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 765 

Mr. Wliitehouse continued his store some tliree or four years, when liard 
times came, finding him with much of his stocl< disposed of on credit. Tiie 
result was that creditors took the remainder of his stociv. Nothing daunted 
or discouraged him ami we find him setting out witli enthusiasm to finil 
something to do in New V(.irk. Beconnng homesick for his young wife after 
an absence of three weeks, he returned home. His stabihty of cliaracter 
stcHid him in good stead in this b(_)ur nf need, anrl a friend, whose good 
will anfl confidence he enjoyed, assisted him to get started, and in 1830 he 
was once more established in trade. He continued until the fall of 1S33, 
when he closed out his business in (ionic and mo\ed to Dover, New Hamp- 
shire. There he oi)ened a store in the Sawver IMock, a brick building at 
what was known as "The Landing," Init the surroundings being distasteful to 
him he did not continue the Inisiness lieyond the following spring, at which 
time he returned to (jonic. He then iiroceeded U> put life into the \-illage 
such as it had not yet known. He bought the old saw nfill and privilege, 
together with the grist mill attached, both of which he enlarged and improved, 
and Ijuilt an addition for making linseed oil, also an addition for the manu- 
facture of plow handles and plow beams. He improved the process of flour 
making, along which line he de\'eloped considerable Inisiness. He also dealt 
in wood lots, and manufactured lumber, dealing largely in wood with parties 
at Dover. He manufactured bricks, gr(.>und ]ilaster. and also l)egan wool 
carding and cloth dre^sing. .Although he did not then realize it, the 1st 
named industrv was destined to become the leading occupation of his life 
and gi\e him a reputation and prestige by no means local. His mill was 
esteemed the Ijcsl equipjicd in Strafford county, and its reputation ha\'ing 
become established it drew from all parts of the county and adjoining counties. 
He began woolen manufacture in 1838 and carried on the business without 
interru];ti(in until 1S48, when his iilant was destroyed liy fire. The follow- 
ing xear he had a new^ mill, \vith four sets of machinery, in successful opera- 
tion. In 1851;, with Parker, Wilder & Co., he helped to organize the present 
Gonic Manufacturing Company, of which he was made president, agent and 
manager. He continued to act in these several capacities until 1877, when he 
withdrew from the company. In the meantime, in 1863, he, in association 
with John Hall, Samuel B. Rindge of Boston and four others, oljtained 
the charter for the Cocheco Woolen Manufacturing Company at East 
Rochester, of which concern be was president until his death. His interests 
were varied and important. In 1856, he was largely instrumental in found- 
ing the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Rochester, and he also established 
the Cionic Five Cent Savings Bank. He was one of the original directors 



76G HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of the Nashua and Rochester Railroad and continued on that board up to tlie 
time of his death. 

Mr. W^hitehouse was a man of the broadest vision, an optimist and an 
enthusiast, one who did not confine his energies to his own private interests, 
but gave hberally of his time and means to enterprises and organizations 
whose uhimate aim was the pubhc good. As a young man he took great 
interest in mihtary ai^'airs, and was always an earnest advocate of citizen 
soldiery, which has proved our bulwark of defense in time of stress. In 1826 
he was made quartennaster of the 39th New Hampshire Regiment, and in 
1829 was commissioned captain and adjutant by Governor Benjamin Pierce. 
He in early manhood began taking a deep interest in the politics of our 
country, and in time became exceedingly active in his town and state. He was 
strongly imbued with the ideas of jjrotection to home industries, following 
closely the views of Henry Clay. In 1837, he took a prominent part in 
ousting the Democratic party from the control it had held for so many years. 
He was a Whig. He was elected moderator and representative to the State 
Legi-slature, and the following year was re-elected to the latter office. Upon 
the advent of the Know Nothing Party, he adopted its principles and entered 
heartily into the campaign of 1855. He was a candidate before the conven- 
tion for the nomination for member of Congress, Init instead was honored 
with nomination and later election to the governor's council. The follow ing 
year he was defeated for that office, but again won the election the next 
year. He served under Governors Ralph ?iletcalf and William Haile. During 
the Ci\il ^^'ar, he took an important part in raising the town's quota of 
troops, and gave one hundred dollars to the first twenty men who enlisted 
in Rochester. His keen perception of political affairs of the time, combined 
with excellent judgment of men, qualified him as one of the factors m 
jireparing the way for the Republican party. From its \-ery inception to the 
day of his death, he remained an ardent Republican, believing that in its 
principles lies safety to the country and prosperity to its people. He was a 
member of the state constitutional convention, and was not infrequently 
talked of most favorably for governor. 

Mr. W'hitehouse recognized the influence of church for good m the 
community, and while he subscribed to no creed was a friend and liberal 
supporter of all. He was a regular attendant at the Congregational church 
until 1840, in which year he was instrumental in building the Free WM 
Baptist church in Gonic. He thereafter attended the latter, and whenever 
rebuilding or other heavy expense were to be met his subscription was always 
liberal and among the first given. He carried his religion into his home and 
business. Considerate and self-sacrificing, he was an ideal man in his family 




VALENTINE MATHES 



AND REPRESENTATRE CITIZENS 767 

relationships and fricndsiiips. To know him was to love him, and this 
does not too strongly state the regard the people of Gonic had for him. 
His death on November ^i, 1878, was a distinct shock to the general public, 
as well as to his devoted family. His widow, to whom he attributed much 
that was best in his nature and always his loving help-meet, survived him 
nearly ten years, dying in May, 1888. The following children blessed their 
union : Elizabeth Ann, Charles Sidney, deceased ; Enoch Freeman ; Emily 
J.; Albert M., who died in infancy: and Arthur D. 

VALENTINE MATHES, who is credited with being the largest realty 
owner in the city of Dover, has been for many years a very active factor in 
business circles in Strafford County. He was born at Durham, this county, 
in February, 1847, and is a son of John and Permelia Mathes. 

John Mathes, the father of our subject, was engaged during his active 
period in farming and brick manufacturing, and was a man of business en- 
terprise and personal integrity. He died at the age of y^ years. He and his 
wife were the parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, of 
whom the present survivors are Valentine, subject of this sketch; John of 
Portsmouth, N. H. ; Benjamin F., of New York; Charles A., of Dover, N. 
H., and Dorothy C. 

Valentine Mathes during his boyhood attended the schools of his native 
town. His first employment was in railroad work, which he followed for one 
year, after which he was engaged in freighting on the river for three years. 
He then embarked in a general store business at Durham, which he conducted 
for ten years, and during this time was also interested in lirick manufactur- 
ing. While engaged in the latter occupation he saw the need of adequate 
water transportation and was a prime mover in the organization of the Pas- 
cataqua Navigation Company, capitalized at $100,000.00, of which he has for 
some time been one of the directors, his brother, now deceased, having for- 
merly been its president. 'I'his company owns two steamships and tweh-e 
barges which were first used for the transportation of brick but are now en- 
gaged in hauling lumber between various points on the coasts of Maine and 
New Hampshire. 

From Durham Mr. Mathes subsequently came to Dover, this city present- 
ing a more favorable business field, and here he expanded his activities until 
his business interests included coal, wood, lumber, grain and groceries. In 
1906 he disposed of all his local retail business interests but continued his 
wholesale lumber interests and since then has given his attention largely to 
manufacturing lumber, operating and being interested in the manufacture of 
lumber in Maine and New Hampshire, and owning extensive tracts of timber 
land. His undertakings, being directed by a keen business sense, backed by 
ripened judgment and ex|)erience, ha\e brought him satisfactory results, and 



76S HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

lie is now one of Stafford Countys leading capitalists. During his entire life 
his attention has been turned to the iniiirovement and upbuilding of Dover, 
having erected altogether some sixty business blocks and tenement houses, all 
of which he still holds as investment. 

Mr. ^lathes married Miss ^lary E. Pendexter. of Durham, N. H., and 
they have five children — John R., Morris Everett, James Monroe, Fannie P. 
and Margaret J. The three sons are graduates of Dartmouth College. The 
eldest son, John R:, married Lona De^^'itt, and has three children — Valentine, 
De\\'itt, Thomas De\\'itt and Lona Joy. Of the daughters, Fannie P. is a 
graduate of Bridgewater Normal School, and Margaret J., who was a student 
for two years at Smith College, is now attending the Sargent School of Physi- 
cal Training at Cambridge, Mass. 

;Mr. Mathes and family attend the Congregational church. He is a Re- 
publican in politics, has served in city offices, was postmaster at Durham for 
ten years, and member of the legislature two years. For a long time he has 
been identified with the leading fraternal organizations, belonging to Moses 
Paul Lodge, A. F. & A. M. : Mt. Pleasant Lodge, L O. O. F., together with 
the Encampment and Canton; and also to the orders of Red Men, Elks and 
the local Grange. While his personal interests have absorbed much of his 
time, he has ne\-er neglected to identify himself with public movements prom- 
ising to benefit his town and section. 

HON. \\TLLL\:\I H. ROBERTS, a prominent attorney of Dover, N. 
H., clerk of courts of Strafford County, was born in RoUinsford, N. H., April 
20, 1866, only son of Closes and Lydia ( fiussey) Roberts. His earliest 
paternal ancestor in this country was one Thomas Roberts, who came to 
America from England in 1640, taking up his residence at Dover Point. Many 
of the latter"s descendants settled in this county, among whom was the great- 
great-grand-uncle of \\'illiam H., who took up a tract of timbered land in the 
town of RoUinsford, and there cleared and improved a homestead, upon which 
resides Moses Roberts, who belongs to the fourth generation of the family. 

\Mlliam H. Roberts began his education in the district schools of his 
nati\-e town, at the age of fifteen years becoming a pupil of the Salmon Falls 
High School. Entering Berwick Academy two years later, he graduated 
therefrom in 1886. He then engaged in the study of law under the mentor- 
ship of Hon. Joshua G. Hall, of Dover, in whose office he remained for two 
3'ears. His legal studies were finished in the Boston University Law School, 
where he graduated in the Class of 1890. Admitted to the bar in July of 
the same year, he began the practice of his profession in Dover, of which city 
lie has since remained a resident. He is a Director in the Merchants' Na- 
tional Bank and Trustee of the Merchants' Savings Bank. 

Mr. Roberts has always taken a strong interest in local affairs and at times 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CTIZENS 769 

has been more or less active in politics. In i8(j3 he was elected to the legis- 
lature from his nati\e town and was made a member of the important Com- 
mittee on Revision of Statutes. In the following year he was nominated 
on the Democratic ticket for solicitor of Stratford County, and although de- 
feated in the following election — the district being a Republican stronghold — 
he ran ahead of his ticket, receiving many Republican \-otes. He was appointed 
clerk of courts of Stralf'ord County in 11)04. Mr. Roberts is a T,2d degree 
Mason and belongs to the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His residence is at 
No, 125 Silver Street, Dover. Few of Dover's citizens enjoy a more wide- 
spread popularity. 

MAURICE N. LAYN, street commissioner of the city of Dover, is well 
known all over Strafford county, for many years ha\ ing been active both hj 
business and public affairs. He was born at Lee, N. H., September 26, 1865, 
and is a son of Samuel W. and Susan (Durgin) Layn. 

Samuel W. Layn, father of Maurice N., was a son of Samuel Layn, and 
both were born at Lee, N. H. Samuel W. Layn is still a resident there, being 
now in his 8jd year. He has been a very prominent man in his day, in 1872 
and again in 1873, ser\'ing ii] the New Hampshire legislature, being elected to 
that body on the Democratic ticket. He married Susan Durgin, who was 
born at Nottingham, N. LI. 

Maurice N. Layn attended the pulilic schools of his natix'e place. Frank- 
lin Academy at Do\er, and Northwood Seminary, at Northwood, N. H. 
For 14 years he conducted a general store and meat business at Lee, in ad- 
dition to paying attention to farming and lumbering. He was also engaged 
for some time in contract work for the Boston & Maine Railroad. His con- 
tracting business expanded and he subsequently constructed miles of state 
roads. For several rears before coming to Do\'er, in 1906, he was a mem^ 
ber of the school board at Lee. In Mr. Layn Dover has secured a capable 
street commissioner, he entering upon his duties on January i, 1914. 

Mr. Layn was united in marriage with Miss Annie B. Harvey, of Not- 
tingham, N. H., a daughter of Daniel O. and Elizabeth N. Harvey, the for- 
mer of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Layn have two children : Lois E. 
and Mark H. Mr. Layn belongs to Sullivan Lodge, Knights of Pythias, 
Durham, N. H., and to the U. R. K. P., at Dover. In his political views he is 
independent. 

ALBERT DODGE JONES, attorney at law, with offices in the Dodge 
Building, Rochester, N. H., is additionally interested in real estate and, as a 
public official, is serving in the office of auditor of Strafford County. He was 
born in Dodge's Hotel, on the present site of the Dodge Building, Rochester, 

46 



770 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

N. H., June jS, 1875, and is a son of Frank H. and Martha A. (Dodge) Jones. 

Frank H. Jones was born February i, 1846, at North Hatfield, Mass. 
He was an employe of the United States Ctistom Office at Boston, and so con- 
tinued until his death, which occurred July 11, 1S85, when he was 39 years 
old. He was married at Rochester, X. H.. to Martha A. Dodge, a daughter 
of Jonathan T. and Sarah Dodge, an old Xew Hampshire family, and they 
had two children — Charles T., b«jrn May 11, 1884, who died August 12, 1884, 
at the age of three months, and Albert D., the subject of this sketch. 

Albert D. Jones, after graduating from the Rochester high school in 1894 
entered Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in 1898. In college he 
was a member of Psi Upsilon and also the Sphinx Senior Society. He then 
studied law in the office of Daniel Hall, Elmer J. Smart and William Wright, 
and was admitted to the bar in June, 1905, immediately entering into prac- 
tice at Rochester. He is engaged in general law practice, including probate 
court work, and is recognized as an able and honorable attorney and counsel- 
lor. 

Mr. Jones was united in marriage September 21, 1898, with Miss Sarah 
A. Warren, the only daughter of Joseph and Addie G. Warren, and they have 
one son, Warren Dodge, who was born October i(>. 1899 and is now a student 
in the Rochester high school. Mr. Jones and his family attend the Congre- 
gational church. He is a 32d degree Mason ant! affiliates politically with the 
Republican party but he has always kept aloof from political acti\ity, attending 
strictly to his large business interests. 

HON. CHARLES HENRY SAWYER, formerly for many years one 
of Dover's leading citizens, a successful manufacturer and business man, and 
one time governor of the state, was born in Watertown, N. Y., March 30, 
1840, eldest son of Jonathan and Martha (Perkins) Sawyer. His ancestors 
on both sides were among the early settlers of Massachusetts. He attended 
the schools of \\'atertown until he was ten years of age, when the family re- 
moved to Dover, and he completed his education in this city. At the age of 
seventeen he entered the Sawyer Woolen Mills, the plant then being engaged 
in the manufacture of flannels. By the time he was twenty-six he had ac- 
quired a thorough knowledge of the business and was then appointed super- 
intendent of the mills. In 1881 he became president of the company, and the 
general management of the mills remained in his hands subse(piently until 
1898. His business career was concerned with many other interests than 
that above mentioned. He was a director in the Strafford National Bank, 
a trustee and vice-president of the Strafford Savings Bank, and a director of 
the Dover Gas Light Company. At one time or another he also held the posi- 
tions of president of the Dover Horse Railroad Company, director and ex- 



AND REPRESENTATRE CITIZENS 771 

ecutive member of the Granite State Insurance Company, president of the 
Elhott Bridge Company, and director in the Dover & Portsmouth, in the 
Portsmouth, Gt. Falls & Conway, and in the W'olfboro Branch Railroads. 

An ardent Republican, he worked hard for the success of his party and 
on various occasions was elected to public office. He served in both branches 
of the city council of Dover, was representative to the legislature in 1869, 
1870, 1876 and 1877, a member of the staff of Governor Charles H. Bell in 
1 88 1, and a delegate to the national Republican convention in Chicago in 
1884. In 1886 he was elected governor of New Hampshire, which office he 
administered with ability and fidelity to the public interests. While governor 
he represented the state in many centennial celeljrations that were held dur- 
ing that period, notably at Philadelphia on the occasion of the looth anni- 
versary of the promulgation of the Constitution of the United States, and 
that in New York of the inauguration of President Washington. Mr. 
Sawyer was a Alason, was twice chosen master of his lodge, and f(.)r many 
years was the eminent commander of the St. Paul Commandery, Knights 
Templar. His death, which took place January 18, 1908. remo\ed from 
early scenes one of New Hampshire's foremost men, who had done much to 
foster her business and industrial interests and keep her abreast of her sis- 
ter states in those things that make for the ptiblic weal. 

Mr. Sawyer was married February 8, 1865, to Susan Ellen, daughter of 
Dr. James ^^'. and Elizabeth Cowan, of Dover. Their children : William 
Davis, who married Susan flertrucle, daughter of Hon. Joshua G. Hall, of 
Dover; Charles Francis, who married Gertrude Child, daughter of Hon. 
Henry W. Se\'erance of San Francisco ; James Cowan, who married Mary 
Pepperell, daughter of Judge George Seward Frost of Dover; Edward, who 
married Leslie, daughter of the late Phineas Sprague Tobey of Boston, and 
Elizabeth Coffin Sawyer. The last mentioned, Elizabeth, resides at No. go 
Stark Avenue, Dover. She represents the Sawyer family in the fine farm 
known as the Sawyer farm, of which W. D. F. Hayden is manager. The 
Middlebrook farm at Dover is one of the finest pieces of agricultural prop- 
erty in the state. It holds diplomas (for third position) gained at the Na- 
tional Dairy Show, held at Chicago in 1910 and again in 1911, and at the 
International Dairy Show, at Milwaukee, in 191 1, in the certified milk class. 

Mrs. Charles H. Sawyer died April 20, 1899. She was a lady of culture 
and refinement and her loss was deeply felt by scores of admiring friends. 

JAMES A. GRIMES, one of Dover's well known retired citizens, who 
has occupied his present residence at No. 22 Broadway for the past forty 
years, was born in County Armagh. Ireland, in August, 1826. His parents 



1 1: 



HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 



were Robert aucl Ami (Donnely) Grimes and they came to the United States 
with their three children, two sons and one daughter. 

Robert Grimes served ahiiost through the entire Civil war, entering 
Company I, loth X. H. Volunteer Infantry, and participated in a number 
of imixjrtant battles, including Antietam and Fredericksburg. He returned 
then to Dover, where he had previously established the family home and sub- 
sequently died there. One of his sons, Frank Grimes, was also a soldier in 
the Civil war and is now deceased. The mother of James A. Grimes died 
when he was young. 

James A. Grimes grew to man's estate in Dover and here attended school 
until old enough to learn the shoemaking trade, which, he subsequently fol- 
lowed at Barrington and other places. For a number of years, although not 
continuously, he was employed in the i>rint works of the Cocheco Manufac- 
turing Company, at Do\er, and for some twenty years was in a general team- 
ing business for himself. In 1878 Mr. Grimes embarked in the grocery 
business on Third street, Dover, later removing to Nos. 495-496 Central ave- 
nue, where he continued until within recent years. 

Mr. Grimes married Miss Bridget Grimes, a native like himself of County 
Armagh, Ireland, and of their seven children five are living — Robert, of 
Dover; Catherine, wife of Thomas McKone, of Dover; James H., of Dover; 
Mary, wife of John Rogers, of Dover, and Frank E., also of Dover. John 
and Lizzie B. are both deceased. The mother of the above family died in 
April, 1913, her memory being tenderly cherished by those left behind. Mr. 
Grimes has been a valuable citizen, ever ready to do his full share in bear- 
ing responsibilities and he is held in respect and esteem. He served four 
teims as a member of the city council, representing the .Second Ward. He 
was also vice president of the local branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians 
for a number of years and treasurer; was first assistant and captain of Tiger 
Engine Fire Company No. 2. With his family he belongs to St. Mary's Ro- 
man Catholic church. 

JOHN S. KIMBALL, "The \'illage Postmaster" at Rochester. X. H.. 
was born Dec. 29, 1859. in the town of Alton, X. H.. and the son of Joseph 
P. and Lucy M. (Freeman) Kimball, both of whom died in 1863. within a 
few weeks of each other, leaving three sons. Charles X^. Arthur Dorman, 
and John Sinclair, the subject of this sketch. 

The three fatherless and motherless boys. Arthur D.. eight months old. 
John S., three years, and Charles X.. six years, were adopted into the family 
of Dr. Xathaniel Dorman of Alton. X. H.. who in March, 1867 moved to 
Rochester, X'. H.. in order to secure better educational achantages for his 




JOHN S. KIMBALL 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 77:3 

three wards, and to retire from acti\e practice. The two brothers, Charles 
N. and the Rev. Arthur Dornian Kimball, died in 1885. 

John S. Kimball, after completing the pnblic school course, entered the 
employ of the Messrs. E. G. & E. Wallace, shoe manufacturers, and served 
in various capacities, the last being shipping clerk. In August, 1885, he re- 
ceived the appointment of assistant postmaster under the late Charles W. 
Howe, P. M., during President Cleveland's f^rst administration, and was 
retained successively by Postmasters John Greenfield, Charles W. Bickford, 
and Osmon B. \\'arren, succeeding postmaster Warren at his death, Jan. 
25, 1908, as postmaster, making a long period of continuous service to" his 
credit, an evidence of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens, 
irrespective of party politics, and his eminent fitness for the position. In 
national politics he is a Republican, though the Civil Service rules prevented 
any political activitv. 

Mr. Kimball is an attendant of the First Congregational church. He is 
a 3Jd degree Mason, and Past Master of Humane Lodge, Xo. 21, A. F. & 
A. M., of Rochester. X. H., Past Patron of James Farrington Chapter, Order 
of the Eastern Star, and is active in all the Masonic bodies. He joined 
Motolina Lodge, No. 18, I. O. O. F., in 1880, having been a member for 34 
years, and is Past Xoble Grand of that body, also an honored member of the 
Patrons of Husbandry, having taken the State and Xational degrees. Mr. 
Kimball was married Nov. 27, 1S82, to Lydia Flora Allen, by the Rev. Ezekiel 
True, pastor of the Free Baptist Church. She died Oct. 25, 1899, after a 
long illness. In his long career in public life and fraternal circles, he has 
made a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and mav be well classed 
amongst our list of self made men. 

JOHN H. XEALLEY, one of Dover's most enterprising business men, 
prosperously engaged in the dry goods business, who has also served well in 
public ofifice, was born .\ugust 4, 1853, in South Berwick, Me., the .son of 
Benjamin Mason and Abbie fPray) Nealley. Acf|uiring his elementary edu- 
cation in the public schools of Biddeford. he subseciuentlv attended Bryant 
& Stratton's Commercial College at Portland, Me. where he prepared for a 
business career. After working for two years as clerk in a wholesale and 
retail grocerj' and grain store in Saco, Me., he came in 1871 to Dover, where 
he found employment in the dry goods establishment of his brother, the Hon. 
B. F. Nealley, for whom he clerked several years. In 1893 'le purchased 
the entire business from his brother, and has since been proprietor of the 
store in which he was formerly an employee. The establishment is one of 
the most extensive of its kind in this part of the state and includes a com- 



774 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

plete stock of dry goods and fancy goods, together witli the latest novelties 
in this line. By enterprise and honorable business methods, ]\Ir. Nealley has 
built up a large and lucrative trade both in Dover and in many of the sur- 
rounding towns. 

A Republican in politics, Mr. Nealley has been often solicited to accept 
responsible positions in the town or county government, but has generally de- 
clined because of the engrossing demands of his business. He served, however, 
as representative in the State legislature in i88<j and 1890 as representative 
from Ward three. He is a member of Strafford Lodge, F. & A. M., of Dover; 
St. Paul's Commandery, K. T., having held office in the last named body for 
thirty years, and of the order of Elks of this city. 

Mr. Nealley was married September 12, 1877, to Miss Emma C. Gushing, 
a daughter of the late Thomas FI. Gushing, of Dover. He attends the First 
Parish Gongregational Ghurch, of which his wife is a member. Their resi- 
dence is at No. 230 \\^ashington Street. 

RALPH A. \\'ARREN*. superintendent of the Rochester Lumber Gom- 
pany, located at No. 37 Autumn Street, was born in Ghichester, N. H., in 
1877, a son of Gharles A. and Mary L. (Marston) Warren. His father, a 
native of the same place and a shoemaker by trade, died at the age of fifty- 
seven. He and his wife were the parents of two children, Arthur G. and 
Ralph A. 

Ralph A. \Varren after completing his schooling entered the lumber busi- 
ness as an employee of ex-governor Tuttle. He then went to E.xeter, 
N. H., where he conducted a retail lumber business until 1909, when he came 
to Rochester to assume the duties of his present position. In politics he is 
a Republican, while his fraternal affiliations are with the L O. O. F. He 
married Winifred Davis, of Pittsfield and they have two children — Ruth and 
Eugene. Mr. Warren has made many friends since coming to Rochester and 
his popularity is well deserved. 

ERNEST DUVAL, M. D. Among the men who Iiave contrilnited worthily 
to the development of Rochester along various lines should be mentioned the 
late Dr. Ernest Duval, a man of various gifts and talents, united with an un- 
selfish disposition that made him an active and useful citizen and a marked 
philanthropist. He was born at St. Jean, Port Joli, Canada, and died at 
Rochester, N. H., November 23, 191 2. His father was Louis A. Duval, and 
his mother, a w^oman of superior and scholastic attainments, belonged to a 
French-Ganadian family by the name of \''eireau. There were six children 
born to tliem — Salute, Arthur, Hospice, Anetha Eunice. Alice and Ernest, of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 775 

whom Ernest, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest. Botli parents 
were attorneys at law. 

Ernest Duval was liberally educated, attending school at Montreal, 
Lavalle University and the University of Quebec, completing his medical 
course in the latter institution. For one year he jiracticed his profession in 
Canada, subsequently coming to the United States. A couple of years later, 
owing to the passage of a law regulating medical practice, he was obliged 
to take an examination, which he passed successfully. In 1887 he came to 
Rochester, which place was his home until the end of liis life. He became 
so well and favorably known to his profession that he was frequently called 
in consultation to various parts of this state and also to Canada. His chari- 
ties were manifold, but cannot be definitely mentioned, as no one but him- 
self knew of their extent. A broad minded citizen, he entered into public 
life from a sense of duty and served faithfully and efficiently in numerous 
offices of responsibility. He was a valued member of many medical organi- 
zations, both in Canada and the States, and his name became well known in 
connection with scientific investigations. A lifelong memlier of the Catholic 
church, for 2^ years he gave freely of his great gift of nuisic, serving as 
organist with no thought of remuneration. 

In 1898 Dr. Duval was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Fortier, 
who was born in Rochester. N. H., a daughter of Appolinare and Sylvia 
(Bisson) Fortier. Both her parents were natives of Canada and both are 
now deceased. Their children were six in number — Ovide, Peter. Delvina, 
Sadie, Mary C. and Jane. Mrs. Duval resides in Rochester and has many 
close friends among the best society of the citv and town. 

FRANK E. BRIGHAM, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of 
his profession at Salmon Falls since 1883, was born at Fitchburg, Mass.. 
Sept. 25, 1845, and is a son of Dr. Hamilton H. Brigham, and a grandson of 
Dr. Henry Brigham. Both father and grandfather were natives of Fitch- 
burg, the family being of English extraction and somewhat noted for lon- 
gevity, the grandfather living to the age of 100 years and the father dying in 
his 98th year. 

Frank E. Brigham attended both the public and private schools of his 
native place, afterward entering Columbia University, where he secured his 
A. B. degree in 1872. Subsequently lie became a medical student in the New- 
York College of Physicians and Surgeons, an affiliated institution of Colum- 
bia College, and was graduated in 1877. soon afterward beginning practice at 
Worcester, Mass. Dr. Brigham then had a pleasant and profitable experi- 
ence, spending two years on a sailing vessel, with his friend, Captain Coombs, 



776 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

duriiig this voyage visiting parts of South America, France, the Azores and 
the Orient, and returning with heaUh built up and ready to resume practice. 
He then came to Salmon Falls and has continued in medical practice here 
ever since. He is a nicmber uf the New Hampshire State Medical Society 
and of the local medical organizations. He is one of the directors of the 
Salmon Falls Bank. Dr. Brigham is an advanced Mason, having reached the 
thirty-second degree, and is a memljer of Granite Lodge. Salmon Falls, St. 
Paul's Commandery, Knights Templar, at Do\er, the New Hampshire Con- 
sistory at Nashua, and of Bectash Shrine at Concord. He belongs also to 
Lodge No. 184. Elks, at Dover; Lodge No. 30, Odd Fellows at Salmon Falls; 
and to Paugus Tribe of Red Men, No. i, of the latter place, being Great 
Keeper of Wampum of the Great Council of New Flampshire. In politics 
he is independent. He attends the Episcopal church. Dr. Brigham is un- 
married. 

FRANK J. SMITH, one of the representative business men of Farming- 
ton, N. H., having charge of the finishing department of the F. E. Edgerly 
Company, shoe manufacturers, was born September 28, 1855. at Wilmot, N. 
H. His parents were George H. and Alarion H. (Brown) Smith, both na- 
tives of New Hampshire, and both now deceased, their burial being in Pine 
Grove Cemetery. George H. Smith served through the entire period of the 
Civil war, in a calvary regiment, and was mustered out at its close with the 
rank of captain. His family consisted of 12 children, Frank J- being the 
first born. 

Frank J. Smith in his boyhood attended school at Farmington, When 18 
years of age he became a bookkeeper with the firm of A. Nute & Sons, w ith 
whom he remained for 1 1 years. He then became an employe under his 
father in the finishings department of the factory, and afterward had factory 
experience in finishing departments of shoe factories in Massachusetts and 
Maine. He owns the old Wingate farm situated on the New Durham Ridge 
road, containing 135 acres, where the family resides during the summer sea- 
son. It is recalled that at one time in tlie past Henry ^\'ilson. that product 
of a New England farm, who I^ecame vice president of the United States in 
1873, once followed the plow across Mr. Smith's acres. 

Mr. Smith married Mrs. Ada E. Lund, widow of James Lund and daugh- 
ter of Abraham Cookson, of \\'arren, N. H. Both he and his wife are in- 
terested in the order of the Patrons of Husbandry, he belonging to Henry 
Wilson Grange No. 205, being past master, also past master of Eastern New 
Hampshire Pomona Grange, to both Mrs. Smith also belongs. He is a past 
chancellor of Harmony Lodge No. 11, Knights of Pythias and both he and 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 777 

his wife belong to the Pythian Sisters. In poHtics a Repubhcan, he has 
served on the board of selectmen at Farniington for nine years, being the chair- 
man for eight years. 

J. H. BATES, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon of East 
Rochester, with office at No. 8 Mill street, was born in Oxford county, Me., 
January i6, 1870, a son of Lucius C. and Hannah H. (Barnes) Bates. His 
father, also a native of Oxford County, Me., was a farmer and died there at 
the age of 56 years. By his wife Hannah he had three children: Clara A., 
who died at the age of 22 years; Maude E., and J. H., the subject of this 
sketch. 

J. H. Bates began his education in the schools of Oxford county and then 
attended Hebron Academy, from which in 1892 he went to Bowdoin College, 
being graduated from the medical department in 1899. Having practiced for 
a year in the vicinity of his old home, he came in 1900 to East Rochester, 
where he has since been engaged in the successful practice of his profession. 
He has closely identified himself with local affairs and in December, 191 1 was 
elected mayor of the city, taking office the following January and serving one 
year. He was a member of the school board for five or six years and served 
as chainnan during his term as mayor. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons, 
the Odd Fellows and the New England Order of Protection, and is also a mem- 
ber of the county and state medical societies. In politics he is a Democrat. 
Dr. Bates married Isabel D. Townsend, of New Haven, Conn., and their 
children are Katherine T., Raynham T. and Richard T. 

ELKANAH TRASK, vho is engaged in a large Imsiness enterprise at 
Dover, N. H., which he carries on under the style of the Trask Artesian ^^'ell 
Company, has all New England as his trade territory. He was born at Yar- 
mouth, Nova Scotia, January 10, 1890, and is a son of James L. and Jane 
(Hamilton) Trask, both natives of No\'a Scotia, and both of English an- 
cestry. 

Elkanah Trask was graduated from the "^'armouth Academy when fifteen 
3'ears of age, having been uinitually apt as a student and his business success 
since coming to the United States one year later, has demonstrated that he 
possesses a very alert mind upon whatever subject he decides to concentrate 
it. Locating in the city of Boston, Mass., Mr. Trask turned his attention to 
the drilling of wells and by the time he was nineteen years of age had become 
a contractor in the artesian well business, having an ofllce at No. 161 Devon- 
shire street. Deciding that Somersworth, N. H., offered a better field for his 
business operations, Mr. Trask went there and for a short time was located 



778 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

on High street, but in 1910 removed his headquarters to Dover and is now 
established at No. 543 Central avenue. He is a young man of practical ideas ; 
his energy in carrying them out has resulted profitably and he is classed with 
the ]jrosperous and honorable business men of this city. 

Mr. Trask married Miss Nellie Wilson, who was bom also in No\a Scotia, 
and her father. Captain Eugene Wilson, now retired from sea service, still 
resides at Wood's Harbor, N. S. 

GEORGE P. MORGAN. M. D., who has been successfully engaged in 
medical practice in Dover since i88g. was born at New Gloucester, Cumber- 
land County, Me., June 22, 1861. He was one of a family of three children — 
two sons and a daughter — of Elisha M. and Rosella C. (Tucker) Morgan, 
the father being a farmer by occupation. 

The boyhood of George P. Morgan was spent on the home farm, where 
he made himself useful, in the meanwhile attending the district schools until 
eighteen years of age. He then continued his education at Westbrook 
Seminary and Female College at Derring, Me., where he was graduated in 
1882. The next five years of his life were spent as a teacher in the public 
schools, during the latter part of which period he began to read medicine 
with J. I. Sturgis, of New Gloucester. Subsequently entering Bowdoin Col- 
lege, he was graduated from the medical department of that institution in 
1888. 

Dr. Morgan was then appointed house surgeon in the Maine General Hos- 
pital, which position he held for a year, gaining much practical knowledge. 
In i88g he came to Dover, N. H., where he has since continued in the practice 
of his profession and has been \"ery successful. During the twenty- four years' 
residence here he has become affiliated with various societies. He is a mem- 
ber of the ]\Iaine Medical Society, the Strafford District Aledical Society, 
the New Hampshire Surgical Club, the New Hampshire Medical Society, 
and the Dover Medical Society. He is a thirty-third degree Mason, belonging 
to Moses Paul Lodge, Belknap Chapter, Orphan Council. St. Paul Comman- 
dery, and Dover Consistory of Scottish Rite. In politics he affiliates with 
the Republican party. 

December 22, i8q2. Dr. Morgan married Miss ]\Iadge E. Elliott, who was 
born in Dover, Me., daughter of Dr. S. W. and Sarah (Holman) Elliott. The 
Doctor has an office in the Masonic Temple, Dover, while his residence is at 
44 Summer street. 

R. F. SE.WEY*, of the R. F. & F. F. Seavey Company, lumber operators 
and dealers, with office at No. 53 Charles street, Rochester, N. H., was born 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 779 

in this city in 1880, a son of Charles H. and Clara E. (Allen) Seavey. The 
Seavey family is one of the oldest in this section and the subject of this 
sketch owns a farm that has been in the family since this part of the county 
was hrst settled. Charles H. Seavey, father of R. F., was l)orn in Rochester 
and was engaged in the lumber business all his life, dying here at the age 
of 58 years. His wife, the mother of our subject, is also deceased. They 
were the parents of three children — R. F., Charles and Ruth K., who married 
a Mr. Blanchard. 

R. F. Seavey was educated in the Rochester schools and at business col- 
lege. He then entered the lumber business, which he conducted alone until 
1909, when the present firm was established. They buy standing lumber, 
which they cut, manufacture, and market, and have built up a profitable in- 
dustry. Mr. Seavey is a Republican politically. He is a 32d degree Mason, 
Scottish rite, and attends the Congregational church. He married Ada E. 
White and they have two children — Walter A. and Pauline. 

DAVID J. LCCEY*, who is lax collector of the town of Rochester and 
a well known citizen of Strafiford county, was born in 1877, at South Grove- 
land. Essex county, Mass., and is a son of James and Hannah (Donohue) 
Lucey. James Lucey was born in Massachusetts. From there he came to 
Gonic, N. H., in 1880, where he still resides, for many years having been 
overseer of the (ionic Mill. He married Hannah D(ini:)hue, also of Massa- 
chusetts, and nine children were born to them. 

David J. Lucey attended the public schools in Gonic and afterward en- 
tered the employ of the Gonic Manufacturing Company. Later he became 
a commercial tra\eler and for some years represented the firm of George 
S. Harwood & Sons, of Boston. He is a Democrat in his political creed and 
has served in his present office for the past three years, his duties being per- 
formed with an efficiency that is satisfactory to all. Mr. Lucey married 
Miss Mary F. Harting and they have two children, Berndette and Frances. 
Mr. Lucey and family are members of the Roman Catholic church. He is 
identified fraternally with the Catholic Order of Foresters and with the An- 
cient Order of Hibernians. 

CYRL^S L. JENNESS, proprietor of an extensive business in hardware 
and agricultural implements, in Dover, N. H., has been established in this 
city for many years and is one of the leading merchants in this part of the 
country. He was born March 10, 1848, in the neighboring town of Rochester, 
a son of Cyrus and Mercy (RIcDuffce) Jenness. His parents were well 
known and esteemed members of the agricultural community of that place. 



780 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Cyrus L. Jenness remained at home until attaining his maturity, attend- 
ing the district schools in his youth, and making himself useful on the farm. 
Then resolved to begin the battle of life on his own account, he came to Dover, 
finding employment here as clerk in a hardware store. He remained with the 
same employer for eleven years, giving his undivided time and attention to 
the business, of which he obtained a thorough knowledge. Having by thrift 
and economy saved some money, he then established his present business which 
he has since carried on with marked success. He is also a director in the Straf- 
ford Savings Bank. Mr. Jenness is a Republican, but has never taken any 
very active part in political affairs, either local or national. He is a member 
of Wechohamet Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Dover. 

On November 12, 1872, Mr. Jenness married Sarah E. Holmes, a daugh- 
ter of Horace and j\Iary J. (Colbath) Holmes, of Dover. He and his wife 
are useful and esteemed members of the Free Baptist church. They reside at 
649 Central A\cnue, while ]\lr. Jenness' place of business is located at 108-T 12 
Washington street, Dover. Mr. Jenness can fairly be cited as a conspicuous 
example of that characteristic American type — the self-made man, as he 
started in life with no other endowments than a good brain, stout heart and 
willing hands, backed by sound moral principles; but in a land of opportuni- 
ties, these are the qualities that conquer success. 

S. LYMAN H.VYES. who comes of an old and respected family of Straf- 
ford County, Newr Hampshire, is in the railway mail service and resides at 
Milton. He was born in South Milton, December 10, 1862. and is a son nf 
Luther and Sarah M. (Coffran) Hayes, and a grandson of George Hayes. 

Luther Hayes was a lumber manufacturer and was a very well known 
man in this section of the state. His lumber plants were at South Alilton and 
at Spaulding Mills. He was a native of Strafford County and lived here until 
his death at the age of 75 years. Fie was buried at South Milton. A Re- 
publican in politics, he served at dift'erent times as state senator, fish and 
game commissioner of the state, and as high sheriff of Strafford county. Fie 
was a member of the Odd Fellow and Masonic Lodges, whilst religious!}-, he 
was indentilied with the Free \Vill Baptist Church, toward the support of 
which he contributed most liberally. Mr. Hayes was thrice married. By his 
first wife he had six children, one of whom was C. H. Hayes, who has won 
success as a lumberman and is at the present time president of a Haverhill. 
Mass., Bank. A son by the third wife is a graduate of State of Maine Col- 
lege, and is a prosperous man in the real estate business at Easthampton, 
Mass. Mr. Hayes' second union was with .Sarah M. Coft'ran, mother of our 
subject, she being a native of Penibert, New Hampshire. This union resulted 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 781 

in the following issue : S. Lyman ; Fannie L., an instructor in the schools at 
Ha\erhill, Mass.; Hattie E., wife of Edger Wyatt of South MiUon; and 
Luther C, who lives on the old farm in South Milton. 

S. Lyman Hayes was reared in South Milton, and after pursuing a course 
of study at Somersworth for three years, attended .Berwick Academy one 
year, an institution his father served for a time as a member of the board of 
trustees. After leaving school, Mr. Hayes in 1879-1881 served as a messenger 
in the New Hampshire Senate. He also was connected with the Fish and 
Game service of New Hampshire until 1884, when he became a railway postal 
clerk on the Boston and Main Railroad. He runs between Boston and Ban- 
gor, and for 29 years has had the same run. 

Mr. Hayes was married in 1885 to Miss Annie F. Corson, a native of 
Milton, and a daughter of Henry H. and Clara M. ( Down) Corson. Her 
maternal grandfather was James R. Down; on both sides she comes of fam- 
ilies long prominent in agricultural life about Milton. Mr. and Mrs. Haves 
have had the following children: Walter \\'., a fireman on the Boston and 
Maine R. R. ; Lawrence C, also a fireman on the Boston and Maine; Luther 
H., who is at the head of the furnishings department of the establishment of 
W. H. Goodnow of Kenee, N. H. ; Maurice L., in the employ of the Ford 
Auto Co., Cambridge, Mass.; Blanche C. and Norman H., who are attending 
Nute High School at Milton; and Helen F. and Milton W'., who arc in 
attendance at grammar school. Mr. Hayes is a member of the .\ncieiit 
Order of L^nited Workmen; and of the Masonic Lodge. He lielongs to the 
order of Railway Postal Clerks. Religiously he and family attend the Free 
Will Baptist church. He is a life long Republican. 

HON. WILLL\M FRANCIS NASON, of Dover, one of the leading 
members of the Strafiford County bar, was born in Sanford, Me., November 
22, 1S57, son of Joseph T. and Susan (Frost) Nason. His father, in earlier 
life, was engaged in educational wijrk, ser\ing at tlift'erent times as principal 
of several important schools. Later he gave his attention to navigation, being 
master of vessels in the foreign trade. The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Daniel Nason, was a shipbuilder anfl owner. 

William F. Nason in his youth attended school at South Berwick and Ken- 
nebunk, Maine. After graduating from the high school of the latter place he 
studied law there for two years, subsequently continuing his legal studies under 
the mentorship of Buel C. Carter of Wolfboro, N. H. On his admission to 
the bar in 1879, he came to Dover, forming a law partnership here with Mr. 
Carter. He soon proved his ability and in 1883 was chosen city solicitor, 
holding that ofifice seven years in all, through subsequent elections. Having 



782 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

ideiititied himself closely with i)uhlic affairs and gi\en further evidence of 
his capacity, he was elected to the Legislature, serving in that body in 1887- 
88, during which time he was a member of the Judiciary Committee and 
chairman of the Committee on Elections. Besides taking an active part in 
the routine work of the House, he won a reputation as an able debater. In 
1892 he was elected county solicitor by a flattering majority, and was re- 
elected to the same office in 1894 and 1896. Nominated for mayor of Dover 
in 1895, he was elected without opposition, and in 1896 the citizens endorsed 
his administration by reelecting him to the office. He has faithfully and ably 
administered the public trusts that have fallen to his charge and his popularity 
continues undiminished. He is now contlucting a very successful law busi- 
ness, with office at No. 430 Central street. He resides at No. 9 Hamilton 
Street, Dover. 

ANDREW J. HOUGH, a highly respected retired citizen of Dover occu- 
pying his comfortable residence at No. 165 Locust street, was connected for 
many years with the mills in se\eral sections of New England, both before and 
after his service in the Civil war. in which he made a brilliant record. He 
was born in Dover, N. H., in 1833, and is a son of Thomas Hough. Here 
he secured his education and afterward, for seven years, was connected with 
the Cocheco mills as a designer and sketch maker. 

On July 26, 1862, Andrew J. Hough enlisted as a private, at Dover, N. H., 
for service in the Civil war, and on August 10, 1862, was commissioned first 
lieutenant under Capt. Chester C. Stevens, in Co. D, 9th N. H. Vol. Inf., 
commanded by Col. Enoch O. Fellows. This company was recruited in May 
and June, 1862, and was mustered into the service of the United States 
between July 3 and August 23, 1862, at Camp Colby, Concord, and left the 
state on August 25, 1862, arriving two days later at ^^'ashington, D. C, 
and encamping at Camp Chase, near Arlington Heights. It was assigned to 
Gen. Whipple's Dixision for the defense of Washington, and later was made 
a part of the 9th Army Corps, which it joined at Leesboro, Md. Within 
twenty days after leaving New Hampshire this regiment bore a gallant 
part, untrained as it was, in the battle of South Mountain, unsupported charg- 
ing a Confederate brigade and driving it from the crest of the mountain. 
Three days later the brave New Hampshire boys fought at Antietam, after 
which a few days of rest was given them at Pleasant Valley, but on October 
22 they started on the march to Falmouth, Va., thence to Strafford Heights 
and on December 13, 1862, they participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, 
suffering terrible losses. On February 9, 1863, the regiment reached New- 
port News and in the latter part of the month mox'ed into Kentucky. In 




ANDREW J. HOUGH 



AXD.REPRESENTATIXE CITIZENS 785 

June the 9th regiment joined the forces of General Grant in front of Vicks- 
burg, afterward pursuing Johnston's army and forcing it to retreat to Jack- 
son, Miss. This regiment retired then to IMilldale and then to Kentucky and 
until April 2, 1864, was engaged in guarding the Kentucky Central Railway. 
Its later movements were to Nicholasville, to Camp Nelson, to Camp Burn- 
side, and on February 27 acted as escort to the First Ohio Heavy Artillery. 
Later the 9th Army Corps was reorganized at Annapolis, Md., and the 9th 
regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Anny of the 
Potomac. Mr. Hough took part in the following battles : Wilderness, Spott- 
sylvania, North Anna, South Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, siege of 
Petersburg, Mine explosion, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Springs Church, Hatch- 
ers' Run and the fall of Petersburg in addition to those previously mentioned. 
He was one of that great army of victors that passed in review in the Nation's 
capital, was honorably discharged May 2 7,, 1865, and was mustered out at 
Alexandria. Va., June 10, 1865. During this long continued service Mr. 
Hough was both honored by promotions and was prostrated by injuries. For 
faithful ser\ice he was Cdmmissiuneil captain of Co. I, on November 22. 1862, 
and declined promotion to command the i8th N. H. Infantry. He was 
placed in command of the 9th regiment on May 18, 1864, by order of Gen. 
Simon G. Griffin and continued in command until the battle of the mine ex- 
plosion, July 30, 1864, in which he was wounded and was left lying on the 
battlefield unattended for 36 hours, when he was picked up by the Confederates 
and cast into Libby Prison. He was kept in that unspeakable place until the 
following November, when he was paroled and sent to camp at Annapolis. 
He was also wounded at Antietam, while making a charge on a bridge but did 
not leave his company for his first injuries. To quote from the official report 
of the Adjutant-General: "At last moment the brigade moved into line of 
battle preceded by skirmishers. Companies I and G. commanded by Capt. 
Hough and Lieutenants Rice and Sylvester and in their progress they cap- 
tured about 50 of the enemy but the lieutenants were killed and this left Capt. 
Hough the only ofiicer in command." Captain Hough was detailed as provost 
marshal of Jessamine county, Ky.. during the winter of 1863, by Gen. Speed S. 
Frye. He was brevetted major in May, 1865, and personally commanded his 
regiment at the battles of North Anna, South Anna and others. He has been 
identified with the G. A. R. very prominently and served three terms as com- 
mander of Sanford Post No. 79, Department of Massachusetts. 

Upon his return from the army and the reestablishment of his health, 
Captain Hough resumed mill work in the Cocheco mills, but in 1867 went 
to mills at Providence, R. I., and from there, in 1872, to the Hamilton mills 
at Lowell, Mass., and for 25 years prior to 1907, he was employed at North 



786 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Adams, Mass., under Cul. John Bracewell. He came then to Dover and lias 
made this historic old city his home ever since. 

On January 21. 1858, Mr. Hough was married at Dover to Miss Mary E. 
Roberts, and they had two children : Ralph, who is now deceased, and a babe 
that li\ed but six months. During the time Captain Hough was in Kentucky 
his bra\e wife remained with him, giving him the comfort and encouragement 
of her society and looking after his health as far as she was permitted to do so. 
Her kindness endeared her to many of his less fortunate comrades and in many 
parts of the country she no doubt has friends of whom she knows nothing. 
Those unhappy days of ci\-il war have fortunately passed but their heroes 
are not forgotten. 

ROBERT H. FISH, a well known and popular citizen of Dover, X. H., 
engaged in business as a painting contractor, was born at Bolton, in Lan- 
cashire, England. May 13, 1S66. His parents were Richard and Mary (Bar- 
rows) Fish, both natives of England, 

Robert H. Fish attended school in his native land. In 1884 seeking more 
favorable industrial conditions than then prevailed in England, he embarked 
at Liverpool for America, taking passage on a steamer bound for Phila- 
delphia, and was safely landed at that port some sixteen days later. Xot find- 
ing the opening he desired in that city, he went to Bronxville, X. Y., and a 
few months later to Yonkers, going from there to Lawrence, Mass. In 1890 
he came to Do\er and has been engaged here since in pajier hanging, painting 
and wood finishing, for several years having been a contractor in these lines. 
As such he has had an active part in much of the building and construction 
work that ha\e been so marked a sign of Dover's prosperity. Although he 
had been well grounded in the Xational schools of England, he found that 
a inore specific knowledge of business methods would be useful to him, 
therefore, after coming here he took two courses in the Dover Business Col- 
lege, attending night classes. 

On X^ovember 29, 1894 ]Mr. Fish was married to Miss Eliza Manock, 
a native of Dover and daughter of ex-alderman David Manock, a former 
well known resident of this city. They reside in a handsome house on Stark 
Avenue, which is situated in the Fourth Ward, from which Mr. Fish has been 
three times sent as representative to the city council. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fish are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He has frequently Ijeen called upon to serve on committees con- 
nected with the public welfare and has never shirked responsibilities as a citi- 
zen. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 787 

THOMAS HUGHES,* who for a quarter of a century has been engaged 
in the meat and provision business at Dover, now confining himself entirely 
to the wholesale meat trade, is recognized as one of the solid and substantial 
men of this city. He was born in the north of Ireland, December 12, i860, 
and is a son of Felix and Catherine ( Mclntyre) Hughes, who also were natives 
of the north of Ireland. 

Thomas Hughes was reared through boyhood and youth in his native 
land, enjoying such advantages as his parents could afford him, but America 
attracted him and when in his twentieth year he took passage on a steamer 
bound for Boston and after a quick passage was safely landed. In 1880 he 
reached Dover, N. H., and this city has continued to be his home. He built 
up a substantial business in the meat and provision line, on Locust street, which 
is still carried on under the old name of Hughes' Market, by his son, Edward 
Hughes. Mr. Hughes owns a farm of more than 40 acres which he devotes 
to general agriculture. He has laeen very successful in his various business 
undertakings and at the same time has been reliable and useful as a citizen. 
Nominally he is a Democrat but is somewhat independent in his political views. 
Mr. Hughes married Miss Sarah Delaney. of Somersworth, N. H., and their 
children are: Edward. Philip, Thomas, \\'illiam, John, Sadie B., and Ellen. 
Mr. Hughes and family belong to the Roman Catholic church. 

LUTHER \\'. BREWER, master mechanic for the Salmon Falls IManu- 
facturing Company, is a man who has depended from youth on his own ef- 
forts for advancement and the large measure of success which he has reached 
in his undertakings, illustrates what an industrious, persevering, honorable 
yoimg man can accomplish, in spite of many drawbacks. Mr. Brewer was 
born at Eastham, Cape Cod, Mass., October 18. 1850, and is a son of Reuben 
and Ruth (Snow) Brewer. His father was born also on Cape Cod and for 
many years followed the sea. He died in his 90th year. The mother of Mr. 
Brewer was born near Brockton, Mass. 

Luther W. Brewer grew up in Eastham. where he had early school op- 
portunities. He then learned the carpenter's trade and at the age of 19 years 
left his home and for a number of years lived in different places in Massa- 
chusetts, supporting himself by work at his trade. After reaching Strafford 
county he continued to work as a carpenter and as his skill began to be rec- 
ognized he secured employment as such with the Salmon Falls Manufactur- 
ing Company, entering the mill April 19, 1888, with which concern he has 
been identified ever since. He worked his way through the departments of 
the mill until he had acquired the experience that enabled him to accept a 
position as master mechanic, which was tendered to him in 1904 and this 
position he has filled satisfactorily ever since. To have been continuously 

46 



788 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COL'XTY 

connected for a quarter of a century with one of the great industrial plants 
of Xew England, proves a man's etticiency and his standing in his community 
without further comment. 

Mr. Brewer was married on November i, 1S83, to Aliss Vida E. Ingalls, 
who was born at Whitingsville, Mass., and they ha\e two daughters, Florence 
V. and Lillias M. Both ladies are graduates of the Xormal School at Fly- 
moutii, N. H., and the younger, during 19 u was a teacher in the public 
schools of Franklin, X. H. The elder daughter was a teacher for seven 
years at Dover, N. H., prior to her marriage to Fred A. Chapman, who is 
an educator at Cohasset, Mass. Mr. Brewer has always taken a deep interest 
in educational advancement and for a number of years has been a member of 
the school Ixiard of Rollinsford. In politics he is a Republican. With his 
family he belongs to the ^Methodist Episcopal church at South Berwick, Me., of 
which he is a steward, trustee and treasurer and also has served as superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school. 

C. E. CLARK, general manager and sole owner of the Rochester Woolen 
Comjjany, has. one of the foremost business enterprises of Rochester, N. H. 
He was born in Somersworth. X. H., in 1855, and is a son of Everett and 
Sarah A. (Bean) Clark. 

Everett Clark was born in Strafford, X. H.. and there followed the trade 
of a painter. He died at the age of ~,j years. He was married to Sarah A. 
Bean, who was born in Sandwich, X. H., December 15, 1832, and is now liv- 
ing at the advanced age of 81 years. They reared three children: Frank, 
who follows farming at Barrington; Edward, who is chief of police of 
Dover, X. H. ; and the subject of this sketch. 

C. E. Clark received his educational training in the public schools of 
Dover and in Austin Academy. After leaving school he learned the trade 
of a machinist, which he followed for a jjcriod of jo years. He established 
the first machine shop in the village, and at one time was owner of the 
Rochester Machine & Foimdry Company. He was then in the lumber busi- 
ness some seven or eight years, when in igoi he bought into the Rochester 
Woolen Company. He owned it with his son, Herman E. Clark, until 1909, 
since which time he has been sole proprietor. The plant had been shut down 
for twelve years prior to 1901. and the success met with since that date re- 
flects good executive ability and business policy in its management. He 
manufactures ladies' dress goods, and gives employment to about 100 people. 

Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Varney, who was 
born in Dover, N. H., and they have two children: Herman E., who is a 
broker of Salt Lake City; and Leo L, who is completing a technical educa- 



A.N'D REPRESENTATIVE CITIZEN'S 789 

tion in the Textile School at Lowell, Mass. Religiously the family belongs 
to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Clark is a Republican. 

WALTER S. LAWSON*. agent of the Great Falls Bleachery and Dye 
Works, is prominent among Somersworth's actixe and successful men of busi- 
ness. He has been associated with the company named since 1892. the year 
in which he came to this place to li\-e. Mr. Lawson was born in Andover, 
Mass., February 2^,, 1871, and was reared there and at Lawrence, Massa- 
chusetts, where he attended high school. When about 19 years of age he 
began working in the Pacific Mills at Lawrence, being employed in the dye- 
ing department, until he moved t(3 Somersworth, N. H. He is a son of John 
and Isabella (Brande) Lawson, both natives of Scotlanrl. They located at 
Andover, Mass., where both continued to live until their deaths. Upon com- 
ing to Somersw^orth in 189J, Walter S. Lawson became overseer in the dye- 
ing department of the Great Falls Bleachery and Dye Works, with which 
concern he has been identified continuously since. .After a short time he was 
advanced to the position of superintendent of the works, in which capacity 
he remained five years, then in 1899 became agent of the Great Falls Bleach- 
ery and Dye Works. A young man and ambitious, he brought into the posi- 
tion a world of energy and some good ideas, it being his aim to make his 
services as valuable as possible to the company. That he has w ell succeeded 
is well evidenced by the fact that he still continues as agent of the company 
after a long service. Mr. Lawson has been much interested in ci\'ic matters. 
For ten years he served as chairman of police commissioners of Somers- 
worth. and for a period of three years represented the first ward as a member 
of the city council. He is a Republican in politics. 

Mr. Lawson was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Gertrude Bates, 
a native of Somersworth and a daughter of the late Gedrge .S. Bates of this 
place. Two children have blessed this union, Dorothy and Donald S. Lawson. 
Fraternally, the subject of this record is a member of Blue Lodge, F. & A. M. 
at Somersworth, and of St. Paul's Commandery, K. T.. in Dover, N. H. 

BENJAMIN A. WIGGIN*, who has been a resident of Somersworth, 
N. H., for more than 40 years, now lives retired at No. 20~ High street. He 
was bom at \\'olfboro, N. H., October i, i8j6, and is a son of Jeremiah and 
Hannah (Nudd) Wiggin, both parents being natives of New Hampshire. 

Benjamin A. Wiggin was a babe of one year when his parents moved to 
Bingham, Me., and there he grew to manhood, attending school in boyhood 
and, as soon as old enough, beginning to take care of himself. He had little 
assistance and practically is a self made man. He learned the shoemaking 



7i1() HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

trade and also engaged in teaming and when not occupied u itii either of these 
employments, worked as a farmer, his entire career having been marked with 
self respecting independence. Since 1872 Mr. W'iggin has been a resident of 
Somersworth and it is an interesting story he can tell of the many changes 
that have been brought about in the last 40 years. For se\en vears he was 
street commissioner after Great Falls was transformed into Somersworth and 
the latter became an incorporated city, and many of the impro\ements he ad- 
vocated during his ofificial life served as the foundation for the present city's 
most valuable utilities. While always inclined to follow his own judgment to 
some degree in political matters, Mr. Wiggin is nominally a Republican. 

Mr. Wiggin was married at Bingham, i\Ie.. to Miss Mary C. Chase, of 
that place, a daughter of Davis Chase, an old resident there. Mrs. \\'iggin 
died February 18, 1909. the mother of si.x children: Ella C, who is deceased; 
Persis L., William H., Harriet E. and Joseph F.. all of whom reside at Somers- 
worth; and Emma G., who is the wife of George F. Wells, who is assistant 
postmaster of Somersworth. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have one son, Burleigh R., 
who is a graduate of the New Hampshire State College at Durham, and is 
now office inspector for the A\'estern Union Telegraph and Cable Companv at 
Boston, Mass. In his energy- and enterprise he possesses many of the traits 
that enabled his grandfather, many years ago, to face and successfully over- 
come many disadvantages and discouragements. 

OSCAR L. GUPTILL*, general farmer and cattle raiser, residing on the 
Rocky Hill road, town of Somersworth, is successful as a business man and 
respected as a citizen. He was born on Diamond Hill, Berwick, Me., July 
22, 1868, of old and honorable Maine ancestry. His parents were Albert 
W. and Adalaide J. (Roberts) Guptill. Albert W. Guptill was torn in York 
county, Me., a son of Moses Guptill, also of Maine. For a short time Albert 
\\'. Guptill resided on the farm which his son now owns, but his death oc- 
curred very soon after he retiretl to Raymond, N. H. He married Adalaide 
J. Roberts, a native of Dover, N. H., who is now deceased. 

Oscar L. Guptill was 16 years of age when the family removed from Dia- 
mond Hill to the village of Berwick, Me., where he had school advantages and 
afterward attended the South Berwick Academy. In response to a natural 
inclination toward the law. he entered the office of Pierce Brothers, well 
known attorneys at Somersworth, where he was a student for two years and 
afterward continued his law studies in the office of his brother, Ernest L. Gup- 
till, of Portsmouth, X. H. In the meanwhile he had become somewhat in- 
terested in Democratic politics and was appointed deputy sheriff of Rock- 
ingham county, N. H., in which office he served for two years. Following 



AND REPRESENTATIX'E CITIZENS 791 

his retirement from office he came to his present farm and has since li\ed the 
life of an agricuhurist. 

On December 25, 1883, j\lr. Guptill was united in marriage with Miss Una 
C. Keyser, who was born at Lenton, N. H., and is a daughter of James H. Key- 
ser, who is a resident of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Guptill have four children : 
Winthrop H., Laurence W., Brenda J. and Byrl C. The family attend the 
High street Baptist church. 

A. G. GELINAS, who is a substantial business man of Rochester, N. H., 
engaged in the fire insurance and real estate business, with headcpiarters at 
No. 22 Bridge street, was born December 28, 1863, at St. Guillaume, Prov- 
ince of Quebec, and was there educated, coming to Strafford County, N. H., 
when 22 years of age. 

Mr. Gelinas began industrial life as an employe of the Gonic Manufac- 
turing Company, remaining with them for two years and a half. He then 
entered into the grocery business and was proprietor of a general store at 
Gonic, N. H., for five years, at the end of which time he sold out to Holland 
& Marginson, and for about three years was practically out of business. He 
then carried on a grocery store until 1905, from which time until 1909 he 
was interested in brick manufacturing at Kennebunkport, Me. During all 
this time he had maintained his residence at Rochester and continued all his 
civic interests. In 1902 he was a member of the state constitutional conxen- 
tion, for three years was assessor of the city of Rochester, and for three 
years has been a memljer of the city council, representing the 4th Ward. 

Mr. Gelinas was first married to Miss Virginia Roulx, who died six months 
later. Two and a half years afterward he was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Adella (Gagnon) Vadeboncoeur, who had been the widow of Ferdinand 
Vadeboncoeur for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Gelinas are members of the 
Roman Catholic church. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters 
and was a delegate to the Foresters' international convention in August. 191 3; 
at Louisville, Ky. 

GERALD A. SCARR, a well known citizen of Dover, engaged in the 
plumbing business, who is now serving in his second term as representative 
to the legislature from Ward 3, has been a resident of this city since 1901, 
having come here from Salem, Mass. He was born in Lancashire, England, 
April 18, 1865, a son of James and Elizabeth Scarr. His parents, who were 
both natives of England, are now deceased. They came to New England 
in 1878, and their son accompanied them. They first settled in Lawrence, 
Mass., where he obtained a good education in the public schools and then 



792 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUXTV 

coiniiieiiced learning the plumber's trade in Lawrence and subsequently fol- 
lowed it there for a number of years. While residing in Lawrence his parents 
died and in 1894 he moved to Salem, Mass., where he resided, working at 
his trade until 1901. in wliich year, as above stated, he came to Dover, where 
he has since continued in the plumbing business. He has achie\ed a gratify- 
ing measure of success and is regarded as one of the reliable and sul)stantial 
citizens of Dover. A Republican in politics, he has taken an active part in 
public affairs, sen-ed two years as councilman from Ward 3, and also the same 
length of time as alderman. As already stated, he is now sening his second 
consecutive term as representative from his ward to the state legislature, and 
in these various otficial positions has shown efficiency and a high regard for 
the interests of his constituents. 

Mr. Scarr was married, July 17, 1898, to Alice M. Towle, a native of 
Dover, and daughter of Sidney M. and Lavina C. (Hoyt) Towle. Mrs. 
Scarr's father was a native of Wolfboro, and her mother of Rochester; both 
are now deceased. Sidney M. Towle came to Dover when a boy and resided 
here for the rest of his life, being engaged in the lumber industry. He was 
a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Scarr are members of St. John's 
M. E. Church of Dover, and both are efficient workers in the various organi- 
zations of the society. 

Mr. and Mrs. Scarr are members of St. John's Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Dover, and both are efficient workers in the various organizations 
of the society. Mrs. Scarr is also a member of the Woman's Christian Tem- 
perance L'nion, and has held various official positions. Mr. Scarr is a member 
of the Strafford Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Do\er, but has held no official posi- 
tions. 

Aside from being a first-class plumber ]\lr. Scarr is a mineralogist of no 
small acquirements. When he was a school l>oy he began collecting minerals 
and from time to time since then has added to his specimens, as in his tra\'els 
he has found them in various parts of the United States, and he has not a few 
that friends have furnished him from foreign lands. Xo doubt his collec- 
tion of minerals, fossils and other curios is the largest and finest private se- 
lection to be found in Straft'ord count\-. It gi\-es him great pleasure to show 
and explain the various articles to his friciuls and strangers, who cannot be 
Othei^vise than delighted and in>tnicte(l by the examination. 

Mr. and Mrs. Scarr are esteemed memljers of Dover's social circles. They 
have no children, but ha\e taken a hnely girl, Viola Andrews, to care for, 
and bring her up as they would their o\\ n child. 



AND REPRESEXTATIVE CITIZENS 793 

JAMES L'()RSUN, who is a iiiciiiber of uiie of tlie old and substantial 
families of Rochester, N. H., has spent his long and busy life in Strafford 
county, where he owns acres and acres of valuable land. He resides on Port- 
land street, one-half mile southwest of East Rochester and one and one-half 
mile northeast of the public square in the city of Rochester. He might reside, 
however, in many other places did he so desire, for he owns 500 acres of land 
in the town of Rochester; 500 acres in the town of New Durham ; joo acres in 
the town of Milton; and 350 acres in the town of Farmington. Mr. Corson 
was born on a farm on the Salmon I'\alls road, in the town of Rochester, N. 
H., February 15, 1S45, ^1"^ '* ^ son of Michael E. and Mary (Butler) 
Corson. 

Michael E. Corson and his father, Joseph Corson, were both born in 
Rochester and spent their lives here, passing through the usual human experi- 
ences and finally, in the course of nature, giving way to their descendants. 
They were among the founders and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal 
church at Rochester. Michael E. Corson married Mary Butler, who, in all 
probability, came from the same sturdy stock that produced Gen. Benjamin F. 
Butler, of Civil War fame, who was also closely identified with the cotton 
mill industry at Lowell, Mass. Four sons were born to Michael E. Corson 
and wife: John, who died in May, 1913, at the age of jt^ years; Hiram, who 
resides at Kennebunk, Me. ; James ; and Nahum, who is a resident of Rochester. 

James Corson attended the district schools in boyhood and since reach- 
ing manhood has given attention to lumbering, fanning and dairying. When 
the Patrons of Husbandry came into being and the first grange was organized 
at Rochester, Mr. Corson was one of the first to take an interest in the move- 
ment and is the only surviving charter member. Mr. Corson married Miss 
Mar)- E. Curtis, who was born one-half mile south of the present home, on 
the Salmon Falls road and is a daughter of Cyrus K. and Rachel W. Curtis, 
old settlers of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have had the following 
children: Freeman, who is a resident of Providence, R. I.; Edna, who is the 
wife of S. A. Cai)ron. of Westfield, Mass.; Woodbury, who died when three 
years old; Lilly, who died at the age of twelve years; Grace R., who is the 
wife of Eldred G. White; Nellie W., who is the wife of Charles Boyce, of 
Palmer, Mass. ; and Bertha, who lives at home. Mr. Corson and family at- 
tend the Baptist church at East Rochester. He has consented to serve in 
small town offices at times but has never been very active in politics, his time 
being very fully occupied with his extensive land interests. 

WILLIAM L. MARSTON,* who for more than 30 years was identified 
with Mill No. 3. of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, most of the time 



794 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

as overseer of the weaving department, is a resident of JJerw ick, Manie, where 
he owns a farm of 45 acres. He was born in Williamstown, \'t., March 11, 
1846, and is a son of Orvis K. and Caroline (Letch) Alarston, both natives 
of Vermont. The Marstons are of English ancestry. 

William L. Alarston was reared in Williamstown, \'t., and there attended 
the public schools. He enlisted for service in the Federal Army during the 
Civil War, enlisting June 2^, 1862, as a private in Company I, 9th Reg. Ver- 
mont Volunteer Infantry. About two months after they left Vermont, this 
regiment was included in the force surrendered by General Miles at Harper's 
Ferr)-. Mr. Marston, among others, was paroled, and was marched to Anna- 
polis, Aid., thence later to Chicago, 111. About four months later, he was 
duly exchanged. He then served in various states until the fall of 1864, when 
at the battle of Chapin's Farm, 'City Point, Va., near Richmond, he was 
severely wounded. Incapacitated for service, he was confined in a military 
hospital for five months. In April, 1865, he returned to his regiment at 
Chapin's Farm and was on picket duty within five miles of Richmond when 
that city was evacuated by the Confederates. He was one of the first men 
to enter Richmond after it had been abandoned. He was honorably dis- 
charged from the service on June 14, 1865. 

After the war had closed, Air. Alarston returned to his native state and 
shortly after began farming, at which he continued for several years. He 
subsequently went to Rhode Island, where he was in the employ of a house fur- 
nishing concern at Providence for a time. He next moved to Great Falls 
(now Somersworth) New Hampshire, and entered the employ of the Great 
Falls Alanufacturing Company as a bobbin boy. He was later a loom fixer 
for three years, after which he was advanced to second hand in the \\ea\ing 
room. After a time he went to Biddeford, Alaine, where he became overseer 
in the weaving department of the Pepperill Mills. He remained there nine 
years, at the end of which time he returned to the Great Falls Company as 
overseer of the weaving department in Alill No. 3. At this time he took up 
his residence in Berwick, Alaine, where he has lived continuously since. He 
ser\-ed in a highly efficient manner and continued without interruption as 
overseer of that department from 1886 until 1912. when he resigned. For a 
inimber of years he had followed agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of a 
good farm of 45 acres in Berwick. 

In Alay, 1874, Air. Alarston was united in marriage with Aliss Jennie 
S. Bailey, who was born in Lisbon. N. H., and is a daughter of William G. 
and Susan fClough) Bailey. Her father was bom in Bath, N. H., and her 
mother in Lyman, N. H. Airs. Alarston is descended from Richard Lynne 
Bailey, who came from England in the ship "Bevis" in 1639, coming as a 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 795 

senant of one Richard Duininer. He settled at Xewburyport, Mass., reared 
a family, and to him many of the name trace their ancestry. Of his descend- 
ants some were participants in the Revolutionary struggle, some as privates 
and others with rank of captain or colonel. William L. Marston and his wife 
are members of Granite State Commandery Xo. 40, Golden Cross, at Somers- 
worth, X. H. and of Martha Washington Rebeccas. Mrs. Marston is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of Berwick. He is a member of Lodge 
No. 2, I. O. O. F. ; Great Falls Encampment Xo. 15, I. O. O. F., at Somers- 
worth; Washington Lodge Xo. 4, I. O. O. F., Somersworth ; Joseph H. Dear- 
born Canton, I. O. O. F., of Biddleford, Me. ; and Mavochen Lodge No. _', 
K. P., at Biddeford, Maine. He is a member of Litttefield Post, No. 8, 
G. A. R., at Somersworth, of which he was commander two terms and of which 
he is now quartermaster. 

CHARLES A. ALLEN, farmer and dairyman, residing one mile from 
Rochester Square, on Washington street, Rochester, N. H., owns seventy 
acres of land and manages it so well that it makes satisfactory returns for 
all his investments. He was born at Barrington, N. H., April 7, 1851, and 
is a son of James L. and Mary A. ( Hoyt) Allen. In 1863 the parents of 
Mr. Allen moved to (ionic, where the father died at the age of 72 years. The 
mother still lives there and is now in her 86th year. They had five children, 
three of whom sur\i\e. 

Charles A. Allen was mainly educated at Gonic and has been a resident 
of Rochester for the past 50 years. For eleven and a half years he served 
as city marshal and for 25 years has been on the police force of the town and 
was formerly its chief. For ten years he operated a livery and feed stable, 
building his barn at the City Hotel on Arrow street. On his present place 
Mr. Allen has brought everything to a first class condition and raises all his 
own corn and keeps ready for constant use a silo of 100 tons capacity. He 
maintains his dairy with 24 head of cows and has some thorough-bred cattle 
and in the past has raised fast horses. He delivers daily from 150 to 200 
quarts of milk in Rochester, employing one man besides himself in the morn- 
ing delivery and has never disappointed his patrons one day in the last three 
years. 

Mr. Allen married Miss Mary Abbie Randlett, who was born in Durham 
and is a daughter of Charles and Lucy Randlett. She was mainly reared at 
Lowell, Mass.. and attended school at Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have 
two children : Charles Roscoe. a resident of Rochester, who married Maude 
Small : and Alta ]\Iaude, who is the w ife of Frank Grover, of Rochester. Mr. 
Allen is quite prominent in Republican politics in Strafford county and served 
one term in the state legislature, representing the town of Rochester. 



7!)6 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

JOHN E. HORLOR*, who has been identified with the Great Falls Manu- 
facturing Company at Somersworth, N. H., for the last 26 years, a master 
mechanic since 1907, is held in the highest esteem as a trained, experienced 
and capable workman and as a man whose fidelity could never be called into 
question. He was born at Berwick, Ale., October 6, 1861, and is a son of 
Charles W. Horlor and a grandson of William Horlor. The latter was a 
native of England and for many years was well known at Great Falls as a 
gunsmith. Charles \V. Horlor for a long period was a machinist with the 
Great Falls Manufacturing Company. 

John E. Horlor attended the public schools of Great Falls but from the 
age of 14 years has' been entirely dependent upon his own efforts for support 
and advancement. He may rightly be termed a self made man. In 1887 
when he entered the employ of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company he 
already understood the machinist trade and he continued work as a machinist 
there until 1891, when he was promoted to be a millwright, working as such 
until 1896. Then promotion came again and he worked as a steam engineer 
until 1903, when he was made assistant shop foreman and continued in that 
capacity until he became full foreman in 1905, in 1907 being made master 
mechanic. In 1891 when the bleachery plant was built, Mr. Horlor was gi\en 
charge of the installation of the machinery, with the result that its entire 
construction was entirely satisfactory. Step by step he has advanced in his 
business and occupies a very responsible position as master mechanic of this 
large manufacturing concern. 

Mr. Horlor married Miss Etta S. Morrill, a daughter of Charles R. Mor- 
rill, of Somersworth, and they have two children: Lennie M., who is the 
wife of E. L. Thompson, of Sanford, Me.; and Charles H., who is with the 
Great Falls Manufacturing Company. Mr. Horlor and wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican but is not an 
aggressive politician. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Somers- 
worth and is past chancellor of the lodge. 

CHARLES I". WILLEY,* who carries on general farming and market 
gardening in the town of Dover, owns 50 acres of excellent land, lying along 
the Littleworth road, this being his father's old homestead. He was born 
October 31, 1843. and is a son of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Ricker) W'illey. 

Thomas J. Willey. father of our subject, was born in Strafford, X. H., a 
son of Isaac Willey, one of the early settlers there. He owned the two bodies 
of water known as the Willey ponds, together with a grist mill and a large 
tract of adjoining land. He was of English extraction. In early manhood 
Thomas T- ^^'illey came to the town of Dover, settling on the land now owned 



AND REPRESENTATU^E CITIZENS 797 

by his son, Charles F. and died here many years ago. He was a man of 
consequence, serving as councilman and also as alderman of Dover, and was 
highly regarded by all who knew him. He was a member of the l-ree Will 
Baptist church, which he ser\ed many years as deacon. He married Eliza- 
beth Ricker, a daughter of Nicholas Ricker, who was a son of Nicholas 
Ricker. the father and grandfather being old residents of Dover. Four chil- 
dren were born to Thomas J. Willey and wife, two of whom survive, namely: 
Annie M. and Charles F., both of Dover. 

Charles F. Willey attended the district .schools and later Franklin Academy 
at Dover. His life has been largely devoted to agricultural pursuits, espe- 
cialy market gardening, Dox'er being his point of distribution. Fie is well 
know n and is held in esteem both as a business man and neighbor. For some 
years he served as deacon in the Free Will Baptist church. 

L. F. LANGMAID,* who is proprietor of the granite works at No. 24 
South Pine street, Dover, is one of the oldest monument men in the business 
in this section. He was born in December, 1865, at Durham, N. H., the only 
child of Jacob and Emma (Da\is) Langmaid. Jacob Langmaid, also born 
at Durham, was a carpenter by trade and worked at the same until he died 
at the age of 70 years. The property which is the site of the present post- 
office building was once his and after selling he bought a hou.se at a very 
high figure for those days, in order to enjoy the fine location. This he sold 
after the tragic death of his wife, who was accidentally killed by a railroad 
train near her home, when aged but 28 years. She was a nati\e of Newmarket 
and an admirable woman in every relation of life. 

L. F. Langmaid secured his education in the village schools of Durham, 
as soon as old enough assisting his uncle in the latter's monument shop dur- 
ing the summers and returning to his books in the winter. He also worked 
under Joseph Abbott, with whom he learned the best methods of cutting stone, 
and continued with him until he came to Dover to go with the firm of Stephens 
& Chesley. Later he entered into partnership with Stephen W. George, sell- 
ing out four years later, and for seven years following was with the firm of 
Spencer & Coombs. In 1899 he came back to Dover and bought his present 
place, where he does all kinds of cemetery and stone work and carries both 
simple and ornate monuments. He gives constant employment to four men 
and often has six on his pay roll. 

Mr. Langmaid married Miss Annie Thompson, who died at the age of 
23 years, leaving three children: Gertrude, who is the wife of Fred Pinkham ; 
Vera, who is the wife of Samuel Gage and has two children, Dorothy May 
and John Linville; and Ruth E. Mr. Langmaid was married second to 



798 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Miss Annie Knapp, wlio conducts a millinery store at Dover. Mr. Langmaid 
is quite prominent in Democratic politics and was a member of the New 
Hampshire legislature in 1913, and for five years was street and park com- 
missioner of Dover. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum, the Red Men and 
the Elks and is also a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge, Odd Fellows and 
Prescott Encampment, and additionally is identified with the Masonic bodies 
including the Chapter. 

ALPHONSO D. LEATHERS, a well known citizen of Dover, and a 
\eteran of the late Civil war, residing on the Mast road, was born in Palmyra, 
Maine, April 17. 1841, a son of Oliver and Lucinda (Boody) Leathers, 
Oliver Leathers, the father, resided for most of his life in Palmyra, to which 
jilace he moveil in 1823 from Nottini;iiam. N. H., his native town. He was 
a son of Joseph Leathers of Nottingham. The Leathers family is said to be 
of English extraction, and Joseph Leathers, grandfather of our subject, 
fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war, while Oliver 
was a soldier in the War of 181^-15. The latter died in Palmyra, Me. His 
wife, Lucinda, was a native of Rarrington, N. H. Of the eleven children, 
four were soldiers in the Ci\"il war, nanieh' : John P.., now deceased; Charles 
H., residing in Minneapolis, Minn. ; h'rederick A., a resident of Cham])lin, 
Minn., and Alphonso D., the subject of this sketch. 

Alphonso D. Leathers was educated in the public schools of Palm\ra, 
Me. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, jd Regiment N. H. Volun- 
teers, which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. At the first battle of 
Bull Run he was captured by the enemy and subsequenth- spent three months 
and ten days in Libby prison, being auKing the first Nurthern sokiiers to be 
confined there. He was then transferred to Parish prison, New Orleans, 
where he was confined four months, and the remainder of his prison term, 
totaling ten months and f(jurteen days, he spent in Salsbury prison. North 
Carolina. He was finally released on parole and sul)sei|uently exchanged, 
after which he returned home to I'almyra, Me. After remaining home a few 
days he went to Washington, D. C, where he was employed in the (piarter- 
master's department (in the clothing department) for eleven months. After 
Lee's surrender he helped decorate the White House and was subsequently 
detailed to assist in draping buildings on Lincoln's assassination. He also 
took part in the grand funeral procession in Washington. After his return 
home and discharge from the army he spent some eight years in Farmington, 
N. H., working at the trade of shoemaking, and subsequently followed the 
same trade in Dover for nine years, residing on and having charge of the 
Benjamin Thompson Farm, now the New Hampshire State College Farm. 
He took up his residence on the Mast road, Dover, in June, 1889. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 799 

Mr. Leatliers was married in May, 1867, to Jennie E. Wentworth, who 
was born in'Fannington, N. H., a daughter of Joseph Wentworth, of that 
place. Of this union was liorn one son, Frank A., wiio also resides on the 
Mast road, Dover. Mrs. Leathers, the wife of our subject, died in i(S88. 
Mr. Leathers is a member of the G. A. R. post at Dover and he and his son 
are both Democrats in politics. They are well known and progressive citizens, 
taking an active interest in the betterment of the community and keeping well 
informed on current events, being extensive and thoughtful readers. 

DANIEL F. JENXESS, who is one of the representative men and sub- 
stantial farmers and stock raisers of Strafford county, has passed his entire 
life on his home farm near Rochester and was born here ()ctober 16, 1856. 
He is a son of Cyrus and Mercy (McDnffee) Jenness, and a grandson of 
Daniel Jenness, who was one of the early settlers of Rochester. Both parents 
of Daniel F. Jenness were born at Rochester and the father died in 1881 
on the old homestead farm which he had cultivated. He was a prominent 
member of the Society of Friends and was a man of sterling character. 

Daniel F. Jenness attended school at Rochester and for a time was a 
student in Franklin Academy, a well known institution, after which, during 
several winters, he taught school in the neighborhood of his home. Agricul- 
ture, however, has claimed his main attention. His farm of 150 acres is 
de\oted to general farming and stock raising, and he makes a specialty of 
pure-bred .shorthorn cattle. He has always felt a citizen's responsibility and 
has lent his influence to public measures wdien c')n\'inced that they were 
honestly beneficial. He votes with the Republican |)arty InU has been a 
candidate of the Prohibition party for the Ceneral Asseml)ly. He served 
one vear as a selectman from the town of Rochester. Mr. Jenness was 
reared in the Society of Friends and is an elder in the same and belongs 
to the congregation at Gonic, N. H. 

Mr. Jenness married Ida M. Wiggin, wdio was born at Danvers, Mass., 
Mav 17, 1850, a daughter of Andrew- Wiggin, and the following children 
were born to them: Cyrus F., residing in Newton, Mass.; Elwood S., of 
Rochester, N. H. : Elizabeth E., a teacher in the Friends' Select .School, 
at Philadelphia, Pa. ; Chester A., of Newton, Mass. ; Myron Irving, of Roches- 
ter; Rachel Ida, residing at home; Edith W., formerly a student in the 
We.^ttown Boarding School, at Westtown, Pa.; Judith V., who is a student 
in the above named institution; and Gertrude and Margaret, both of whom 
are at home. In many quiet, unostentatious ways, Mr. Jenness has been a 
useful man in his community and he enjoys universal respect and confidence. 



800 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

HON. CURRIER \V. LANGLEY,* fonnerly a member of tlie New- 
Hampshire legislature and a well known business man of Do\er, came to this 
city in 1869, some years after the close of the Civil war, in which he had 
honorably participated. He was born August i. 1848, at Xewfield, Me., 
and is a son of William and Sarah H. (Dearborn) Langley. The Dearborn 
family is of English extraction and were early settlers in New Hampshire, 
while the Langleys settled etpially early in Maine. Both were of a sturdy type 
that left worthy representatives. William Langley was a son of Valentine 
Langley. He died in 1852, the father of ten children. Currier W'., then four 
years old, being the youngest of the family. 

Currier W. Langley remained with his mother at Newfield, Me., until 
he was thirteen years old, after which he .-^jjent two years in Boston. He then 
returned to Newfield to re-enter school and continued more or less continu- 
ously at his studies until October, 1864, when he enlisted for service in the 
Civil war, entering Company F, Second Me. Volunteer Cavalry, contracting 
for one year or during the war. b^^rtunately he hafl to serve but ele\'en 
montlis, mainly in Florida, and then was honoraljly discharged and returned 
to Newfield, Me. Shortly afterward he moved to Concord. N. H., where he 
worked for a short time in a caljinet-maker's shop. He then went to Cam- 
bridge for a limited period, then to Weymouth Landing, Mass.. and from 
there, in i86q, came to Dover. Here he learned the carpenter and building 
trade with W. P. Hayes, then a well known Iniikler of Do\'er, and remained 
with Mr. Hayes for twelve years. Since then he has been in the contracting 
and building business for himself and has done a large amount of work all 
over New Hampshire. He has been an active and interested citizen and has 
served as councilman and as alderman from the Third Ward in the Doxer 
city government and at all times has had the welfare of the majority at 
heart. 

Mr. Langley married Miss Alice J. Jennis. who was born at Newfield. 
Me., and they had two children : William C., who is now deceased : and I'^rank 
AL, who is a resident of Dover. In politics Mr. Langley in a general way 
is a Republican but claims the right to be independent in action when his 
judgment so urges. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Odd 
Fellows and is a member also of the Charles W. Sawyer Post, G. A. R., at 
Dover. W'ith his family he belongs to the ^Methodist Episcopal church. The 
family residence is at No. 336 Washington street, Dover. 

A. ROSCOE TUTTLE,* who is engaged in business at Gonic as a black- 
smith and carriage manufacturer, and also pays some attention to contract- 
ing, is a substantial and respected citizen who would be missed should his 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS SOI 

interests call him to another section. He was born December 20, iS".', in the 
town of Strafford, county of Strafford, N. H., and is a son of Freeman and 
Jane L. Tnttle, both of whom are deceased, the father dying at Strafford. 
N. H., and the mother at Berwick, Me. 

A. Roscoe Tuttle obtained his education in the schools of Strafford and 
Gonic, following which he learnefl the blacksmith's trade with C. E. Pearl, 
whom he succeeded in 1894. In his blacksmith, carriage and repair shop he 
employs five regular men the year through and as he has otiier interests he is 
quite a large employer of labor for a i)lace of the size of Gonic. Formerly, 
for five years, he conducted the local hotel and at present is operating a first 
class livery stable, affording satisfactory service at reasonable rates. 

Mr. Tuttle was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Abbott, a daughter 
of Charles Abbott. They have no children and occupy comfortable rooms 
in the rear of the shops. In politics Mr. Tuttle has always been a stanch 
Democrat and for nine years served as a member of the council of the town 
of Rochester. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and vvitli the J. O. U. M., 
both of Rochester. 

JAMES W. FORD,* a representative citizen of Dover, N. H., and a 
member of the city council, representing the Fourth Ward, was born at Dover, 
April 10, 1849, and is a son of George W. and Martha S. (Cate) Ford. 

George W. Ford was boni at Dover Point, N. H., and was a son of Ben- 
jamin A. Ford, and a grandson of Jacob Ford, a very early settler, probably 
of Scotch extraction. George \V. Ford spent his entire life in the town of 
Dover and was a man of local pronnnence. For many years he served as a 
justice of the peace in quorum, was a s]3ecial pijliceman du occasion antl also 
was a constable. His death occurred in May. 1910.. He married Martha 
S. Cate, who was born in Strafford count}', N. H. 

James W. Ford grew to manhood in Do\'er and attended the pul)lic 
schools. While a large portion of his time has been absorbed by pufilic duties, 
he owns and operates a farm of ^7, acres. For a (|uarter of a century he has 
served as special policeman of Dover Point and for two years has been a 
member of the Dover city council. Mr. Ford married Miss Carrie Brackett, 
of Dover, and thev ha\'e had one daughter w h(ini they named Edith Ina. She 
is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have an adopted daughter, whom they 
reared from childhood. Florence May, who is now the wife of George O. 
Hodgon. of Dover. In politics Mr. Ford is a Republican. He belongs to 
two well known fraternal organizations, the Odd I'ellows, at Council Bluffs, 
la., and the Red Men, at Dover. 



802 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

GEORGE A. DAVIS, general farmer and stock raiser, residing on his 
400-acre farm whicli is located in Farmington and New Durham townships, 
was born on this place, November 22, 1871. He is a son of Samuel and 
Caroline B. ( Hayes ) Davis, wiio were born in New Hampshire and lived and 
died on this farm, which has l)een in the family five generations, their burial 
being in a private cemetery on the place. This land came into the family 
three generations before they were married, the line being on the maternal 
side, the date of the original grant from the King of England being 1750. 
The residence was solidly built by Edmund Tibbetts, in 1780, and is yet com- 
fortable, having been remodelled first in 1844 and again in 1885. 

George A. Davis was the youngest of four children born to his parents, 
but two of whom are living, Dr. W. S. Davis of Sanbomville, N. H., being 
the other survivor. Mr. Davis was educated in the public schools and has 
always made his home on the farm, with the exception of two years during 
which he was a shipping clerk in a wholesale leather house in Boston. He 
carries on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of hay, rais- 
ing about seventy-five tons of timothy hay in a year. He cultivates about 
100 acres, following modern methods and utilizing the best improved 
machinery. 

In 1 89 1 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Eliza Davis, who was born July 
I, 1872, the second of three children born to her parents, George E. and 
Ariana P. Davis. Her father was born in ]\Iaine and her mother in New 
Hampshire. Both have passed away, the burial of the father being in the 
Mt. Alban cemetery, and the mother at Farmington. Mr. and Mrs. Davis 
have five children: Hazel, aged 21 years, a student at the New Hampshire 
Normal School, and a graduate of the Farmington high school, who has 
taught three years of school very satisfactorily; and Ruth E.. .Albert H. and 
Anna P., aged respectively, twelve, ten and eight years, are all at school; the 
youngest being Louise, who is three years old. Mr. Davis and family are 
members of the Congregational church at Farmington. In politics he is a 
Republican. For a number of years he has been a Mason, is past master 
of the Blue Lodge and past high priest of Columbian Chapter. 

BROOKS D. STEWART, a well known contractor and builder of Dover, 
N. H., is a progressive and public-spirited citizen, always to be found in the 
forefront when any movement is afoot pertaining to the welfare of the com- 
munity. He has been a resident of Dover since September, 1879, and since 
1880 has maintained an office in the Brace well Block. Mr. Stewart was bom 
in Skowhegan, Maine. Jnne 24, 1843, and is a son of Isaac and Betsy (Co- 
burn) Stewart, both natives of Skowhegan, Maine. The Stewart family is 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 803 

of Scotch extraction. Isaac Stewart was an agriculturist of Bloomfield, 
which now is a part of Skowhegan. Rev. Robert Coburn, maternal grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, was a Calvinist Baptist minister, and en- 
joyed an extended acquaintance and reputation throughout the eastern part 
of the state of ]\Iaine. 

Brooks D. Stewart was reared in his native village, where he attended the 
public schools and what formerly was known as Bloomfield Academy. He 
served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade at that place, and when the 
war broke out he joined the Federal army, enlisting on October i8, 1861, as a 
member of Company K, nth Reg. Me. Vol. Inf., which became attached to 
the Army of the Potomac. He was with General McLellan's command 
throughout the Peninsular Campaign, and later saw service in the Shenan- 
doah Valley. He was in active service during a greater part of the war, a 
part of the time engaged in construction work, and no matter what the task 
set for him it was done faithfully and with such ability as he possessed. 

After receiving an bon(jrable discharge from the army, Mr. Stewart 
returned to his New England home and spent most of his time in the build- 
ing business. After a time he went w-est to Logansport, Ind., where for sev- 
eral years he was superintendent of the agricultural works of Tucker & Howe. 
In September, 1879, as before mentioned, he returned east and took up his 
residence in Dover, X. H. Pie maintains an office in the Bracewell Block and 
has a shop at No. 14 Eirst Street. A broad, lilieral-minded man, he has not 
been content to restrict his energies to mere success in business; his interest 
is unbounded whether it be in civic affairs, music, lodge work or charities. In 
1889 and 1890 he was a member of the Dover City Council, representing 
the fourth ward. He is a member of C. W. Sawyer Post No. 17, G. A. R., 
in which he has held one office or another for the past 28 years, a part of the 
time as commander. Since 1897, he has been quartermaster and at the pres- 
ent time is also patriotic instructor of the post. He also has been a member 
of the Council of Administration of the New Hampshire Department, G. A. R., 
and served the department as inspecting officer. In 1897 he represented the 
State Department as a delegate to the National Encampment which was held 
in Buffalo, New York, in that year. For more than a quarter of a century 
he has held office in the National Veterans Association of which he is a mem- 
ber, and at the present time he is secretary and treasurer with headquarters 
at Weir, N. H. He has been a justice of the peace 12 years. Mr. Stewart 
has been an Odd Fellow for more than forty years, being a member of 
Winnipesaukee Lodge No. 7. at Laconia, New Hampshire. He has been 
very active in musical circles in years past, and was at one time treasurer of 

the Choral Society, which formerly flourished in Dover. 
47 ' 



804 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Brooks D. Stewart and AJary D. Viles were married on June 2, 1880. 
She was born in Orland, INIaine, and is a daughter of Joseph H. and Tamson 
(Eldridge) V'iles, the father being a native of Orland, Maine, and the mother 
of Bucksport, Maine, both famiHes being of Enghsh extraction. Two chil- 
dren have been the issue of this marriage, namely ; Charles D., of Melrose, 
Mass., who is in the railway mail service, running between Bangor and 
Boston ; and Morris A., the second son, employed in the classification depart- 
ment of the Patent OfBce at \\'ashington, D. C, in the government service. 
The latter is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from 
which he received the degree of Ph. D. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have with 
them a granddaughter. Miss Olive M. Stewart (a daughter of Charles D.), 
who was graduated in 1913 from Dover High School. Mrs. Stewart is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 

P. F. CASEY,* who is well known as a business man at Dover, is an 
electrician, with shop at Xo. 2 New York Street. He was born in Ireland, 
in 1877, and is a son of Peter and Rose (Donnelly) Casey. Peter Casey and 
wife came also to Dover and he followed farming until his death when aged 
50 years. He and his wife were members of the Catholic church. They had 
seven children. 

P. F. Casey attended school after coming to Do\-er and then was em- 
ployed in the grocery store of William F. Carter for six years and subse- 
quently was a road salesman for several years, one year for E. A. Gower 
& Son. In 1909 he started his present business in partnership with Edgar A. 
Davis, later becoming sole proprietor. He does all kinds of electrical work 
and carries electrical supplies. Mr. Casey married Miss Catherine Davis 
and they have four children: John F., Edgar, Morris and Ralph. Mr. Casey 
and family belong to the Catholic church and he is a member of the Knights 
of Columbus. 

GEORGE H. SPRINGFIELD,* lumberman, general farmer and raiser 
of thorough-bred shorthorn cattle, owns a fine estate of 600 acres in the town 
of Rochester. The homestead farm lies one and one-half miles from Roch- 
ester Square, on the ten-rod road, but Mr. Springfield resides at No. 26 
Antrim street, Rochester. He was born in Rochester, N. H., January 10, 
1855, and is a son of George W. and Sarah J. (McDuffee) Springfield. 

George W. Springfield was born also in Rochester and for many years 
was a successful farmer and lumberman in Strafford county. He was an 
active member of the local Grange and was a lifelong Democrat in politics. 
He married Sarah J. McDuffee and they had two sons : J. Frank and George H. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 805 

George H. Springlield was reared and etlucated in the town of Rochester 
and has always maintained his home here. He raises about 40 head of fine 
cattle yearly which are sold all over the country. His herd of thorough-bred 
shorthorns he has exhibited at many agricultural fairs where they have 
won the blue ribbons. He sells his lumber by contract only and all his in- 
dustries are carried on according to modern methods. He is a very thor- 
oughly interested member of the local grange. 

Mr. Springfield married Miss Carrie E. Hall, a native of Rochester, and 
they have three children: W. Eugene, Jennie E. and Grace M. Mr. Spring- 
field has additional interests and is identified with the Rochester Loan and 
Banking Company. Politically he is a Democat and formerly for three years 
was a member of the city council. He belongs to the Odd Fellows at Roch- 
ester. With such important personal affairs to interest him, Mr. Spring- 
field finds little leisure but he is never too busy to fail to assist a neighbor 
or perform some public service for the general welfare. 

CH.VRLES D. FOX. a successful business man of Milton Mills. New 
Hampshire, is engaged in the undertaking business. He comes of a well 
known family of this vicinity, where for several generations it has been active 
in business and civic affairs. Mr. Fox was born in Milton Mills, March 6, 
1856, and i.s a son of Asa A. and Hannah (Howe) Fox, and a grandson of 
Asa Fox. 

Asa Fox, the grandfather, was born in Acton, Maine, and early in his 
career moved across the line to Milton Mills, New Hampshire. He estab- 
lished a general store which was conducted with much success for a period 
of over fifty years, the firm name being Asa Fox & Son, a son Elbridge \V. 
being the partner. After the death of A.sa Fox, the son continued the business 
until he in turn died, when a third generation of the family succeeded to it, 
namely, Everett F. Fox, a son of Elbridge, who discontinued it after a time. 
Asa Fox married Harriet W. \\'ood of Sharpleigh, Maine, and tliev became 
parents of three children, one of whom died of typhoid fever at the age of 
eighteen years. The two who grew to maturity were Elbridge \\'. and .Asa .-\. 
The former was a Republican and served in all of the town offices, also as 
state senator. The death of Elbridge \\'. Fox occurred in his seventy-seventh 
year, and his burial was in the IMilton Mills Cemetery. He was a leading 
member of the Congregational church, and for many years was superinten- 
dent of the Sunday school. 

Asa A. Fox. father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Milton Mills, 
where iiis schooling was acquired in the public schools. After his marriage he 
worked in and was a foreman in the rebuilding of the Pemberton Mill, and 



806 HISTORY OF STR.A.FFORD COUNTY 

for a time worked at carpentering. He became interested in the manufacture 
o: sail clotiiing, in connection with which he conducted a general store busi- . 
ncss. He finall\- closed out that enterprise to start up in undertaking, in 
which line he built up a lucrati\e inisiness. He was succeeded in the man- 
agement of the business in April. 19 13, by his son. Charles D. Fox, and the 
business has l^een continued with the same success it previously enjoyed. The 
patronage of this firm extends o\'er a radius of fifteen miles, including 
Wakefield, }ililton. Brookfield, Lebanon, Acton and Xewfield. They manu- 
facture caskets to a limited extent, and carry a complete stock of caskets 
and robes. Asa A. Fox married Hannah Howe, who was born in Newfield, 
Maine, and was next to the youngest of eight children. Her father, Sam- 
uel Howe, died at Newfield, Maine. This marriage was blessed with but two 
children: Etta, who died at the age of two years and was buried at Milton 
Mills; and Charles D. 

Charles D. Fox was educated in the New Hampshire schools, after 
which he was a tra\eling salesman for several years. He married Hattie 
M. Fox, daughter of Alfred and Elvira Fox of Acton, Maine. They have 
an accomplished daughter, Edwina, who attended the Nasson Institute 
and for the past two years has been an instructor in the schools. She also 
is a graduate of the Nute High School at Milton. Mr. Fox is a member of 
the Order of Odd Fellows, also of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has 
passed through all the chairs. He was formerU- president of the Xew 
Hampshire Licensed Embalmers Association. In national politics, he is a 
Republican. 

HON. ALONZO TAYLOR PIXKHAM. deceased, passed out of life 
while serving in the highest municipal office to which his admiring fellow citi- 
zens of Dover could elect him. He was a man of unblemished character, both in 
private and public life, and on many occasions had been honored with tokens 
of public confidence and esteem. He had served as a member of the state 
legislature, as city treasurer and as county treasurer, and at the time of death, 
on August 22. 1906, was mayor of Do\er. He was born at Madbury. Straf- 
ford county. N. H.. and had academic achantages there and at Dover, and 
afterward took a course in the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, 
New York. 

After completing his education he chose the drug business as his line of 
work and when he came to Dover he entered into partnership w ith Dr. Lothrop. 
imder the finn style of Lothrop & Pinkham. The business is continued under 
the same name. Mrs. Pinkham retaining her husband's interest and having a 
manager. This drug business is one of the oldest in Dover and to its e.xten- 




ALONZO T. PINKHAM 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 809 

sion, solidity and usefulness, Mr. I'inkhain devoted himself closely. He was, 
however, a man of such strength of character and practical efficiency that 
public demands were made on his time and many honors tendered him. He 
belonged to many benevolent organizations and headed public movements, a 
case in point being the Do\-er Hospital, in which he was greately interested. 
He had promised to dedicate the same when completed but did not live to 
fulfil his word. In large measure he was a self-made man. 

Mr. Pinkham was married to Miss Elizabeth Frye, a daughter of James 
N. and Elizabeth (Burroughs) Frye. an old family of Dover. Her father 
was a shoe merchant of Dover. Mr. Pinkham attended the Universalist 
church. He was a man of social inclinations and belonged to the Masons, 
the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and in his death each 
fraternity felt the loss of a valued member. 

P/\UL HURLBURT, attorney at law and a member of the law firm of 
Jackson & Hurlburt, at Rochester, with offices at No. 8 Hanson street, 
comes naturally by his legal ability, his father, a man of public distinction 
and once attorney general of Massachusetts, being a prominent member of the 
Boston bar. Paul Hurlburt was born at Lynn, Mass., in 1889, and is a 
son of Henry F. and Fannie (Thompson) Hurlburt, natives of Massa- 
chusetts and parents of six children. 

Paul Hurlburt enjoyed rather exceptional educational advantages, attend- 
ing first the Lynn schools, later St. Paul's Boys' School at Concord, afterward 
Princeton Lfniversit}' and subsequently the Boston University Law School. 
After graduating he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar and nine months 
later to the bar of New Hampshire. He chose Rochester as his field of prac- 
tice and entered into his present partnership. He takes a hearty interest 
in public matters and gives his political support to the Democratic party. 

Mr. Hurlburt married Miss Ethel MacMillan. of Brookline, Mass., and 
they have one daughter, Paula, who has celebrated her first birthday. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hurlburt have many pleasant social connections in Boston, Brook- 
line and Rochester. 

FRANK E. MARTIN, who is a substantial and well known resident 
of Somersvvorth, where he has been engaged in general farming for more 
than a quarter of a century, owns 150 acres of land, a part of which is cov- 
ered with a valuable limber growth. He was born in the province of St. 
Anne, Pocatiare, Canada, November 17, 1852, and is a son of Ferdinand and 
Angelina Martin, who were natives of that place. 

In the neighborhood in which he was born, Frank E. Martin attended 
school and remained until he was 18 years of age. Being ambitious and 



810 HISTORY OF STIL\FFORD COUNTY 

enterprising but largely dependent upon his own efforts, he then left home 
and entered the United States, remaining in the state of New York for a 
short time and then going to Manchester, N. H., where, for about 15 years 
he was a wood chopper. Circumstances led him to \isit Butte, Montana, 
where he was interested for a time and then returned to Manchester but 
later went back to Montana and remained for one year. Mr. Martin has 
vivid recollections of the comparatively uncivilized state of society in the 
Mountain state at that time and when he felt ready to settle permanently, he 
chose to establish his home among the peaceful hills of old New Hampshire 
and in 1887 purchased his farm in the town of Somersworth. 

Mr. Martin was married in November, 1887, to ]\Iiss Mary L. Martin, 
who was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, and is a daughter of Henry 
and Frances Martin. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, 
the survivors being: Mary L., who is the wife of Arthur L. Douglas, and 
they have had two sons, Arthur L., deceased, and Laurence M. ; and Adolph 
J. Frederick A., Wilfred J. and Annie M. Mr. ]\Iartin and family are 
members of St. Martin's Roman Catholic church at Somersworth. He takes 
no decided interest in politics but votes with the Democratic party and in 
all local matters may be counted on to do his full duty as a citizen. 

ARTHUR H. W'lGGIN, who is engaged in the practice of law at Farm- 
ington, was born November 30, 1865, at Ossipee, Carroll county, N. H., and 
is a son of Charles F. and Arvilla (Beachman) Wiggin. The father was also 
a native of Ossipee and spent his life there. The mother was born at \Volfboro 
and died at Farmington, N. H. Arthur H. was the younger born of their 
two sons, George A., the elder being now a resident of W^estboro, Mass. 

From the public school Arthur H. ^^'iggin entered Wolfboro academy and 
later the New Hampton Literary Institute, after which he began tlie study of 
law in the office of his uncle, George Edwin Beacham, at Somersworth, N. H. 
Li 1889 he was admitted to the bar, in September of the same year opening 
his law office at Farmington. With the exception of two years he has been 
in continuous practice here ever since, and on July i, 1913, was appointed 
judge of the District Court of Farmington. 

In 1893 Judge Wiggin was married to Miss Harriet Bradeen, who was 
born in February, 1873, the elder of two children born to her parents, William 
H. and Sarah F. Bradeen, of Waterboro, Me. One daughter was born to this 
marriage, Esther Beatrice, who lived but six years. Judge Wiggin and wife 
attend the Baptist church. His political identification is with the Republican 
party. As a citizen of public spirit Judge Wiggin has not been unmindful 
of the general welfare and for twelve years accepted the responsibilities of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 811 

membership on the board of education, during eight years of the time being 
chairman of the board. He is a Mason, being senior warden of Fraternal 
Lodge No. 71 at Farmington, and belongs also to Harmony Lodge, Knights of 
Pythias, and to Woodbine Lodge of Odd Fellows. Mrs. \Viggin is a member 
of the Order of Rebekah. 

REV. FABIEN GEDEON DESHAIES, pastor of St. Charles Catholic 
Church, Dover, N. H., was born September 27, 1863, at St. Damien, Berthier 
County, Province of Quebec, Canada, one of the 13 children of Augustin 
Deshaies and Marine Gareau. He made his first course of study at Joliette 
Seminary and was sul>sequently ordained priest by Archl>ishop Fabre at 
Montreal, February 14. 189-'. On October 22, 1893, h*^ ^^'^-s stationed at 
Somersworth, N. H., where he served as assistant priest for eight years under 
the Rev. C. Demmers. On February 14, 1902, he was appointed pastor of 
the Holy Angels Church at Westville, N. H., and remained there for a period 
of five years, after which he was transferred to the St. Joseph Church at 
Epping, N. H., 29th of April, 1907. From x\ugust, 1908, to January, 191 1, 
he was obliged to take a vacation on account of ill health. He was next, 
on January 29th, 191 1. appointed to his present charge as pastor of St. Charles 
Church, Dover. N. H. 

Si. Charles parish was founded by Rev. J. J. Richard. The first Mass 
was celebrated in the Lowell Hall (now Lyric Hall), November 11, 1893, 
235 people being present, besides children. On the ist of May, 1896, Father 
Richard began the construction of the present church, the contract for the 
building being $9,400.00. The total cost, with pipe organ, vestments, etc., 
was about $20,000.00. The first Mass in the present church was celebrated 
November 8, 1896. The attendance is now, besides children, 700. Beginning 
with 124 families, it has increased to 300 families. The school, built in 1901, 
opened with 212 i)upils and si.\ sisters; it has now 361 pupils, and ten sisters 
of Presentation, all being under Father Deshaies' supervision. 

E. J. YORK, an extensive dealer in lumber, grain and coal, at Dover, 
with ofiice at No. 121 Washington street, yard on Locust street and grain 
elevator on Folsom street, was born at Greenland, N. H., in 1858. His parents 
were Jeremiah and Evaline (Bennett) York. His father was a resident of 
Dover for fifty years and during his active life follow-ed farming. 

E. J. York was one of a family of five children born to his parents and is 
largely a self made man. After his school period, which included several 
terms at Franklin Academy in Dover, he went to the New Hampton Listitutc, 
and was subsequently engaged in farnnng in Strafford County until about 



812 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

1893, when he started his present business in Dover. Beginning with one 
horse and delivering his own commodities, he now has twenty-eight men on 
his payroll and keeps a number of teams in continual use. Thrift and good 
judgment have marked his undertakings and under such conditions success 
is not unusual. Mr. York is credited with being the largest dealer in his 
line in New Hampshire. 

Air. York married Miss Addie W'enell, of Dover, and they have two 
children, Grace and Charles. In politics he is a Republican. He is a thirty- 
second degree Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, and belongs 
also to the Grange. 

ROBERT A. PARRY,* who is manager of the Gonic, N. H., brick plant 
of the Boston Brick Company, and ])art in\entor of the new coal system of 
burning brick, is well known in the brick manufacturing. indu.stry, with which 
he has been identified since youth. He was born at Cambridge, ]\Iass., June 
II, 1865, and is a son of C. E. and Susan ( Porter) I'arry. 

C. E. Parr}', who \\as long connected with brick manufacturing, was a 
native of Canada. He died at Cambridge, Mass., in 1878, at the age of 49 
years. He married Susan Porter, who passed away in 1891, when aged 66 
years, the mother of fi\e sons. 

After his school days were ended, Robert A. Parry went into the brick 
manufacturing business with his father and has since continued in it. The 
Boston Brick Company has its main offices at Boston, ]Mass., with branch 
offices at Somersworth and at Gonic. The latter place is the site of the plant 
started in 1902, located one mile south of Gonic, the company purchasing 
150 acres and leasing an additional 100 acres. The product is sandstruck, 
waterstruck and Harvard brick and employment is afforded 1 10 men. The 
officers of the Boston Brick Company are : George A. Parry, treasurer ; J. O. 
Bennett, w ho is manager of the Chelsea yard ; and Richard H. and Robert 
A. Parry. The Parry Brick Company is the sales company of the Boston 
Brick Company and its officers are: G. .\., R. PI. and R. .\. Parry, Robert .\, 
being manager from Lowell to Portland. The Parry Brick Company owns 
the large part of the Boston Brick Company and manufactures all special 
shapes of brick. The Parry Brick Company sold and supplied brick for the 
Great Falls construction, nearly 4,ooo,ocx> brick being used in building that 
manufacturing plant ; the Do\er Storage plant, of Pacific Mills and the 
Laconia Car Builders' works, an"d is just completing the delivery of 4,000,000 
brick for the new freshman dormitory at Harvard College. The Boston 
Brick Company own the coal system of burning brick, which was invented 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 813 

by Robert A. Parry and J. O. Bennett, which system has proved cheaper and 
productive of better results than any former method. 

Mr. Parry was married November 13, 1889, to Miss Maria G. McGlear. 
Pohtically he is a RepuIjHcan and fraternally a Mason. No name in Imsiness 
circles is held in higher regard in New England than is that of Parry and it 
is perpetuated in the present generation by two sons of Mr. Parry, Robert E., 
who was born April 3. iSgi, and is a member of the present senior class of 
Harvard College; and John E., who was born January 28, 1894, and is em- 
ployed in the shipping office of the Boston Brick Company, at Somersworth, 
N. H. 

WILLIAM L. McEL\\'.A.IN,* who fills the responsible position of boss 
dyer for the Gonic Alanufacturing Company, of Gonic, N. H., is an experi- 
enced man in this line of mill work, having been identified with the industry 
since early manhoo<l. He was born Noxember 11, i860, at Somersworth, 
N. H., and is a son of George B. and Marian (Lee) McElwain. 

George B. McElwain was born in Ireland. His parents being Joseph and 
Charlotte (Lenox) McElwain, in the direct line of Robert Bruce of Scot- 
land and the De Vaux family of France, and was 20 years old when he 
came to the United States and located at Somersworth, N. H., where he lived 
for 23 years. For 24 years he was boss dyer of the Great Falls Woolen Com- 
pany and then mo\'ed to Gonic, here beconn'ng boss dyer of the Gonic Manu- 
facturing Company, after 20 years resigning on account of ill health and 
being succeeded by his son, William L. McElwain. He now lives retired at 
Gonic. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and is a charter member of the 
Masonic lodge at Dover. He married Marian Lee, still living, who is a 
daughter of William Lee, a nativ'e of England and a stone cutter liy trade, 
who came to America and lived first at Boston, Mass., and later at Somers- 
worth, N. H. 

William L. McElwain attended scliool at Somersworth and then spent 
18 months learning the trade of a jeweler. Opportunity then being given him 
to enter the dye house of the Great Falls Woolen Manufacturing Company, 
he spent one year there and in the Sawyer Mill, and then worked for two 
years in a mill at Gonic. Mr. McElwain was then called to North Berwick, 
Me., and for 17 years was boss dyer for the North Berwick Woolen Com- 
pany, coming from there in igo8 to succeed his father as boss dyer with the 
Gonic people. Mr. McElwain is one of the representative citizens of Gonic, 
an honorable, reputable and reliable business man. 

Mr. McElwain was married to Miss Mary A. Varney, a daughter of the 
late Philander and Laura (Ricker) Varney, of Gonic. They have two chil- 



814 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

dren : Helena \'ance and Rhona Ames, both of wliom are attending school. 
Mr. McElwain is an ad\"anced Mason, belonging to the Coniniandery and 
to Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a Republican and is serving as a member 
of the city council, representing the Third Ward. The family residence is 
on Church street. Gonic. 

XATT BROWN, head designer for the American Woolen Company at 
Sawyer Mills, Dover, has been so identified with this plant for the past 42 
years. He was born at Barrington, N. H., a son of Andrew H. and Catherine 
S. (Smith) Brown. 

Andrew H. Brown was born at Barrington, X. H., and lived in Straf- 
ford county for many years, moving to Dover about 1871. His father, John 
Brown spent the greater part of his life as a farmer near Barrington, the 
family being one of the old and stable ones of Stafford county. Andrew H. 
Brown served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, participat- 
ing in numerous battles, and after his return engaged in farming until he 
accepted a position in the Sawyer Mills, which he still fills. 

Xatt Brown was about twelve years old when his parents came to Dover 
and here he was reared and attended school and when fifteen years old became 
an employe of the Sawyer ]Mills. Here he has passed from one department 
to another and thoroughly understands every detail of inanufacturing. A 
period of 42 years is a long one to hold, in face of competition, so important 
an ofifice as head designer and the fact proves ^Ir. Brown's thorough qualifi- 
cations. In politics he is a Republican but public office has never had an 
attraction for him. He is interested in several of the leading fraternal 
organizations, including the ]\Iasons and the Improved Order of Red Men. 

Air. Brown was married first to Miss Ella M. Hussey, of Dover and 
they had three sons: Charles H.. who is assistant designer for the American 
Woolen Mills at Dover; Arthur R., superintendent of the Metcalf Bros.' 
Wanscott Mill, at Providence, R. I. ; and Leroy H., advertising agent for the 
Simplex Heating Company at Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Brown's second mar- 
riage was to Phebe J. Haley of Dover. Mr. Brown and family are mem- 
bers of the Alethodist Episcopal church. 

JOSEPH E. PEASLEE. late a well known and prominent citizen of 
Dover, N. H., was born February 25, 1842. in the famous Garrison House, 
on the Garrison road, this county, a son of Joseph T. and Elsie (Drew) 
Peaslee. His father, Joseph T., and his grandfather, XTi(-i-,olas Peaslee. 
were both natives of Dover, in which town the great grandfather, Amos, 
settled at an early date. The last mentioned was the son of Robert Peaslee, 



AND REPRESENTATI\'E CITIZENS ' 815 

of Haverhill, Mass. Amos was a prominent citizen of Dover in his day, 
residing on the farm on which our subject now lives. He was the owner 
of a large tract of land. 

Joseph T. Peaslee was a lifclnng resident of Do\er, as was also his father 
Nicholas, He was known as Captain Peaslee, which rank he held in the 
militia, and he also served one or more terms in the legislature, being elected 
as a Republican. By his wife Elsie he was the father of five children, of 
whom three are still living, namely: Joseph E., the subject of this sketch; 
Martha A., a resident of Dover, N. H., and John T., who also resides in 
this city. 

Joseph E. Peaslee was reared in Dover, acquiring his education in the 
public schools and, subsequently, in the broader school of life. He was a 
Civil war veteran, having enlisted in August, 1862, in the U. S. navy. He 
was engaged for a year in blockade duty on the coast of Florida and, sub- 
sequently receiving an honorable discharge, returned to Dover, where he 
resided until his death, November 14, 19 13. He was a member of the 
G. A. R. post here — C. W. Sawyer Post. No. 17, and belonged also to 
the Grange at Durham. In politics he was a Republican. As a public- 
spirited citizen he was widely known and respected. 

LOUIS M. RICHARDSON, one of the most competent men in the employ 
of the Gonic Manufacturing Company, at Gonic, N, H., where he is foreman 
of the weaving department and electrician, was born in the city of Rochester, 
N. H., April 18, i860, and is a son of Jeremiah D. and Mary (Hopkinson) 
Richardson. 

Jeremiah D. Richardson wa^ born in iSoq and died in 18S5. He was a son 
of Thomas Richardson and a grandson of Benjamin Richardson, the family 
being one of age and standing in New Hampshire. Jeremiah D. Richardson 
married Mary Hopkinson, who was born in 1822 and died in 1909. She was 
the eldest of a family of eleven children Iiorn to her parents, who were Moses 
and Elizabeth Hopkinson. 

Louis M. Richardson was reared and educated at Rochester and Tilton 
Seminary, graduating from that institution in the class of 1S78. He spent 
the following year in Massachusetts but on June 29, 1879, came to the East 
Rochester mill and remained at work in East Rochester until May, 1880, 
when he entered the employ of the Gonic Manufacturing Company, being 
engaged by S. C. Meader, the agent. Mr. Richardson proved a faithful work- 
man, learning the intricacies of all the machines and becoming expert in 
operating them, advancing step by step until he has reached a very respon- 
sible place in this great industrial plant. He has had entire charge, also, of 



816 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

the electrical department since the introduction of electricity, in August, 1892. 
Mr. Richardson has 84 employes, under his personal direction, and been 
employed at this factory 34 years. 

Mr. Richardson was united in marriage with Miss Lillian M. Rust April 
16, 1887, and they have had three children: Lucia ^L, a graduate of Mt. 
Holyoke College and a talented young lady, who is a teacher of mathematics 
in the public schools of Plymouth, Mass.; Jeremiah Edward, who died at 
the age of seven years; and Louisa M., who attends the Gonic school. Mr. 
Richardson is a public-spirited and earnest citizen, ever ready to lend his 
influence to advance useful public movements and to contribute to w^orthy 
charities. In his political views he is a Republican and is a prominent party 
man, serving as a member of important committees and being clerk of his 
ward organization. In Masonry he is a "Shriner" and l>elongs to the lodge, 
Chapter Council and Commandery at Rochester, being a past oflicial of the 
lodge and chapter, and present eminent commander of the cominandery. The 
family attend the Church Society of Friends. 

REV. HORMISDAS TETREAU, pastor of St. Leo's Roman Catholic 
Church at Gonic, N. H., came to his present charge October 9, 1913, from 
Nashua, N. H. He was born in the historic old town of St. Charles, Canada, 
May 15, 1876, and was early dedicated to the church. His education was 
accordingly directed along this line and for eight years he attendetl St. 
Hyacinthe College, was afterward a student for three years at Grand Semi- 
nary, Montreal, Canada, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 
1904. After spending eight months in connection with the hospital at Farn- 
ham, Canada, he became chaplain of St. Peter's Orphanage, at Manchester, 
N. H., where he remained for almost four years. 

Father Tetrean was then assigned as assistant pastor under Father Rich- 
ards of St. Charles church, at Dover, remaining there one year, and being 
then appointed assistant pastor at St. Aloysius church, at Nashua, N. H.. in 
which position he remained four years. He then came to St. Leo's at Gonic. 
This church was built in the autumn of 1891, the first resident priest being 
Father Larocque. His successors have been Fathers A. Lessard, Melancon, 
Godin and the present pastor. Father Tetrean. This is a nice little parish, 
Father Tetreau having 105 families under his spiritual care. He impresses 
a visitor as an earnest Christian man of broad sympathies, and many of the 
plans he has in \-iew will be beneficial not only to his church but also to the 
community at large. 

JOSIAH P. JENNESS, who occupies a \'ery responsible position as super- 
intendent of the American Woolen Company Sawyer Mills at Dover, has 




EEV. HORMISDAS TETREAU 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 817 

been identified with these mills almost his entire business life. He was born 
April 23, 1867, and is a son of Stephen A. and Hannah (Cook) Jenness, 
the former of whom was born at Rochester, and the latter in Somersworth, 
N. H. For many years they were residents of Do\'er. 

Josiah P. Jenness was twelve years old when his father died. He at- 
tended the public schools of Dover until old enough to become self supporting, 
when he secured a position in the Dover postoffice, under Postmaster Joshua 
Varney, where he remained for three years. He was in his twentieth year 
when he became a clerk in the Sawyer Woolen Mills at Dover and served 
in this capacity in the main office for six years, then beconfing assistant super- 
intendent under Superintendent T. M. Clark for six years. On account of 
poor health he w as out for two years. He then returned as clerical eniijloye 
for the Sawyers, and after the American Woolen Company took charge was 
made paymaster, which position he held fi\'e years, then becoming superin- 
tendent. In his political acti\ities Mr. Jenness supi)Orts men rather than 
parties, being a man of broad outlook and true appreciation of good citizen- 
ship. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Grand Lodge of 
Masons of the State of New Hampshire and is a past master of Strafford 
Lodge. He is widely known in the fraternity and not only is past district 
deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire liut is grand 
representative of the Grand Lodge of the states of Arkansas and Michigan. 

Mr. Jenness was married first to Miss Caroline M. Meserxe, a daughter 
of Samuel Meserve, of Dover. His second marriage was to Miss Mary O. 
Franklin, of Dover and one daughter survives, Pauline F. Mr. Jenness mar- 
ried for his third wife. Miss S. Maud Libljy, daughter of Frank M. Libby, 
of Do\"er, N. H., and they liaxe one daughter, 01i\e A. Mr. Jenness an"d 
fanfily are members of St. John's Methodist Ejiiscopal church at Do\er, of 
which he was treasurer for a number of years. The fanuly is well known in 
the city's pleasant social life. 

HON. JOHN KIVEL*, one of the associate justices of the superior court 
of the state of New Hampshire, and a highly esteemed resident of Dover, was 
born in the latter city April 29, 1855, a son of Patrick and Catherine Don- 
augher Kivel. Graduated from the Dover high school in 1871, he later 
attended Dartmouth college, from which institution he was graduated in 1876. 
He studied law in Dover with the late Frank Hobbs, was admitted to the bar 
in 1879, and has since practiced his profession in the difl^erent counties of the 
state with marked success. From 1887 to 1893 he ser\'ed as county solicitor 
for Strafford County and was a member of the State Board of License Com- 
missioners from March 29, 1903, to May 26, 1913, when he was appointed 
to his present position on the bench. 



818 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COL'XTY 

On October 12, 1879, he was united in marriage with Aliss Eva G. Ennis, 
a daughter of Albert Ennis. Judge Ki\el and family are members of St. 
Mary's Catholic Church and they reside at No. 40 Cushing street, Dover. He 
is a trustee in the StrafTord Savings bank and in politics is a Democrat. 

JAMES LUCEY, boss carder and foreman of the carding and picking 
department of the Gonic Manufacturing Company, at Gonic, N. H., has been 
identified with the woolen mill industry almost all his life. He was born at 
Oueenstown, County Cork, Ireland, October i, 184S, and is a son of James 
and Mary (Walsh) Lucey. Seven of their nine children were born in Ire- 
land and James was three years old when the}- came to America and secured 
a home in the city of Boston, Mass., where the elder James Lucey became a 
landscape gardener, 

James Lucey, the younger, attended school at Baladvale and also at 
Lawrence and then entered a woolen mill and subsequently was employed 
at different places in woolen mills in Massachusetts prior to entering the 
army during the Civil war. He served twenty months as a member of Com- 
pany M, Second Mass. Hea\y Artillery, and when the war was over returned 
to his former place of emiiloyment, the .South (iri:)veland Mills, at South 
Groveland, Mass. From there he came to Gonic, May 11, 1880, becoming 
boss carder, with eight men in his department and has continued in this 
position, now having 18 men under his direction and supervision. Mr. Lucey 
has shown that he not only has the technical knowledge necessary for this 
position, but that he also possesses the other qualities that are demanded 
in a satisfactory superintendent in order that the work may be expedited 
without complaint or friction. 

Mr. Lucev married Miss Hannah T. Donahue, who was born in Ireland, 
a (laughter of John and Mary (Cronan) Donahue. They have had nine 
children— John F., David J., James E., :\Iary A., Anna T., Margaret M., 
Agnes A.. Stephen D. and Celia Rose. Of the above three are deceased — 
Mary A., Stephen D. and Celia Rose. ?^Ir. Lucey and family are members of 
St. Mary's Catholic church. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to 
Division No. 2, A. O. H., of Rochester, and is pa.st commander of the G. A. R. 
Post at Rochester. The family residence is at No. 66 Church street, Gonic. 

ELISHA RHODES BROWN, third son and fourth child of Colville 
Dana and Mary Eliza (Rhodes) Brown, was born in Rrovidence. R. I., 28th 
March, 1847. The family removed to Dover, N. H., in 1850. and he has con- 
tinued to reside in this city ever since, being practically a native of the city. He 
was educated in the public schools here, and although not a college graduate 




EL18HA R. BROWN 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 821 

he is a well read and scholarly man, having a large and carefully selected 
library at his house. He began his business life, as many of his ancestors 
did, as clerk in a store; as such he served four years in the dry goods store 
of Trickey & Bickford, in Dover. On loth December, 1867, Mr. Brown 
commenced his banking career as teller in the Strafford National Bank, with 
which he has been connected continuously for nearly forty-five years. He 
served as teller eight years. January i, 1876, he was elected cashier. Ten 
years later, 12th January, 1886, he was elected one of the directors of the 
bank; June 30, 1890, he was elected vice-president; April 26, 1897, he was 
elected president, which ofifice he has held continuously to the present time 
(1914). Mr. Brown was elected one of the corporators of the Strafford Sav- 
ings Bank, 25 March, 1S76; trustee 31 March, 1883; vice-president 24 March, 
1890; president 21 October, 1891, which office he has held continuously to 
the present time. 

Mr. Brown has been a busy and efficiently hard worker in connection 
with these banks, but outside of that he has been actively identified with 
many other important enterprises. He was director in the Manchester and 
Lawrence, Dover & Winnipiseogee, West Amesbury Branch, Eastern New 
Hampshire and Portsmouth and Dover Railroads. He is now director of 
the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad and Maine Central Railroad. He was 
director of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company at the time of its sale 
to the Pacific Mills Company. In these \arious directorships he was an 
active member of the companies, and his good judgment and keen foresight 
had much influence in their successful management. His ability as a banker 
and business manager are widelv known. 

Governor Sawyer and Council appointed Mr. Brown the Commissioner 
for New Hampshire, 5 February, 1889, to attend the celebration of the 
Centennial of the Inauguration of \\'ashington as President of the United 
States. In the Constitutional Convention of this year he was a delegate 
from Ward Four in this city. 

He was an active member and president of the old Do\er Library and 
when the Dover Library was merged in the Dover Public Library he was 
made one of the trustees, which position he has held continuously to the 
present time. Franklin Academy was established here in 1818 and for 
three-quarters of a century was a flourishing institution and did good work 
in the higher education of the boys and girls of Dover. In its later years 
Mr. Brown was president of the trustees. About 1900, the school was 
closed, the building and grounds were sold and the proceeds properly 
invested. Later when the subject of having a Public Library building and 
a High School building erected was under consideration, it was largely 



822 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

tlirough his iiitlueiice and good judgment that the funds of the institution 
were investetl in tlie purchase of the Hon. WiUiam Hale estate on Locust 
street, and donated to the city for the perpetual use of the lihrary and the 
school. So the funds of the Academy continue to be used for purposes of 
education. 

;\Ir. Brown is and has been for several years, vice-president of the Xew 
Hamp.shire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in which 
ofticial position he has done much good work in Dover and vicinity, in the 
protection of dumb animals that were being cruelly treated by their owners, 
and by his vigorous enforcement of the law against them. 

]\Ir. Brown stands very high in the Masonic orders, being a memlier 
of Moses Paul Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons; Belknap Chapter of 
Royal Arch ^Lasons : Orphan Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. Paul 
Commandery, Knights Templar, all of Dover. In Scottish Rite Masonry he 
has taken all the degrees up to and including the Thirty-second degree, and 
is a member of the New Hampshire Consistory, of Nashua. His various 
other duties have not given him time to hold official positions in these 
organizations, but he has for many years been a loyal supporter of them 
all. He has also for many years been a member of \\'ecohamet Lodge of 
Independent Order of Odd Fellrjw s. 

In politics Mr. Brown is, and always has been, a Republican, having 
cast his first vote for General Grant for president in November, 18G8. He is 
still firm in the faith of the well established principles of that party. In 
religion he is a Congregationalist, havi-ng joined the First Church in Dover 
July 5, 1873; in 1885 he was elected one of the deacons of the Church; 
he still retains that office but retired from active service in 191 1. In his 
official relations Mr. Brown has rendered invalualile assistance in the man- 
agement of financial affairs of this very ancient Church, and when he retired 
from active service as deacon the Church ga\e him a highly complimentary 
and perfectly just vote of thanks, at a large meeting of the members. 

When the Wentworth Home for the Aged was established by the munifi- 
cence of Hon. Arioch \\'entworth of Boston, in 1898, Mr. Brown was elected 
one of the trustees and has held that office continuously to the present time. 
The first President of the incorporators was ]\Ir. Joseph Brown Sawyer. On 
the death of Mr. Sawyer in 1908, Mr. Brown was elected to fill the vacancy, 
and now holds the office. The Wentworth Home has a fund of o\er $.200,000 
and is one of the most prosperous and best managed institutions of the 
kind in New England. There are at present thirty members cared for at 

the Home. 

Mr. Brown was one of the founders and has always been a liberal sup- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 823 

porter and member of the official board of the Dover Children's Home, 
located in a large brick building on Locust street. In this from thirty to 
forty children are cared for, educated, and, at the proper age, placed in good 
families to be brought up to manhood and womanhood and become good 
citizens. 

Formerly the Pine Hill Cemetery was managed by a committee of the 
City Council; a change was made in the City Charter, and several years 
ago the management was placed in the control of a board of trustees and 
Mr. Brown was elected one of the members of the board, which office he 
has held continuously to the present. In this connection his duties have 
not by any means been sinecure. Under the direction of the trustees the 
cemetery has been greatly improved and much enlarged. It is now one of 
the beautiful spots of the city, and Mr. Brown as trustee has done his full 
share of the work in the planning and financing the improvements. 

Mr. Broii'n's Ancestors and Kiusiucn. — Mr. Brown inherits his character 
and business ability from worthy ancestors. His father, Colville Dana 
Brown, was born in Providence. R. I.. 4 July, 181 4. He came to Dover 
in 1850 and for a number of years was an expert calico printer in the 
Cocheco Print Works, whose products commanded the best prices in the 
country. Shortly after the Civil War began he entered the government 
service and was an official in the Commissary Department to the end of 
the war, serving faithfully and efficiently. Soon after the close of the war 
he was appointed Superintendent of the Government Grounds in Washing- 
ton, D. C, which important position he held until his death, 2 January, 
1898. 

Mr. Brown's grandfather, John Brown, was a successful merchant in 
Providence, and was son of Elisha Brown, also a successful merchant in 
that city. He was son of Deputy-Governor Elisha Brown, who was born 
in Providence in 1717 and died in that city in 1802. His wife was Mary 
Harris. He was one of the leading business men of Providence, a member 
of the Rhode Island General .Assembly a number of years and Deputy Gi^v- 
ernor 1765, 1766 and 17(17. 

James Brown, an elder l)rother of Deputy Governor Elisha Brown, is 
best remembered by his four sons, Nicholas, Joseph, John and Moses, who 
in the Providence annals are known as the "Four Brothers." A brief notice 
of each may be of interest, so is here gix-en. 

Nicholas was left an orphan at the age of ten years, and the youngest, 
Mo.ses, was but seven months old when his father died, _'7 April, 1739: 
but they had a remarkable mother, who brought the boys up to be staunch 
Baptists and keen business men. Nicholas followed mercantile pursuits and 

48 



824 HISTORY OF STR.AFFORD COUNTY 

therel)}' acquiretl a \'ery ample fortune. He was liberal with his wealth 
and a generous benefactor of Rhode Island College. 

Joseph Brown, second of the four brothers, was likewise engaged in 
business and in manufacturing and acquired sufficient wealth to permit him 
to follow his natural taste for science. He became an expert in the knowl- 
edge of electricit}-. He was also proficient in astronomy. He was a warm 
friend of Rhode Island College, of which he was one of the trustees for 
several years, and during the last two years of his life he was Professor 
of Natural Philosophy, serving without pay. 

John Brown, the third brother, was the most energetic of the four and 
became the wealthiest of them all, and it is said he was the first merchant 
in Rhode Island to carry trade to China and the East Indies. He was a 
leader in the party that destroyed the British sloop-of-war "Gaspee" in 
Narragansett Bay, on 17 June, 1772, and was sent in irons to Bost'on on 
suspicion of having been concerned in that affair, but he was released 
through the eft'orts of his brother, the Quaker member of the family. Antici- 
pating the war of the Revolution, he instructed the captains of his ships 
to freight their vessels on their return ^■oyages with powder, so when the 
war began at Lexington and Concord, and the battle of Bunker Hill had 
been fought, and Washington assembled his army at Cambridge with only 
four rounds of powder for each soldier, Mr. Brown sent up a generous 
supply of powder from Rhode Island which enabled Washington to proceed 
to business in besieging Boston. After the war he served as member of 
Congress several years. But greatest of all, ]\Ir. Brown laid the corner 
stone of the first building of Rhode Island College, now Brown University. 
He was one of the largest contributors and was for twenty years its treasurer. 

Moses Brown, the youngest brother, was brought up in the family of 
his uncle Obediah, whose daughter he married. When he was twenty-five 
years old he became engaged in business with his three brothers, but, after 
ten vears with them, withdrew and engaged in l>usiness by himself. He 
withdrew from the Baptists and became a member of the Society of Friends. 
Possessing large wealth he emulated his brother John, in the Rhode Island 
College business, and became .the founder of the Friends' Boarding School 
in Providence, and his donations in support of it were frequent and lilieral. 
In 1773, he manumitted his sla\es and was one of the founders of the 
Abolition Society of Rhode Island. 

There is one more of this family of brothers who deserves mention in 
this connection, Nicholas Brown the philanthropist, son of Nicholas, the 
eldest of the "Four Brothers." This son was born in Providence in 1769. 
He was graduated from Rhode Island College in 1786, and in 1791 the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 825 

death of his father left him with a handsome fortune. Forming a partner- 
ship with his brother-in-law, Thomas P. Ives, he became a merchant, and, 
by his wisdom and honorable dealing, made the firm of Brown & Ives one 
of the most successful in the country. For many years he was a member 
of the Rhode Island Legislature. He was one of the most munificent patrons 
of Rhode Island College, which, in 1804, changed its name to Brown Uni- 
versity in his honor. His donations to the college amounted in all to more 
than $100,000. In addition to this he gave about $50,000 to other institu- 
tions. 

Deputy Governor Elisha Brown, uncle to the "Four Brothers," was son 
of Reverend James and Mary (Harris) Brown, who was a noted Baptist 
minister of Providence. The Reverend James was son of Elder John and 
Mary (Holmes) Brown. Elder Brown was a noted minister and succeeded 
his father the Reverend Chad Brown as pastor of the First Baptist Church 
at Providence, the oldest Baptist Church in America. Chad Brown, the 
immigrant ancestor of Elisha Rhodes Brown, was an Elder in the Baptist 
Church. The dates of his birth and death have not been definitely ascer- 
tained. He died i)robably in 1665; but colonial records were largely 
destroyed during King Philip's W^ir, ten years later, and it cannot be verified. 
He came over from England in the ship "Martin" and landed at Boston 
in July, 1638. About this time occurred the "Anabaptist heresy" and many 
of the Boston colonists removed to the Providence I'lantations. It is probable 
that Mr. Brown was among these, for his tombstone, erected by the town, 
bears record that he was "exiled from Massachusetts for conscience sake." 
He probably arrived in Providence in the autumn of 1638, when Roger 
Williams and twelve others executed what is known as the "initial deed," 
assigning the land acquired by purchase from the Indians. Mr. Brown at 
once became a leader in the afi^airs of the colony, and when, after three 
months, the restless Williams finding that the Church would not implicitly 
accept his teaching, again seceded, Mr. Brown was chosen as his successor. 
He was formally ordained Elder in England in 1642, and assumed the pas- 
toral office on his return, and was in reality the first Elder of the First 
Baptist Church in America. Prior to his ordination serious dissensions had 
arisen in the colony, involving a quarrel with Massachusetts, and Mr. Brown 
was one of the comnnttee appointed to make peace. He was a peace maker 
in various other w-ays and his influence in shaping the early tendencies of 
the colony was marked, and it is probable that, but for his resolute character 
and judicious management, the daring and refractory spirits tiiat composed 
the colony would ha\e come to blows on a dozen different questions of civil 
and religious import. So successful was he in adjusting the quarrels of 



826 HISTORY OF STR.-\FFORD COUNTY 

his flock that the lionorable title of "Peacemaker" was popularly accorded 
him. 

Mary Holmes, wife of Elder John Brown, was daughter of the Rev- 
erend Obediah Holmes, who was the first pastor of the First Baptist Church 
at Xewport, R. I., and a man of great inlluence in the business affairs of 
that part of the colony. He was one of the Commissioners for the General 
Court in 1655-58 to settle ofiicial disputes and difficulties; and again in 
1676 he was Councillor for the General Assembly of the Colony in the 
troublesome Indian wars. It seems worthy to note that in thejuly (1912) 
number of the Journal of American History mention is made of the fact 
that Abraham Lincoln was a lineal descendant of Obediah Holmes, through 
the Lincoln fanuly of Alassachusetts. 

Elisha Rhodes Brown is a descendant from very distinguished ancestors 
on his mother's side. First of these may be mentioned Roger Williams, one 
of the great historical characters of Xew England, being the founder of 
the colony of Rhode Island and the pioneer of religious liberty in America. 
He was born in London, 1604; son of a merchant tailor; graduate of Pem- 
broke College, Cambridge; studied law, then studied theology, and held 
ecclesiastical positions in England. Emigrated to Xew England with his 
wife Mary, arrived in Boston in February, 163 1, and in April following 
became an assistant teacher, or minister, at Salem ; later he was assistant 
to the minister at Plymouth. In August, 1634, he became teacher, or min- 
ister, at Salem, where he had been assistant. His preaching and teaching 
were so liberal that he incurred the hostility of the authorities of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay Colony. After recei\'ing \-arious admonitions, which he did 
not heed, he was formally tried by the General Court, which decreed he 
should be banished from the domain of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 
\\'hen they were about to arrest him he made his escape into what is now 
Rhode Island. If the authorities had caught him they would ha\e slu'pped 
him back to England. So, in June, 1636, Williams with four companions 
founded the first settlement in Rhode Island, to which, in remembrance of 
"God's merciful proxidence to him in his distress" he gave the name Provi- 
dence. 

W'hen government was organized the chief corner stone, laid by Williams 
himself, was complete religious toleration, with a view to its becoming "a 
shelter for persons distressed for conscience." The result was the colony 
spee<li!y grew, many coming there from Alassachusetts. Mr. Williams had 
very decided views on religious and other matters, but was tolerant toward 
those who entertained different views. The result was that people came 
there entertaining all sorts of religious opinions, and were not slow in 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



827 



expressing tliem. Among the numbers were Anabaptists, that is, those who 
beHeved that persons who had been baptized (by sprinkling) in infancy must 
be rebaptized by immersion. So in 1639, Williams was rebaptized by one 
of those Anabaptists, and he m turn baptized others, and these formed the 
First Baptist Church in America. Nevertheless, he retained his connection 
with it only three or four months, and Chad Brown, who had been working 
with him, became tlie sole leader and pastor. 

Mr. Williams was at various times a member of the General Assembly, 
and was governor several years, and deputy governor still more. He was 
a personal friend of Cromwell and Milton and other leading Puritans in 
England. 

^ Governor Roger Williams' daughter, Mercy Williams, married Resolved 
Waterman; their daughter, W'aite W^nterman, married John Rhodes, son 
of Zachary Rhodes of Warwick, who was an extensive land proprietor and 
ofttimes a member of the General Assembly. 

John Rhodes was a distinguished lawyer and the King's attorney for 
several years. His son was noted as Major John Rhodes of Warwick, wdio 
rendered much valuable service to the colony in the Indian wars, and was 
a conspicuous citizen in official affairs otherwise, being member of the General 
Assembly. His son. Captain Charles Rhodes, born in 17 19, married Deborah 
Green in 1739. In early manhood he was a sea captain; later he became 
a noted Baptist minister. His marriage with Deborah Green connects Elisha 
Rhodes Brown with the very distinguished Green family of Rhode Island. 

Deborah Green was the great-great-grandmother of Mary Eliza Rliodes, 
Mr. Brown's mother. She was the daughter of Peter Green, born in 1682. 
who was grandson of Deputy Governor John Green of Warwick, whose 
father came from Salisbury, England, and was one of the first settlers in 
Warwick, R. I. 'Jhe Green family is one of the most noted and powerful 
families in that colony and state. It is stated that it has had a member 
in every session of the General Assembly from 1642 to 191 2. One of Debo- 
rah Green's kinsmen was General Nathaniel Green, who ranks second only 
to Washington in the Revolutionary \\'ar. The connecting families between 
Captain Charles Rhodes and iiis wife, Deborah Green, down to Mary Eliza 
Rhodes, Mr. Brown's mother, are as follows: She is daughter of Captain 
Elisha Hunt and Eliza Ann (Chace) Rhodes; he is son of Captain Tames 
Peter and Sarah (Hunt) Rhodes; who is son of Captain Peter and Hester 
(Arnold) Rhodes, and Captain Peter is son of Captain Charles and Deborah 
(Green) Rhodes. These "Captains" of the Rhodes family were all active 
and vigorous men and have good rank among the business men of Rhode 
Island, where they all resided. Hester Arnold, wife of Captain Peter Rhodes, 



828 HISTORY OF STIL'\FFORD COUNTY 

was daughter of Simon Arnold, descendant of William Arnold, born in 
Warwickshire, England. 1587. He came to Providence in 1630 and was 
associated with Roger Williams as one of the fifty-four proprietors of the 
Providence Plantations, which now constitute the state of Rhode Island. 

Mr. Brown is member of the New Hampshire Society Sons of the Ameri- 
can Revolution, also of the Society of Colonial Wars in New Hampshire, of 
which he was governor, 1900-1901. Mr. Brown's ancestors whose service 
in the Colonial period entitle him to membership are twenty in number, 
namely: The Reverend Chad Brown; Deputy Governor John Brown; the 
Reverend James Brown; Deputy Governor Elisha Brown; Colonel Richard 
Waterman; Mr. Christopher Peake; Mr. William Almey; Mr. Peter Green; 
Governor Roger Williams; Major John Rhodes; Mr. Zachariah Rhodes; 
Captain Randall Holden; Mr. William Harris; Dr. John Green; Deputy 
Governor John Green; Mr. John Rhodes; Lieut. Charles Holden; Lieut. 
Andrew Harris; Mr. Richard Tew; and the Reverend Obadiah Holmes. 

In this connection it is interesting to note that Mr. Brown's son, Harold 
Winthrop Brown, is also a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, and 
has to his credit on the records of the Society the twenty ancestors of his 
father and ten more on his mother's side, who are : Governor John Win- 
throp; Governor Thomas Dudley; Judge and Rev. Samuel Dudley; Judge 
Edward Hilton ; Judge George Smith ; Col. Sanniel Smith ; Major Joseph 
Smith; Capt. Joseph Bickford; Mr. Jeremiah Burnham and Mr. Clement 
Meserve. 

Mr. Brown has been for many years a member of the New Hampshire 
Historical Society. Also he was one of the founders of the Dover His- 
torical Society and is now one of its officers. He is specially interested in 
local and state history and has some very ^•alual)le books and manuscripts in 
regard to these matters. 

The New Hampshire Veterans' Association has made him an Iionorary 
member of that organization. Also the Society of the Cincinnati in New- 
Hampshire has made him an honorary member of that patriotic order. 

He is also a member of the following organizations : The National Con- 
servation Association; National .\udobon Society; National Geographic 
Society: the American Forestry Society; Xew England Historical and Genea- 
logical Society; the American Civic Alliance: Xew Hampshire Peace Society, 
and the Bellamy Club of Dover. 

Mr. Brown's Family — Elisha Rlindes Brown was united in marriage with 
Frances Bickford, at Dover, iS October, 1870. She is daughter of Dr. 
Alphonso and Mary Joanna (Smith) Bickford. Her fatlier was a leading 
citizen and highly successful physician of Dover for many years. He was 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 829 

Mayor of Dover during the beginning years of the Civil War, and he was 
a very vigorous and efficient magistrate in the performance of the duties of 
that office. The children of ^Ir. and Airs. Brown are: I, Alphonso Bickford, 
born 23 January, 1872. He graduated from Yale College in 1894, and from 
Harvard Medical College in 1897. He practiced his profession in Newbury- 
port until his death, 17 October, 1906. He married 3 October, 1899, Edith 
Lawrence, daughter of Mayor Huse of Newburyport, who was also Editor 
of the Newburyport News. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Lawrence 
Brown, born 6 July. 1903. The mother and daughter reside in Dover. II, 
Harold Winthrop, born 8 Xo\'ember. 1875. Graduated from Harvard Col- 
lege in 1897. tie is and has been for several years treasurer of the Straf- 
ford Savings Bank. He married, 15 June, 1899, Katherine Van Hovenberg 
of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who is a graduate of Smith College, 1896. They 
have one daughter, Margaret Von Hovenberg, born July 3, 191J. Ill and 
IV, Raymond Gould and Philip Carter, born 27 August, 1885. Both are 
graduates of Harvard College, Philip in 1906 and Raymond in 1907. The 
latter graduated from Harvard Law School in 1910; he is engaged in the 
practice of his profession in New York City. Raymond Gould married, 22 
January, 191 1, Miss Juliette W. Duxbury of Dover. Philip Carter, after 
gratluating from Harvard, took a two years' course at the Institute of Tech- 
nology, from which he graduated in 1908. He married, June i, 1909, Mar- 
guerite L. Williams, daughter of Frank B. and Mary (Locke) Williams. 
They have a daughter, Mary Phyllis, born 20 July, 1910. Mr. Brown is 
engaged in business with his father-in-law in belt manufacturing; Mr. Wil- 
liams is head of the firm of I. B. Williams & Sons, one of the largest and 
most noted belt manufacturing companies in New England. 

]\Ir. Brozvn's Hoksc — Mr. Brown resides on Silver street, one of the 
oldest in the city, north of Dover Xeck. On that street are eight houses that 
are from 150 to 200 years old, all in good state of preservation, and fine 
colonial mansions. Mr. Brown's house is not one of that number, but it 
comes close up to the century mark in age, having been built in one of the 
early years of the last century. Everything is arranged for comfort and vis- 
itors are sure to feel that way as soon as they enter the hall. One of the 
most noticeable and valuable of these furnishings is his library, which con- 
sists of about 8,000 volumes. Not having one room large enough for shelv- 
ing all his books they are nicely arranged in several rooms, so that every 
visitor who loves books will be delightfully surprised on his first steps about 
the house. The selections are of choice literature, historical works having 
the preference. Many of the sets are in beautiful and costly bindings, being 
the product of the best binderies in Boston and London. Besides making 



830 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

this large and choice collection for his house he has given to the Dover Public 
Library, of which he is a trustee, about i,ooo volumes of valuable publica- 
tions. Besides his books he has in his library a very large collection of steel 
engravings, among which are excellent reproductions of the best work of 
the grand masters in art. 

Mr. Brozvn's Camp — Mr. Brown's Camp is located on a bluff at the 
head of the Pascataqua River, which is formed by the water from Little 
Bay and Oyster River. Little Bay is connected with Great Bay at the ancient 
Furber's Ferry, which was the route of tra\el across Furber's Strait between 
Furber's Point and Adams' Point, on Mathews" (or Mathes") Neck, where 
the Adams House now is. Little Bay is separated from the Pascata(iua 
River by the strait between Fox Point and Durham Point. The water view 
from Mr. Brown's Camp (up Little Bay and down the Pascataqua) is 
very beautiful and is encircled by many historic spots. 

The camp stands very near where John Meader's garrison stood, which 
was burned by the Lidians at the time of the massacre in July, 1694. Mr. 
Meader and his family were obliged to desert the house and make their 
escape across the river to Fox Point, because he did not have sufficient 
means for making a defense against the savage enemy. It was rebuilt by 
Mr, Meader immediately after the battle and properly fortified for defense, 
and he was living there as late as 1712, and his descendants in the years 
that followed. This land was originally granted to Valentine Hill by the 
town of Dover and by him was sold to John Meader in 1660, September 20. 
Previous to that John Meader had a grant from the town of Dover, in 1656, 
down the river on the north side which included all the neck of land between 
the Pascataqua and Back River, which ever since has been called Meader's 
Neck. The cove on the west side of the neck is Meader's Cove, and that 
on the north is Royal's Cove. On this neck, the easterly point, which is 
at the mouth of Back River, is called Cedar Point, where the town lines of 
Dover, Madbury and Durham come to a point, and one can stand in three 
towns at the same time. The southerly jioint. where is the abutment of 
the old Pascataqua Bridge, is called Tickle Point, and the land north of it 
and east of Meader's Cove is where was located Franklin City, the first city 
ever organized (on paper) in New Hampshire. It was incorporated l)v 
the New Hampshire legislature in 1796. The bridge across the river there 
had been completed and opened to travel November 25, 1794. The First 
New Hampshire turnpike road to extend from there to Concord was incor- 
porated June 16, 1796, and was completed in iSoi. From the opening of 
the bridge in 1794 to the opening of the turnpike road in 1801, a period 
of seven years, it was a bustling center of business, but the opening of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 831 

the road decreased the business and the proposed city failed to develop as 
was hoped for and confidentl}' expected in tlie beginning. But for many 
years there was a large amount of travel and transportation of goods and 
produce between Portsmouth and Concord, all passing near where Mr. 
Brown's Camp is. 

Goat Island is in the middle of the Pascataqua River, in front of Mr. 
Brown's Camp and about half a mile away. The bridge was the link that 
connected it with the Durham and the Newington shore. It was over this 
bridge and island that Daniel \\'el:)ster, Jeremiah Mason, Ichabod Bartlett 
and the rest crossed the river when they came up from Portsmouth to Dover 
to attend courts in the okl court house on Tuttle Scjuare, now Bradley's 
garage. The island remained the property of the town of Dover until it 
was granted to William Pomfrett, Town Clerk for many years, 5th, 5 mo. 
1652. Before that it had been used in common by the townsmen on Dover 
Neck for pasturing their goats. It contains about three acres and afforded 
good and safe pasture ground for "ye goatetts." 

In the prosperous years of the bridge the Pascataqua Bridge Taxern 
stood on the island. This was built by the proprietors of the bridge and 
both tavern and bridge were opened for business in 1794. The bridge con- 
tinued to be used until February 18, 1853, when 600 feet of it, on the 
Newington side, was carried aw a)- Ijy ice. The ta\ern was burned to the 
ground sexeral \'cars before that. 

As Mr. Brown sits in his Camp and looks to the southeast he has in 
view Fox Point, a high bluff of land a half mile long, which lies between 
Little Bay and the Pascataqua River. It is one of the beauty spots of 
New Hampshire. It is now owned by Hon. Woodbury Langdon of Ports- 
mouth and is his country residence. It is so called in a deed of land Septem- 
ber 14, 1642, which shows it was a well established name for it then. The 
origin of the name is unknown, but it is supposed that the hunters in the 
earliest years of the settlement of Dover drove the foxes they pursued into 
this long, narrow neck and caught them, they having no chance for escape. 
It is said that the Indians long before that caught wild animals here in the 
same way. This land was the common proi>erty of the town of Dover until 
the loth of the 8 mo. 1653, when "Thirty acres of upland on Fox Poynt" 
were granted to John Bickford, Sr. Mr. Bickford and his wdfe Tem- 
perance, May 13. 1677, gave it to their daughter Mary, wife of Nicholas 
Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison resided there until his death in 1708, 
when it passed, by will, to their daughter Elizabeth, wife of Col. John Down- 
ing, and the Downings lived there several generations, until about 1840. 

John Bickford, Sr., is Mrs. Brown's immigrant ancestor. It was to the 



832 HISTORY OF STIL\FFORD COUNTY 

home of Nicholas Harrison and his wife, Mary Bickford, that the Meaders 
and Bickfords and Edgerly and others fled when they escaped from the 
awful Indian massacre at Oyster River in July, 1694, not having suitable 
protection at home. As one sits in Mr. Brown's Camp it is not ditiicult 
to call up a picture of the women and children being rowed across to Fox 
Point, in the common boats of the period, as the war whoops of the savages 
were heard and the flames of the burning garrisons along the river were 
seen behind them. 

There was the home of Col. John Downing, who for twenty years was 
one of Governor Benning ^^'entw•orth's Councillors, a man of remarkable 
ability and of great influence in the province. One of his intimate friends 
and co-laborers was Councillor Joseph Smith of Oyster River, a kinsman 
of Mrs. Brown, on her mother's side. It was a descendant of Col. Down- 
ing, Mr. Samuel Downing, who died in 1864, who was the last survivor 
of the soldiers of the Revolutionary Army. Councillors Downing and 
Smith were guests at the historic wedding at the W'entworth Mansion, Little 
Harbor, when Governor \\'entworth and Martha Ililton were united in 
marriage by the Reverend Arthur Brown, the scene of which is so beautifully 
described by Longfellow in his poem. "Lady Wentworth." 

Mr. Brown's camp is near the mouth of Oyster River, on the south side 
of which is Durham Point, between which and Fox Point is the Narrows 
that connects Little Bay with Pascataqua River. On Durham Point were 
the Bickford garrison and the Edgerly garrison ; the latter was captured 
and burned by the Indians in July, 1694, while Judge Edgerly and his 
family escaped in boats across to Fox Point. Captain Thomas Bickford, 
howe\'er, defended his garrison successfully in a very unique manner. As 
soon as the Captain was aroused from his slumbers by the alarm guns at 
the upper garrisons, which told him the Indians were at hand, he hustled 
his wife and children into boats and sent them across to Fox Point. He 
closed fast the big door of the palisade and then awaited the approach of 
the enemy. When they arrived and began firing gvms at his house he in 
turn fired rapidly as possible at them, and kept up a great shouting of mili- 
tary orders, as if he had a company of men; and from time to time he 
showed himself to the enemy in a fresh guise, cap and unifonn. In this 
way Captain Bickford deceived them so effectually that they thought his 
garrison was well manned with soldiers, and so gave up the attempt to 
reduce it. Captain Bickford was a kinsman of Mrs. Brown. 

The Davis garrison stood near Oyster River, a short distance above Mr. 
Brown's Camp. It was there that Lieut. James Davis successfully defended 
it against the attack of the Indians in 1694. It was there that his son. Col. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 833 

James Davis, resided, wlio in liis day was one of the leading men of Dover 
and the Province. 

Tile Smith garrison was a sliort distance above tlie Davis garrison and 
in sight of it. Tiiis garrison was Imilt by Joseph Smith, who on the 31st, 
7 mo. 1660, had a grant of land there, which has remained in the posses- 
sion of the Smith family continnously to the present day, a period of 2^,2 
years, the present owner being Mr. Forest S. Smith. Mr. Smith built his 
house there and soon bought more land from the William Williams estate, 
north of his grant, from the town of Dover. About fifteen years later he 
converted his house into a garrison, as the Indians were beginning to be 
troublesome. It so remained until I7_'5, when the Indian wars hereabouts 
ceased. When the Indians made the attack in 1694 Captain Smith was 
ready for them, having been aroused by the reports of the guns fired up- 
river. The Indians made a furious attack, but were repulsed at all sides. 
So not only the Smith family, but also several others who had lied tliere 
for protection, were saved. Near where the garrison stood is the Smith 
fainily burying ground, in which can be seen sets of grave stones the like 
of wdiich cannot be duplicated in New Hampshire. There are interred the 
remains of seven generations who in succession had been proprietors of 
the Joseph Smith farm, beginning in 1660. AH were conspicuous citizens 
and business men of the town. Mrs. John Brow^n's mother is a lineal descend- 
ant from Joseph Smitli. 

To the east of the camp can be seen the site of the old meeting house on 
Dover Neck, where was the beginning of Dover histoiy. That was Dover, 
when the present center of the city was simply "Cochecho" in Dover. The 
meeting house that stood there was the center of business for nearly a century. 
Several years ago Mr. Brown and the late Governor Sawyer purchased four 
acres there, which includes the site, and presented it to the First Church. 
A few years ago Margery Sullivan Chapter, D. A. R., \-ery generously had 
a splendid bank wall built along the east side, next to the road, on which 
they placed a bronze tablet with appropriate inscription ; they also had iron 
rails around the site on which the meeting house stood. 

CHARLES \V. LEAVITT*. a veteran of the great Civil war, residing 
at 34 Prospect street, Dover, N. H., came to this city in 1905. He was born 
in Gilford, Belknap county, N. H., Feb. 3, 1840, a son of Taylor and Maria 
(Roberts) Leavitt. Both his parents were natives of New Hampshire, the 
father born in StrafYord, of which place his father, Samuel Leavitt, was a 
resident for a number of years. When about three years old Taylor Leavitt 
removed from Strafiford, N. H. to Gilford, Belknap county, with his parents, 



834 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

and there he was reared and there iHed in his 83d year. His father, Samuel, 
passed away in i860. 

Charles \V. Leavitt, our direct subject, was reared in Gilford, acquiring 
his education in the public schools, and residing on his father's farm, on 
which at an early age he began to make himself useful. On August 9, 
1862, he enlisted in Company G, 12th X. H. Volunteer Infantry, and soon 
found himself a soldier in the Army of the Potomac. With that army he 
took part in some of its most desperate battles, including Drury's Bluff, Ber- 
muda Hundred, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and numerous other actions more 
or less bloody. Being severely wounded in the neck at Cold Harbor, he spent 
several months subsequently in various hospitals, on his partial recovery 
being assigned to duty with a wagon train. \\'ith his regiment he entered 
Richmond after its e\'acuation by the Confederates. He received an honor- 
able discharge in July. 18(15 '''^'' liien, returning to his native town of 
Gilford, he engaged there in farming, an occupation in which he continued 
for many years. He then moved to Laconia, N. H., remaining there four 
years and thence going to Somersworth. this county, but not long after, 
he came in 1905, as above stated, to Dover, which place has since been his 
home. He was formerly a member oi the Lakeport, X. H. post of the 
G. A. R. In politics he is a Democrat and he is widely recognized as a 
progressive, up to date citizen, taking an interest in everything calcidated 
to benefit the community in which he resides. 

Mr. Leavitt has been three times married, first to Martha Dolloff, of 
Laconia, X'. H., who bore him two children — Myrtle E., now the wife of 
Levi Wright of Laconia; and Florence A., the widow of Frank Cheney and 
a resident of Lakeport, X. H. Mr. Leaxitt's second wife was Mary Lamp- 
rey, a native of Alton, X. H. He married thirdly Mrs. Eliza Lilley, widow 
of Joseph Lilley, a former well known resident of Lakeport, N. H. She is a 
daughter of George H. Spencer, a native of England, where she also was 
born. Her father was formerly a well known and respected resident of 
Lakeport. Mrs. Leavitt is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and she and her husband are popular members of Dover society. 

CHARLES H. EASTMAN, one of the well known residents of Gonic, 
who, for the past five years has been a special police officer here from the 
Third Ward, was born at Kearsarge, X^. H., July 26, 1852, and is a son of 
Abiathar and Louisa (Holt) Eastman, both now deceased. In the schools 
of his native place Mr. Eastman received educational training and from 
Kearsarge, in 1893, he moved to Rochester, N. H., having already learned 
the carpenter's trade, which he followed at Rochester until 1905, when he 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 835 

came to Gonic. While a resident of Rochester he worked for ahiiost aU ihe 
contractors at one time or another and there are few streets in tliat jilace on 
which he has not helped in the building of some structure. As Rochester, 
is somewhat noted for its attractive appearance, Mr. Eastman may be justi- 
fiably proud of his creditable work there. Three years after coming to 
Gonic he was appointed to bis present office, the duties of which he has 
faithfully performed ever since. He resides at Xo. -j Main street, Gonic. 
Mr. Eastman married Miss Margaret Lynch, who was born at Rochester, 
and is a daughter of Patrick and Winifred Lynch. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 

LESLIE PERKINS SNOW, law.yer and president of the Rochester 
National Bank, of Rochester, N. PI., was born in Snowville, Carroll County, 
N. H., October 19, 1862. He is a son of Anson Edwin and a grandson of 
Joseph Snow, the latter of whom married Sally Atlinson. Anson E. Snow, 
father of our subject, was born at Snowville, N. H., October 15, 1836. He 
was educated in the schools of Eaton, in which town Snowville is situated, 
and for some time remained at home, taking care of his parents in their 
old age. The ancestral estate finally came into his possession, and in 1856, 
in company with his brother, he opened a general store at Snowville. Three 
years later he bought out his brother and subsequently carried on the busi- 
ness alone. In 1866 he built a com])ination saw and grist mill. Erom 1873 
to 1S78 he was a member of the firm of Snow & Brooks, cattle dealers, their 
operations extending throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Erom 1856 
he was also continuously engaged in the lumber business, carrying on whole- 
sale manufacturing, together with a saw mill and store, and gradually adding 
to liis possessions. He carried on his lumber operations on .scientific prin- 
ciples, cutting only the -large timber and letting the small stand. A man 
of sound business judgment, large executive ability and unquestioned integ- 
rity, be was highly successful. He also took a prominent and useful part in 
local affairs. As a Democrat he served his party on the State committee, 
was a leader in promoting pulilic improvements, such as the nio\ement for a 
highway from Eaton to Brownfield. Me. and to Conway. N. H. ; served as 
justice of the peace, and was legal ad\ isor of his fellow townsmen on various 
matters of importance. As moderator he presided at town meetings for many 
years. He was selectman of the town of Eaton in 1864-66 and from 1878 
to 1882, 1887 to 1889 and in 1900, presiding as chairman of the board, 
except during the first year. From 1895 to 1897 he was on the board of 
education; in 1S73 he was town clerk, town treasurer in 1877; postmaster 
of Snow\ille in 1894; county commissioner for 1875-1876; auditor from 



836 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

1881 to 1886; and again county commissioner from 1881 to 1S91. Elected 
representative to the State legislature, he served during the sessions of 
1 867- 1 868, 1 881 -1 882- 1 883- 1 884 and 1899- 1900, being a member during a 
part of this time of the Railroad and Judiciary committees. He was a 
State senator in 1891-1892, and in 1894 was appointed a member of the 
State Board of Equalization, serving thereon until his death at which time 
he was the oldest member in point of service. In these various and respon- 
sible positions he showed more than ordinary ability and ever with a due 
regard for the public interest, by which he earned the gratitude and esteem 
of his fellow citizens. Religiously he was a consistent member of Mt. Chris- 
tian Baptist Church. He also belonged to the Odd Fellows' lodge at 
Snowville. 

Anson E. Snow was married, October 14, 1857. to Helen AI. Perkins, of 
which union there were six children — Xellie H., Isabella, Leslie P. (subject of 
this sketch), Bertha C, Helen AI. and Xellie. In 1902 he married for his 
second wife, Martha Jane Harmon. 

Leslie Perkins Snow in his youth attended Fryburg and Bridgton acad- 
emies, graduating from Bridgton in the class of 1881. He then spent a 
year engaged in business in Sno\\\ille, after which, in 1882. he entered Dart- 
mouth College, graduating B. A. in the class of 1886. During his college 
life he was a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity and in 1886 served as 
its president. During his vacation he was associated in business with his 
father, and from 1887 he presided o\er town meetings for a number of years. 
In 1S87-1888 he represented the town of Eaton in the legislature. Appointed 
special pension examiner for the U. S. Government, he served in that capacity 
frum 1887 to 1890, spending two years in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado 
and one year in Washington, D. C. In 1S87 also he began the study of law 
and was graduated from the Columbia Law School (now George Wasliington 
University) in the class of 1800, taking first prize for the best legal essay. 
He was admittetl to the Alar^land bar in June. 1890, and llien returning to 
Snowville was engaged in the lumber industry there for one year. Being 
admitted to the New Hampshire bar in August, 1891, he opened a law office 
in Rochester, but almost immediately became a member of the law firm of 
Worcester, Gafney & Snow, the other members of the firm l)eing Joseph H. 
Worcester and Charles B. (jafney. This firm had already built up a large 
practice. After the death of Judge Gafney in 1898 the lousiness was con- 
tinued under the old style until 1900, when Mr. Worcester died and Air. 
Snow has since continued it alone, conducting a successful practice. Since 
1881 his name has been associated with that of his father in the firm of A. E. 
Snow & Son, in the general store, mill and lumber business. 



AND REPRESENTATIXE CITIZENS 837 

Mr. Snow is a trustee of the Gafney Home for the Aged, of which lie 
was the chief proniotor, and lie is also trustee for several large estates. He 
served on the school board of Rochester from 1899 to 1904 and has been 
warden of the Congregational church since 1903. In January, 1S99 he became 
a director of the Rochester National Bank, being elected its president February 
25, 190J. He has built three houses in Rochester, including his fine residence 
on North Main street. Mr. Snow is a Mason of high degree, belonging to 
Humane Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Temple Chapter, R. A. M. ; Orient Council, 
R. & S. M.; Palestine Commandery K. T., of Rochester, N. H., and Bektash 
Temple, M. S., of Concord, N. H. He also belongs to Trinity Lodge, 
L O. O. F., of Snowville. 

He was first married, November 28, 1888, to Susan E. Currier, of Haver- 
hill, N. H., of which union there were two children born — Conrad Edwin, 
August 6, 1889, and Leslie Whitmore, December 9, 1890. Mrs. Snow was 
a daughter of Franklin Pettingil and Missouri (Whitmore) Currier, her 
father born July 12, 1830 and her mother, February 3, 1839. She is a descend- 
ant on the paternal side from Richard Currier, of South Hampton, Mass. and 
Hezekiah Foster, of Salisbury, N. H., both Revolutionary soldiers. Mrs. 
Susan E. Snow died June 6, 1892, and in June, 1894, Mr. Snow married for 
his second wife her sister. Norma C. Currier. He and his wife are prominent 
members of Rochester society. 

JAMES F. TEAGUE, who occupies an extremely important position as 
foreman in the wool room and as boss wool sorter of the scourine and 
drying department of the Gonic Manufacturing Comiiany, at Gonic, was born 
January 9, 1862, at Rochester, N. H.. and is a son of James and Hannah 
( McMeniman ) Teague. 

James Teague and wife were both born in the north of Ireland. For 
many years he was foreiuan and boss finisher in the Rochester Mill. He died 
at his home in Rochester at the age of 05 years, having survived his wife 
about 25 years. Her burial was at Lowell, Mass., and his was in the ceme- 
tery at Rochester. They were members of the Catholic church. Eight chil- 
dren were born to them, five of whom are living, two sons and three daugh- 
ters. The grandfather, Lanty Teague, spent his life in the north of Ireland. 
James Teague, in younger days was a member of the Ancient Order of Hiber- 
nians. Patrick Teague, a brother of James Teague, gave two of his 15 
children, to serve in the Ci\-il war in the I'nited States. Thev survived and 
later died at Rochester, N. H. 

James F. Teague was reared and attended school in his nati\e place and 
then went to work in the wool room in the Rochester Mills. In 1881 he 



838 HISTORY OF STR.'\FFORD COUNTY 

came to Gonic and became a wool sorter for the Gonic Manufacturing Com- 
pany and for the past 25 years has been foreman. This class of work re- 
(juires great care and the supervision must be based on expert knowledge. 

Air. Teague married Mar}- (Blackmar) Clark, a daughter of Charles E. 
Blackmar, who formerly was station agent on the B. & M. Railroad at Gonic. 
Mrs. Teague had three brothers; Charles E.. her father, was a soldier in the 
Civil war. Mr. and Airs. Teague have three children; Charles M., who is 
assistant station agent for the B. & M. Railroad at Gonic; Julia Lucile. who is 
in her third year at the Rochester High school ; and Neal P., who is in the 
se\enth grade in the public school at Gonic. The family resides on Church 
street, Gonic. \Miile a good citizen, ever ready to do his part in promoting" 
the general welfare. Mr. Teague has never been willing to accept public office. 
He votes with the Republican party. The family are members of the Friend's 
church. 

CHAREES E. BURNHAAI,* a representative business man of Dover, a 
member of the well known finn of Herrett and Burnham, dealers in coal and 
wood at No. 19 Cocheco street, for many years has also been foremost in 
public affairs in this city. He was born at Portland, Me., and is a son of 
Benjamin and Mary A. (Foster) Burnham. 

Benjamin Burnham was born also at Portland, Me., where the family 
has been settled for generations. Practically his whole life was spent there 
and for a number of years before his death he occupied a confidential posi- 
tion on the city's police force. He married Mary A. Foster, who is now 
in her 88th year, residing with her son at Dover. 

Charles E. Burnham passed his school period in Portland and in his 
native city learned the trade of carriage builder. Before he reached his 
majority he came to Dover. Shortly afterward he was made foreman of 
the carriage works of J. H. Randlett and for 2~ years he was foreman and 
general superintendent of the same. On two different occasions, subse- 
quently, he served as superintendent of the city gas plant which is now owned 
by the Twin State Gas and Electric Light Company. For some years he 
has been engaged in his present business under the firm style of Herrett and 
Burnham. a firm that bears a reputation for business integrity. 

Mr. Burnham married Miss Ellen A. Vickery, a daughter of Gilman 
Vickery. of Do\er. a well known citizen, who, at one time served as city 
marshal. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham have had two children: Arthur G., and 
Eva, who is now deceased. In political attachment Mr. Burnham has always 
been a Republican and as a trustworthy citizen has frequently been elected 
to public office, serving two terms at councilman of the city of Dover, rep- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 839 

resenting the Third Ward and from the same ward serving two terms as 
alderman. He was a memlier of the bnilding committee when the present 
liandsome city hall was erected, and. it may be added, that he was the youngest 
member of this very efficient body. Fraternally he belongs to Mount Pleas- 
ant Lodge, Odd Fellows, and socially to the Bellamy Club. :\Ir. Burnham 
and wife attend the Unitarian church. 

H.\RrJY H. MEADER, who is assistant superintendent of the Conic 
Manufacturing Company, at Gonic. N. H., is also a practical, modern farmer, 
owning 250 acres of land in Ward 3, town of Rochester. He was born on a 
farm in Rochester, May i, 1883, and is a son of John E. and Clara E. Header, 
the former of whom is deceased. 

Harry H. Meader was educated in the public schools, in the Moses Brown 
School at Providence, R. I., and in a business college, after which he came 
to the Gonic Manufacturing Company, starting at the bottom and perse\'er- 
ingly working his way upward through all departments until, in 1908, he 
was made assistant superintendent, with much heavier fidelity and as a 
business man has shown keen perception and good judgment. 

Mr. Meader was united in marriage with Miss Grace M. McDuffee, a 
daughter of J. A. and Carrie McDuft'ee. and they have three children- 
Faith, John McDuffee and Richard Levi. Their home is an attractive resi- 
dence at No. 52 Church street, and they are members of the Friends' church. 
In his political affiliation Mr. Meader has always been a Republican. He is 
identified prominently with Masonry and is a Knight Templar and Shriner. 

MRS. DIANTHIA J. FULLER, a highly respected and venerable resi- 
dent of Dover, N. H., where she has lived since 1836, was born in Denmark, 
Me., February 9, 1826. Her parents were James K. and Xancy (Corson) 
Jordan, the father a native of Denmark. Me., and the mother of Lebanon, Me., 
the Jordans and Corsons being old fannlies in the places above named respect- 
ively. Her maternal grandfather, Daniel Corson, was a well known and re- 
spected resident of Lebanon. The father of Mrs. Fuller, James K. Jordan, 
met his death by accident — by drowning, it is said, in the Saco river, and 
his widow, with her two daughters, residing in Denmark, Me. until the sub- 
ject of this sketch was about ten years old, or in 1836, when they came to 
Dover. Here Mrs. Fuller was reared and educated, attending the public 
schools. On July 7, 1851, she was united in marriage with Solomon H. Ful- 
ler, who was born in New Hampshire October 28, 1823, and reared in his 
native state. For several years Mr. Fuller was engaged in the hardware 

and stove business in Dover, his store being located in the Cocheco block, off 
49 



840 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

Central square. It was a partnership concern, his partner being Horace Little- 
field, and the style of the firm, Littlefield, Fuller & Co. Mr. Fuller died August 
19, 1878. He was a member and deacon of the Central Avenue Baptist church 
and was a man who enjo3'ed the good will and confidence of his fellow 
townsmen. In politics he was a Republican. JMr. and Mrs. Fuller had three 
children — Charles H., Frank H., both of whom are now deceased, and one 
that died in infancy. Mrs. Fuller's mother died September 20, 1872. The 
other daughter (sister of Mrs. Fuller) Aurelia, married William H. Seavey, 
of Dover, N. H., and she also is now deceased, passing away in February, 
1909. Mrs. Fuller is a member of the Central Avenue Baptist church, to 
which her husband belonged. For years she took an active part in church 
work, taking an interest in every worthy cause and helping the same both 
with her means and through her personal efforts. In proportion to her means 
she has extended a generous hand to charitable enterprises and has done what 
lay in her power to advance the social and moral condition of the community 
and extend the cause of religion. She is a charter member of the W^oman's 
Christian Temperance Union affiliated with the church to which she belongs. 
Though well advanced in years, Mrs. Fuller is a lady of keen intelligence and 
amiable christian character. Nearly all the friends of her youth, like the 
members of her own household, have passed away, but she keeps a cheerful 
spirit, and on her journey through life has made many new ones who are 
not lacking in appreciation of her many sterling (jualities. 

JOSEPH H. CHEETHAM,* a resident of Berwick, .Me., who holds 
the position of overseer of Mill No. 3, of the Great Falls Manufacturing 
Company at Somersworth, N. H., came here and took charge of his present 
department in June, 1912. He was born in Lewiston, Me., January 24, 1867. 
a son of Joseph and Jane (Cooper) Cheetham. His parents, who were 
natives of Lancashire, England, are both now deceased. They came to America 
early in the fifties, making the voyage in a sailing vessel from Liverpool and 
on arriving here settled in Fall River, Mass. After a residence there of 
several years they went to Lewiston, Me., where they li\'ed for many years. 
Then they resided for a short time in New Brunswick, after which they re- 
turned to Lewiston, where they died. The father, Joseph Cheetham, was a 
spinner by trade and for many years was overseer of the spinning department 
of mills in various places. 

Joseph H. Cheetham was reared and attended school in Lewiston until 
reaching the age of sixteen years, when he accompanied his parents to Mill- 
town, N. B. There he became an employe of the St. Croix Mill, remaining 
four years, for most of the time in the spinning department. He afterwards 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 841 

worked in different mills in various parts of New England and New Llruns- 
wick, accepting his present position, as above stated in June, 1912. He was 
married in Dover, May 26, 1893, to Elizabeth Moore, a native of Schenectady, 
N. Y., and daughter of Robert and Amy Moore, both her parents being natives 
of England. Her mother is now deceased, her father being a resident of 
Methuen, ]\Iass. and now in his 74th year. During his active period he was 
employed more or less in various capacities in woolen mills. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cheetham are the parents of two children — J. Albert and John R. Mr. Cheet- 
hem is a member of Victoria Lodge, No. 26, A. F. & A. M. at Milltown, N. 
B. and he and his wife affiliate with the Congregational church. In politics 
he is a Republican. 

EDMUND B. LANE, now living retired at No. 189 Central Avenue, 
Dover, N. H., was formerly engaged in the book and stationery business 
here for many years. He was born in Dover a son of Edmund J. and Eliza- 
beth (Barker) Lane, both his parents being natives of Stratham. N. H. His 
paternal grandfather was Jabez Lane, for many years a resident of Stratham. 

Edmund J. Lane, father of our subject, was engaged for o\'er half a 
century in the book, stationery and wall paper business in Dover, carrying it 
on until his death in 1884. He was a very prominent citizen, serving in 1864 
and 1865 as alderman and was city treasurer of Dover for nine years. He 
also represented his ward or district in the state legislature in 1853 and 
1856 and for years served on the local school board. In politics he was a 
Republican. He was a deacon in the First Parish Congregational Church 
for 45 years and one of the wardens of the parish for 16 years. From 1871 
up to the time of his death he was a trustee of the Strafford Savings Bank, of 
Dover. He was a man who took a keen interest in the moral and material 
development of the city and few of its citizens were more highly respected 
and esteemed. Of his children there are now two survivors — Edmund B., 
whose name appears at the head of this sketch ; and Abby F., who is a resident 
of Dover. 

Edmund B. Lane was reared and educated in this city, attending the 
public schools and the former Franklin Academy. In 1870 he became a part- 
ner with his father in the latter's business, the style of the firm being E. J. 
Lane & Co. Subsequent to his father's death Mr. Lane carried on the busi- 
ness alone for fifteen years. He is a Republican in politics and, like his 
father, is a man who has at heart the best interests of the community. 

IRA A. RANDALL,* who is one of the representative business men of 
Dover, who is interested in dealing in real estate and who profitably carries 



842 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

on general farming on his 40 acre tract of carefnily cultivated land, situated 
in the town of Dover, was born March 18, 1859, at Lee, N. H., the old family 
place of residence. There his grandfather Randall settled at an early day 
and there his father, Richard Randall spent his entire life. His mother, Betsy 
(Freeman) Randall, was born at Barrington, X. H. Richard Randall was a 
soldier in the Civil \\'ar and possibly died early from the hardships ex- 
perienced during his military career, passing away when his son, Ira A., 
w as but a youth. One other son survives, John A. Randall, who is a resident 
of Aladbury, X. H. 

Ira Austin Randall was reared at Lee, N. H., and attended school there 
and at Durham. He came to Do\er in early manhood and for many years 
afterward followed teaming, later turning his attention to general farming 
and real estate handling. He is one of the well known men of Strafford 
county and is held in general esteem. 

Mr. Randall was married March 13, 1880, to Miss Martha J. James, of 
Madbury. X'. H.. a daughtr of Andrew D. and Lillis (Bunker) James, both 
of whom were born in Strafford county. ]Mr. and J^Irs. Randall ha\e one 
daughter, who is the wife of Amos E. Ball, of Manchester, X. H., and they 
ha\e two children, Fred H. and Helen D. Mrs. Randall is a member of 
the Christian Science church at Dover. In politics Mr. Randall is a Repub- 
lican. He has never consented to accept public office but is an earnest, intel- 
ligent citizen ever ready to take part in any concerted eff'ort for public 
improvements or general progressive movement in his community that prom- 
ises to be of benefit to the majority. 

WALTER S. MEADER, brother of Stephen C. Meader, and paymaster 
for the Gonic Manufacturing Company, was born March 11. 1857, at Roches- 
ter, N. H. He was educated at the Moses Brown school. Providence, R. I., 
and at Brown University, taking the degree of A. B. in 1880 and that of 
A. M. in 1883. He taught higher mathematics in the Moses Brown school 
from 1880 to 1905, and from the latter date to 1910 was engaged in the 
lumber business in New Hampshire. Since 1910 he has been paymaster for 
the Gonic iManufacturing Company. l'"or the past se\en years he has been a 
member of the Rochester School Board ; he was a member df the Constitutional 
Convention in 19 12, and has been clerk of the Xew England Yearly Meeting 
of Friends for the last six years. In 1890 he married Lucy J. Hawkes, 
a daughter of I. Warren Hawkes, of Manchester, Me. .she being a direct 
descendant of John .\lden and Miles Standish. Their children are Stephen 
W.. Margaret S., Helen H., W. S.. Jr.. and Elizabeth .\lden. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 843 

ROYAL M. EDGERLY, who is the leading undertaker and funeral 
director at Rochester, with otfice and residence at Xo. 86 Soutli Main street, 
has lived here all his life, this residence Iieing the one in which he was horn, 
in 1858. His parents were James H. and Emeline (Roberts) Edgerly. 
James H. Edgerly was born in Farmington, Strafford county, N. H., and with 
the exception of one year of his life, passed all of it in Strafford county. 
He was one of the earliest undertak'ers at Rochester and continued in the 
business from 1835 until his death in 1893. He married Emeline Roberts and 
they had six children, R. M. being the last born and the successor of his 
father in the business. 

After his school days were o\er, R. ]\I. Edgerly gave his father assistance 
and thus learned the practical details of his occupation. He owns his own 
equipment and is ready at all times to respond with efficient service when 
called upon. 

Mr. Edgerly was united in marriage with Miss Ella Frances Tebbetts 
and they have had four children: Edith, who lived but 15 years; Mrs. 
Edna Labonte, and Winnifred M. and James Hervey. In politics Mr. Edgerly 
gives his support to the principles of the Republican party. For many years 
he has been identified with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Elks. 

ARCHIBALD B. PATOX. who is one of the thoroughly experienced 
worsted men of the cnuntry. lias lieen identified with manufacturing industries 
throughout his business life and is now agent at Sawyers' Mills, Dover, owned 
by the American Woolen Company of Boston, ^lass. iNfr. Paton came to 
Do\-er in 1907. He was born at Tillicoultry. Scotland, a son of George R. 
and Anne ( Brciwning) Paton, natives of Scotland. 

When se\-en years old the parents of Archibald B. Paton left Scotland 
with their children and sailed for Canada, settling at Sherbrooke. in the 
l)ro\'ince of Ouel)ec, and there the youth attended school and also at Montreal. 
When 16 vears of age he entered the mills of the Paton Manufacturing 
Company at Sherbrooke, which were under the management of his uncle, 
Andrew Paton, who had foundeil and name<l them in i8C)8. Within four 
years Archiltald B. Paton had liecome chief designer for these mills and 
filled the position for two years. He then went to Peacedale, R. I., where 
he became head designer for the Peacedale Manufacturing Company and 
remained as such for four years, going then to \\'ebster. Mass.. where, for 
three years he was employed as superintendent of the John Chase & Sons 
Mills. In the fall of 1888 he came to Dover to introduce the worsted process 
in the Sawyer Mills and was head designer for two years, going then to Ware, 
Mass., where he accepted the general superintendency of all the plants of the 



844 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

George H. Gilbert Manufacturing Company at Ware and at Gilbertville, 
Mass. For 15 years Mr. Paton retained that important position, becom- 
ing a director of the company. In 1905 he organized and became treasurer 
and general manager of the A. B. Paton Manufacturing Company at 
Straiiford Springs, Conn. He sold those mills and in 1907 became agent 
for the Sawyer Mills at Dover. He is a director of the Strafford National 
Bank at Dover, his name adding strength to the institution. 

Mr. Paton was married at Webster, ^lass., to Miss Agnes I. Munson, 
and they have had two children: George H.. who is deceased; and Alice K. 
Mr. Paton and family attend the Congregational church. In politics he is a 
Republican. He belongs to the Bellamy Club and the Middlebrook Golf 
Club, and is president of the District Nursing Association of Dover. He 
has led a very active life. 

EUGENE COSSETTE, proprietor of the largest general store at Gonic, 
located on Main street, his residence being in the same building, has been 
connected with the mercantile business here either as clerk or owner, for 
28 years. He was born October 6, 1857. in Canada, and is a son of Pierre 
and Clophes Bowdoen Cossette and obtained his schooling in his native 
country. 

In 1878 Mr. Cossette came to Gonic and at first was variously employed. 
He then became a clerk for the well known merchant, Mr. Yetten. now 
deceased, with whom he remained for 15 years. In 1900 he embarked in 
business on his own account and has prospered. He carries a large stock 
that includes dry goods, shoes and meats and in addition to looking after his 
customers himself, requires the assistance of his son and another clerk. He 
has a w'ide acquaintance and in his long period of mercantile experience 
has won the respect and confidence of the people. 

Mr. Cossette married Miss Vellere Richer, who was born in Canada, and 
they have had nine children, the three survivors being Ludger, Eddie and 
Rolland. Mr. Cossette and family are members of the Catholic church, 
belonging to St. Leo's congregation at Gonic. He casts his vote with 
the Republican party and performs every duty as a good citizen, being one 
of Stratlord county's valued men. 

JOHN L. KIMB.\LL, one of Dover's well known and prominent citi- 
zens, formerly actixcly engaged as a lumber operator and manufacturer. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 845 

residing at No. 25 Higiiland street, was born in Bethel, Me., September 5, 
1848, a son of Zedediah T. and Mary A. (Mason) Kimball. Both parents 
were natives of Bethel, Me., where the father resided most of his life engaged 
in agriculture. He was a prominent man in the community and represented 
Bethel for two terms in the legislature. He died several years ago, when 
in his Q6th vear, a fact which speaks well for the sounilness of the stock 
from which he sijrung. The Kimballs arc an old and highly respected family 
in Bethel, where they ha\e been established for a numlier of generations. 

John L. Kimball was reared in Bethel until reaching the age of 17 years. 
He then struck out for himself, coming to Dover, N. H., of which place he 
has since been a resident. His early education was received in the public 
schools of Bethel, and he later attended the then Franklin Academy of Dover, 
his subsequent education having been received in the larger school of life. 
After arriving in Do\er he became clerk in a grocery store and continued 
in that business a number of years, being employed successively in different 
grocery stores. In 1S72 he engaged in business for himself, with Henry 
Danforth as partner, under the firm name of Danforth & Kimball. After a 
short time Mr. Danforth withdrew from the firm on account of ill health and 
was succeeded bv John E. Sanders, the firm becoming Kimball & Sanders. 
After conducting business a short time under this style, Mr. Sanders sold 
out his interest to George P. Demerritt, the firm name being accordingly 
changed to Kimball & Demerritt. Later Mr. Kimliall bought out his partner's 
interest, becoming sole proprietor of the business, the store being located in 
Law's block, on Central avenue. After conducting it a short time alone, 
he sold out on account of temporary ill health and for a short time was 
out of business. He then reentered the grocery business, working for a while 
as clerk, but later becoming proprietor of a store, with E. O. Tasker as 
partner, the firm style being Kimball & Tasker. After being thus engaged 
for a short time, Mr. Kimball sold out his interest to William E. Cartland, 
owing to failing health, and subsecjuently spent nine months in southern 
California. He then returned to Dover and entered the employ of C. A. 
Faxon, a well known merchant and grocer, for w bom he worked for a number 
of years as clerk. ^Ir. Eaxon, in addition to the activities mentioned above, 
was a manufacturer and lumber operator, and Mr. Kimball subsequently 
became associated with him as partner, this connection lasting until Mr. 
Faxon's death. 

Mr. Kimball married first Laura A. Sterling, a native of Maine and 
daughter of Ephraim A. Sterling, who came to Dover from that state, and 
died here after a residence of a number of years. After her death Mr. 
Kimball married for his second wife, Lizzie L. Nason, of Dover, formerly 



846 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of Eliot, Me., who also is now deceased. By his first marriage Mr. Kimball 
iiad one daughter, Edith M.. who is now a resident of Dover. In jiolitics 
he is a Republican. He is a member of Central Avenue Baptist church. 
As a citizen he is up to date, a friend of anj' worthy cause, and one whose 
word can alwa_\s be relied on. 

HOX. JOHX W. JEWELL is eighth in descent from Thomas Jewell and 
his wife Grizell, who were born in England and immigrated to Braintree, 
Mass., in 1639, and resided there until his death in 1654. He was one of 
that best Puritan stock which constituted the ^Massachusetts Bay Colony. The 
line of descent is as follows: (2) Thomas and Susana (Guilford) Jewell, of 
Braintree. (3) Samuel and Sarah (Ring) Jewell, of Amesbury, Mass. 
(4) David and Elizabeth (Lowe) Jewell, of Amesbury, Mass. (5) Joseph 
and Susannah (Graves) Jewell, of Brentwood, N. H. (6) Simeon and Jane 
(French) Jewell, who settled at Xorthfield, X. H. (7) Milton and Xancy 
(Colly) Jewell, of Stratiford, X. H. (8) John Woodman Jewell, the subject of 
this sketch, who was born at Strafford, X. H., Julv 26, 1831. 

In volume First of the Revolutionary War Rolls of Xew Hampshire, it 
is stated that his great grandfather, Joseph Jewell, was a volunteer soldier 
in Capt. Ballard's Company, Colonel Fry's regiment, at the battle of Bunker 
Hill, June 17, 1775. After that he enlisted as a private in Captain Calfe's 
Company, Col. Pierce Long's regiment stationed at Xew Castle, at the en- 
trance to the Pascatsqua Harbor (Fort Constitution) from September 25th, 
1776, to January 7, 1777. He later died in the service, of typhoid fever, and 
was buried at Brentwood, July 20. 1776. 

Simeon Jewell, born at Brentwood, X. H., July 20, 1776, married Jane 
French of Salisbury, Mass., May 19, 1796, and settled at Xorthfield, N. H.. 
as above stated. Later he resided at Sanbornton where he died Sept. 10, 1832. 
He was a prosperous and highly respected farmer. His wife died at Sanborn- 
ton, January 11, 1838. Their children were: John, Milton, Betsey and 
Samuel F. 

Milton Jewell, son of Simeon and father of John W., was born at Xorth- 
field, X. H., July 2, 1803. ^^■hen about eighteen years old he began an 
apprenticeship to the trade of tanning and currying, at which he subsequently 
worked for a few years as a journeyman in Deerfield. In 1828 he went to 
Strafiford and located at Bow Lake where he established a tannery and also 
engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He prospered in business 
until 1832, at which time his property was almost entirely destroyed by a 
flood caused by the breaking of the large dam of the Cocheco Manufacturing 
Company, situated at the outlet of Bow Lake. After this disaster he only 




'4^ 




JOHN W. JEWELL 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 849 

followed his trade in a small way, but remained occupied until 1S65, when, 
on account of increasing ill health, he closed his business. He passed awav 
on June 4, 1869, leaving to his descendants the record of an untarnished name. 
He married December 24, 1830, Xancy, daughter of Richard and Sarah Colley, 
of Madbury, N. H. She was born May 3, 1808, and died in Barrington, April 
7, 1880. Their nine children were as follows: John W., subject of this 
sketch; Hannah E., who died young; Mary J., who married Wingate T. Pres- 
ton, of Barrington; Asa W., superintendent of water for Cocheco Manu- 
facturing Company, at Dover; Charles M., Cyrena T., Enoch T., Betsy A., 
and Samuel A. of Barrington. All are dead, except John W. and Asa W. 

Milton Jewell was a staunch Democrat in politics. As a man he was highly 
esteemed, being an accommodating neighbor, of a genial and social disposi- 
tion, and widely known for his benevolence. Indeed he was at times so lib- 
eral with others as to be almost unjust to himself. His honesty was never 
impeached. 

John Woodman Jewell, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the 
public schools of Strafford, and the Strafford (now Austin-Cate) Academy, 
and Gilmanton Academy. \\'hile getting his academic education he was en- 
gaged in winters as teacher in the district .schools of Nottingham, Strafford, 
and Gilmanton, N. H., in which work he gave general satisfaction to parents, 
and was popular with his pupils. He began his business career at Newmarket, 
N. H., in 1852, as a clerk in a department store where he remained till 1854. 
Then, at the earnest solicitation of Hon. Benning \Y. Jcnness, he returned to 
Strafford and entered his employ as clerk in his general store at Bow Lake, 
which position he held until 1864, when Judge Jcnness removed to Cleveland, 
Ohio. Mr. Jewell succeeded him in business, having purchased the store. In 
1 88 1 he admitted his son John Herbert to a partnership, under the firm name 
of J. W. Jewell & Son. This firm continued in business until the deatli of 
his son in 1893, when Mr. Jewell closed out the business at Strafford, he hav- 
ing taken up his residence in Dover. In 1891 he came to Dover and took 
charge of the office of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, 
and in January, 1892, was appointed general agent of the compan3^ which 
position he holds at the present time. Mr. Jewell was one of the incorporators 
of the Merchants' National Bank in Dover, and was elected one of its directors 
and vice president, which official positions he now holds. He was also one 
of the incorporators of the Merchants' Savings Bank, and was made a trus- 
tee and vice president, and later was elected president, holding the ofiice at 
the present time. 

Mr. Jewell has been a life-long Democrat, as was his father before him. 
His first vote was cast for Franklin Pierce for president, in 1852, the onlv 



850 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

president New Hampshire e\er had, and probably ever will have; and has 
voted for every Democratic candidate for President since, down to and includ- 
ing President Woodrow Wilson. While a citizen of Strafford, he was elected 
from time to time to most of the important offices in town, including repre- 
sentative to the general court. For many years he was the leader of his party 
in the town, and for twelve years was a member of the Democratic State 
Committee. He was sheriff of Strafford County from 1874 to 1876; member 
of Governor Currier's Council from 1885 to 1887. While in Strafford, at the 
close of the Civil War, he rendered efficient service to the soldiers and the 
widows of soldiers in getting pensions where they deserved them, by filling 
out their applications, writing affidavits and letters to the departments in 
Washington, for which he would never take a cent. Neither did he make any 
charge for filling out the quarterly vouchers for all pensioners in the town, 
or out, who came to his office. He did much business making deeds, wills, 
mortgages, etc. He was postmaster at Strafford ten years under Pierce, 
Buchanan and Johnson. He has held the office of justice of the peace for 60 
years. \\'hen Mr. Jewell came to Dover in 1891 he came here for business 
and has attended strictly to it. The result is. he has secured a large list of 
polic}' holders, and it is said that he has written more insurance personally 
than any other agent in southern New Hampshire. He has also made many 
friends while here. In 1902 he was elected representative in the legislature 
from A\'ard 2. a strong Republican ward, and was re-elected in 1904, and tliat 
without asking for the office. In iqo6 ^Ir. Jewell was again honored by his 
party with the nomination for state senator in the 22d district, which had a 
strong Republican majority, and he was defeated. Hon. Clarence I. Hurd, 
who was elected in 1908 by a majority of 550, was nominated for re-election 
in 1910, and Mr. Jewell was again the Democratic candidate. The result was 
his election by a majority of 339 over Mr. Hurd, showing a change of over 
800 votes. Mr. Jewell's ability in the senate was recognized by his appoint- 
ment on the important committees — on banks, on finance, on insurance, and 
military affairs; he was also chairman of the committee on the soldiers' home. 
This closed his political career, which began as representative in the legislature 
in 1862, a half century before. 

On October 9, 1853, Mr. Jewell married Sarah (Folsom) Gale, who was 
born December 6, 1833, youngest daughter of Bartholomew and Abigail 
(Morrison) Gale, of upper Gilmanton, now Belmont. The children of this 
union were: Sarah A. (she wrote her name Abbie S.) was bom August 
26, 1856. She married Rev. W. W. Brown, of Evansville, Wis., August 
12. 1876. She died Sept. 29, 1898; no children. John Herbert, born Sept. 
10, 1859, married Elona G. Manning, of Nottingham, N. H., January 13, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 851 

1884. Their children were, Agnes K., born Sept. 29, 1885, and died Decem- 
ber 17, 1889. Annie M. was born Feb. 17, 1887, and is now Hving. John H. 
died May 26, 1893, and his widow Feb. 6, 1899. Mertie Folsom, born Sept. 
10, 1863, married Herbert Waldron, of Strafford, N. H., Jan. 3, 1888; they 
have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Waldron reside with her parents at their 
family residence corner of East Concord and Ham streets, Dover, N. H. 

JOHN LEVI MEADER, superintendent of the Gonic Manufacturing 
Company, at Gonic, is one of the prominent Jnisiness men of this city and 
a leading factor in Republican politics in Strafford county. He was born 
at Gonic, September 11, 1878, and is a son of and successor of John E. 
Meader, who died at the age of 58 years. 

John Levi ]Meader was reared at Gonic ami was graduated from the 
Rochester High school in 1898. He also took a course in the well known 
Scranton Correspondence School and since then has Ijeen engaged with the 
Gonic ^Manufacturing Company, beginning in the wool room and advancing 
steadily through merited promotion. I''(ir the last five years he has been 
supcrinlendent of the plant, a position of great responsibility. He is well 
known and highly thought of in the \ari(ius manufacturing centers of this 
section. 

Mr. Meader was united in marriage with Miss Lela Malvern, who was 
born in Iowa, a daughter of John L. Alahern, now of Chicago, 111. Mr. and 
Mrs. 3ileader have two children : Lois J. and Clara L. Mr. Meader and 
family belong to the Society of Friends. Always a Republican in his 
political attachment, Mr. Meader has been state committeeman of his party, 
a member of the state executive committee, chairman of his ward com- 
mittee, and in 1906-7 was a member of the General Court. He is a member 
of the board of trade at Rochester and one of its trustees. Fraternally he 
belongs to the F. and A. M. Blue Lodge, Chapter. Cduimandery, and Mystic 
Shrine. Mr. Meader and family resitle at No. 36 Church street, Gonic. 

GEORGE H. LANGLEY,* \\ho has been engaged in lumbering many 
years, operates a portable saw-mill and carries on business on an extensive 
scale. He is a man of aliility and high standing in the community, and enjoys 
a wide acquaintanceship. Mr. Langley was born in Belknap County, New 
Hampshire, as was also his father, Thomas D. Langley. The latter also 
engaged in lumbering and some twenty years ago moved to Rochester, where 
he died at the age of 74 years. He is survived by his widow, who in maiden 
life was Nellie S. Hayes, and their only child, George H. Langley. 

Mr. Langley, subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools 



852 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

of Xew Hampshire. Upon leaving school he was for two years eniplo3-ecl in 
a box shop, and afterward took up the lumbering business, in which he is 
meeting with more than ordinary success. He is a Republican in his political 
affiliation. Mr. Langley has never been married. 

FRED L. BODWELL, D. V. S.* one of the well known professional 
men of Dover, was born at Alanchester, X. H.. July JO. 18^)5. and is a son of 
Alpheus and Abbie (Cluff) liodwell. 

Alpheus Bodwell was born at Lawrence, Mass., on his father's farm, 
which is the present site of the Pacific mills. There he grew to manhood and 
then went to ^Manchester, N. H., where, for many years afterward he was 
engaged in a wood, coal and ice business, becoming one of the substantial 
business men and highly respected citizens. His death occurred there in 
1907. He was a Republican from the time the party was founded, and at 
one time ser\'ed as alderman and later as a member of the Xew Hampshire 
legislature, representing the Fourth Ward of Alanchester. His ancestry 
was Scotch. He married Abbie Cluff, who was born at Methuen (Lawrence), 
Mass. 

Fred L. Bodwell attended the public schools of Manchester and later, after 
making a choice of profession, the New York College of Veterinary Sur- 
geons, where he was graduated in April. 1892. After a short period of 
practice at Manchester, he removed to Rochester, X. H., and from there, on 
January i, 1898, came to Dover. Fie commands a large practice and enjoys 
the confidence and respect of the public and his professional brethren. He 
is a member of the New Hampshire State Veterinary Association. 

Dr. Bodwell was married on May 17, 1910, to Mrs. .\nna M. Hussey. 
widow of the late Frank Hussey, of Dover, and a daughter of the late 
Israel Church, of Durham, N. H. Dr. Bodwell is identified with the B. P. 
O. E., at Dover. 

FRANK PIERCE PLUMMER, formerly a well known citizen and 
business man of Dover, N. H., and latterly of Rollinsford, N. H., was bom 
in Newington, N. H., Xovember 4, 1857, a son of Allen and Jane (Pender- 
gass) Plummer. His parents, both natives of X^ew Hampshire, were also 
both teachers, the father, Allen Plummer, being a well known educator. 

Frank P. Plummer was a small boy when with his parents he removed 
to Lee, Strafford county, N. H.. where he attended school. He subsequently 
went to Cambridge, Mass., where he learned the jewelry and watch-making 
business, after which he entered into the business on his own account in 
Dover, N. H., being located at 382 Central A\enue. He was also engaged 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 853 

to some extent in the loan business, carrying on his double occupation very 
successfully for over 25 years, with good success. Mr. Plummer was a self 
made man, achieving success through his own energy and industry, backed by 
native intelligence and a sturdy integrity that won fur him the respect of 
all those with whom he had business dealings. Politically he was a Democrat, 
not an office seeker, but a public spirited citizen, voting for the worthy 
candidates of his party and generous in his private charities. He was a 
member of the L'ni\xTsalist church at Dover. 

Mr. Plummer was married December 5, 1886, to Elizabeth A. Furbush, 
a native of North Berwick, Me., and daughter of Moses and Abbie Augusta 
(Hilton) Furbu.^h, residents of York county. Me., of which state they were 
natives. Mr. Plummer died September 7, 191 1. His widow survives him 
and for a part of the time makes her home in Kollinsford, where she is well 
known and highly esteemed in the best society of the town. She is afiiliated 
with the Baptist church, and is a lady of refinement and education. 

ALPHONSE LANOIX, who is engaged in business at Gonic, as a 
brick manufacturer, has been a resident of New Hampshire for 33 years 
and has been connected with the brick industry about all his business life. 
He was born at Saint Guillaume, Canada, May 17, 1857, and remained in 
his native land throughout his school period. 

Alphonse Lanoix learned the brickniaking trade at I^pi^ing, X. H., and 
lived there for two years. He then came to Gonic and went into the brick 
manufacturing business with his father-in-law, Thomas Lanoix, under the 
lirm name of T. & A. Lanoix. After two years he bought his father-in- 
law's share and continued the business for himself, for twelve years oper- 
ating it alone. In 1901 he sold his entire interest to the Xew England 
Brick Company. In the following year he again started in the brick indus- 
try, with Leopold Larose as partner, under the name of Lannix & Larose. 
In 1904 he bought his partner's interest and continued alone. He has a 
large plant here, his yards covering eleven acres, and he gives employment 
from spring to fall to from 20 to 30 men, and sometimes as many are kept 
at work during the larger part of the year. He manufactures water-struck 
brick and his business is prospering. He has occupied his present place 
since 191 1. 

Mr. Lanoix married Anastasie Lanoix, who also was born in Canada, 
and their children are George L., Olivene O., Aristide J., Marie Anne, Al- 
bina, Armand and Gustave. Mr. Lanoix and family are members of St. 
Leo's Catholic church. 

He gives his political support to the Democratic party, and fraternally is 



854 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

connected with the Catliohc Order of h^oresters. Mr. Lanoix is considered 
an honest and upriglit business man and an excellent citizen. 

SAMUEL B. ABBOTT* for many years was a prominent citizen of 
Dover, N. H., in which city he was born August 15, iStio, and died Septem- 
ber 8, 1912. He was a son of jo.seph S. and Delia (Brownell) Abbott, the 
former a native of Kennebunk, j\Ie., and the latter of l^over. Old residents 
still recall Joseph S. Abbott, for he was an active business man, a con- 
tractor in stonemason work and hea\y teaming and one of the pioneer ice 
dealers. 

Samuel B. Abbott had the etlucational ojiiiortunities offered bv the schools 
of Dover, after which he became associated with his father in business and 
after the latter's death, was his successor in the various industries in which 
the older man had prospered. ]\Ir. Alibott carried on the ice and heavy team- 
ing business until his own death, acquiring a competency and sustaining a 
reputation for business probity as long as he dealt with the pul)lic. This was 
recognized by his fellow citizens and on many occasions he was elected to 
high public office. He served both as alderman and as councilman represent- 
ing the Third U'ard and also served in the New Hampshire legislature with 
honest efficiency. In all local matters Mr. Abbott took a good citizen's inter- 
est. In his youth his father had served as chief of the volunteer fire depart- 
ment and he never lost his interest in this organization, taking great pride in 
the fact that the department named its fire steamer the Joseph S. Abbott, in 
his father's honor. He was a Republican in political affiliation and was ever 
loyal to the principles of his party. For many years he was active as an 
Odd Fellow and belonged also to the Lmiform Rank, Knights of Pythias 
and to the Improved Order of Red Men. His private life was unblemished; 
his devotion to his family was marked, and his gifts to charity numerous 
but unostentatious. 

On October 11, 1887. I\Ir. Abbott was married to Miss Edna B. Durgin, 
a daughter of Albert F. and Elmira P. (Spurling) Durgin, the father a 
native of Greenland, N. H., and the mother of Dover. The maternal grand- 
father of ]\Irs. Abbott, Jonathan Spurling, was a resident of Dover for many 
years, being in charge of the entrance gate to the Cocheco Mills, and through 
his sterling qualities as a citizen was held in general esteem. Mr. and Mrs. 
Abbott had one daughter lx)rn to them: Gertrude B., who is the wife of 
Fred D. McKone, of Dover. Mrs. Abbott occupies her comfortable residence 
at No. 45 Atkinson street, Dover. She and her daughter take part in the 
city's pleasant social life to some extent and she is interested also in a num- 
ber of worthy organizations including the Rebekahs, the Pythian Sisters, the 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 855 

Woman's Relief Corps, the Odd Ladies and the Dover Grange, Patrons of 
Husbandry. 

GUY EDWARD CHESLEY, D. V. S. Two miles distant from the 
city square, Rochester, N. H., is situated Chesley Hill, this name commem- 
orating the settlement of early pioneers in this section, and from this stock 
came Dr. Guy Edward Chesley, one of the well known professional men 
of Rochester. He was born on Chesley Hill, August 2, 1871, and is a son 
of John Edwin and Elizabeth (Home) Chesley and a grandson of John and 
Lavina (Chamberlain) Chesley. 

John Chesley was a son of Shadrach and Jemima Chesley, and a 
grandson of James Chesley, who, with a brother, came from England, the 
brother settling in Nova Scotia, but James established himself in New Hamp- 
shire near what later became Great Falls. It was John Chesley who located 
on Chesley Hill and there his son. John E. Chesley, was reared, and 
at the time of his father's death, at the age of si.\ty-four years, came into 
possession of the 200 acre farm. John Chesley, with sixteen of his neigh- 
bors, testified to their loyalty in the War of 1812. liy walking the entire 
distance to Portsmouth in order to enlist for service. They found that the 
treaty had already been signed but this in no way lessened the patriotism 
of their effort. John E. Chesley followed peaceful pursuits all his life, 
farming and lumbering, and died on Chesley Hill at the age of seventy-one 
years, his burial being in the Gonic cemetery. He married Elizabeth Horno, 
who was born on a farm lying between the Rochester Hill and the old Do\er 
road, and survived until November 19. 1907. They had two children: Ger- 
trude, who is the wife of Elsworth Pearl, of Rochester; and Guy Edward. 
They were estimable and esteemed people and were members of the Con- 
gregational church. 

Guy Edward Chesley attended school at Rochester and at Gonic and 
afterward went to Boston and for fi\'e years was connected with the Daniel 
Lothrop Publishing Company, on the road, his territory covering New 
York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. On August 25, 1897, 
he was married to Miss ^^'innifred Webber Kelley, who was born in Maine 
and is a daughter of Henry M. and Lydia (Taylor) Kelley. They have two 
children : Guy Kenneth and Norman Kelley. 

Henry M. Kelley, the father of Mrs. Chesley, was born at Chichester, 
N. H., a son of Stephanus Kelley, who once conducted the old American 
Hotel at Concord, and a grandson of Dr. Amasa Kelley. The last named 
came from Amesbury, ]\Iass., and settled near Concord in 1790, at what 
became known later as Kelley's Corners. The grandfather of Mrs. Chesley 



856 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

(lied early and his widow married Jacob H. Ela of Rochester, to which place 
she and her children. Henry M., Clymenia and Franc, had come by stage. 
Three children were born to this marriage: Frederick, who was a lieutenant 
in tile U. S. Xa\ y ; Wendell P., who is a banker of Clrand Junction, Colo.; 
and Charles, who was the youngest police court justice ever serving at 
Rochester. Hon. Jacob H. Ela was U. S. representative from the First 
district in Xew Hampshire for two terms — in 1867 and 1869. He was an 
ardent abolitionist. U. S. marshal during the Civil war, and at the time of 
his death fifth auditor in the Treasury Department at Washington. The father 
of I\Irs. Chesley was a prominent man of Rochester, a director 
of the Rochester National Bank, a member of the board of education 
and for three years was chairman of the board of selectmen. He assisted 
in the founding of the Rochester Fair Association and was an official. His 
death occurred in December, 1912, at the age of seventy-six years. He 
married Lydia Taylor, who died in September, 1908, at the age of sixty-eight 
years and their burial was at Rochester. They had three children: Mary 
P., who is the wife of X. E. B. Morrill, of Rochester, formerly treasurer 
of the Portland Water Works Company; and Wendell S. and Winnifred 
W., twins, the former of whom ga\e great promise of becoming an artist 
but died at the age of t\\ent_\- _\ears. 

From 3-outh having a leaning toward veterinary science, Dr. Chesley 
took a course in the same in the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 
the class of 1898, and since then has been in continuous practice both in 
New Hampshire and in Maine, having resided at Rochester since marriage 
and having an excellent business location at X"o. 30 Charles street. Dr. 
Chesley has been influential in securing legislative action in the framing 
of modern laws in relation to veterinary science and is chairman of the 
board of examiners for New Hampshire, which is made up of three prom- 
inent veterinarians. Fie belongs to the Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at 
Everett, Mass. ; to the Chapter and Commandery at Rochester ; and to the 
"Shrine" at Concord. He is on the directing board of the Rochester b'air 
Association, is serving on the school board and is also a member of the 
city council. In his political views he is progressive. With his family he 
attends the Congregational church. 

CAPTAIN WASHINGTON W. HARDY, a veteran mariner and well 
known citizen of Dover, X. H., was born in Chesterfield, N. H., March 15, 
1838. His parents were Thomas and Sarah fFolsom) Hardy, the father a 
native of Dublin, N. H., and the mother of Exeter, N. H. The immigrant 
ancestor of the Hardy family came from Sussex county, England ; that of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 857 

tlie l*-oIsoms from Xurfolk county in the same country. Thomas Hardy, the 
grandfather of our subject, was a Re\ohitionary soldier. The second Thomas 
IJardy. fatlier ni Uie >ubject of this sketch, was a graduate of Dartmouth 
college in the class of i8i_'. He was a well known educator of his time, 
teaching in private schools and academies. For a number of years he resided 
in Boston, where he taught a private preparatory school. He also taught 
ten years in Chesterfield acatlemy. N. H., and followed his profession in 
Dover and other places throughout New England. That he was a man highly 
, thought of is evidenced from the fact that he represented the town of Ches- 
terfield in the state legislature for several terms. He was originally a Whig 
in politics but became a Republican after the formation of that party. 

Washington W. Hardy at the age of four years accompanied his parents 
from Chesterfield to Brentwood, X. H., where he resided several years, they 
subsequently removing to Dover. Here he was reared to man's estate, 
attending the public schools, and, for a short time, Hampton Academy, at 
Hampton, X. H. In 1854 he began a sea-faring life, shipping as a boy before 
the mast on a voyage from Xew York to Ha\ana and the West Indies, thence 
to London and return to Boston, where he landed after an absence of six 
months. This was but the first voyage of many, for he subsequently ci>n- 
tinued in the mariner's vocation, practically for about forty-six years, for the 
last thirty years of that time being captain of various ships mainlv engaged in 
the China and Japan trade. He navigated the glolje over thirteen times, on 
eleven of these occasions as captain. During his life as a sailor he visited 
many strange countries and saw many strange sights, having many adxen- 
tures and fronting many dangers, but with a good vessel under his feet, well 
manned, and with capable officers under him, he proved equal to e\'ery 
emergency until finally he left the ocean in 1901 to enjoy an honorable retire- 
ment on shore. He is a member of the Boston Marine Society and also of the 
New York .Marine Society. He has many friends in Dover who know him 
as a man of integrity and a progressive and public-spirited citizen. 

Capt. Hardy was married March 29, 1871, to Elizabeth Bickf(jrd, a native 
of Dover, X. H.. and daughter of Dr. Alphonso Bickford. in his day a pr(.)mi- 
ninet Dover physician and at one time mayor of the city. Capt. and Airs. 
Hardy had two children born t(j them: Mar_\- R.. wife of Henry Folsom, 
a well known attorney of Boston: and Francis H., who is captain of a go\'- 
ernment steamer in the coast sur\ey ser\ice. He is a graduate of DartmcSuth 
college, while the daughter, Mrs. Folsom, graduated from Smith college. 

DAXIEL W. HALLAM, a well known and substantial citizen of Dover, 
N. H., now retired from active business life, was born in this city. February 

50 



858 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

25, 1838, a son of Daniel and jMartha ( Purstglove) Hallam. His parents 
were both natives of Derbysliire, England, where the Hallani family has been 
settled since the early part of the 13th centur}-, or, according to genealogical 
records, abont the year 1224. A. D. The parents of our subject came to 
America in 1834. landing at New York, whence they came to Dover, N. H. 
Daniel Hallam, the father, was a merchant tailor by occupation, but did 
not follow his trade after arriving in this country. Instead he found em- 
ployment witli the Cocheco Print Works, then under the management of 
George W. ^lathewson, as an employe. He remained with this concern for 
many years and a short time before his death, which took place March 4, 
1852, he was promoted to the position of superintendent. 

Daniel W. Hallam, our direct subject, was in Ins 14th year when his 
father died. He was educated in the public schools of Dover, including the 
high school, and in 1863 he went to Philadelphia, where he attended for six 
months the Bryant and Stratton Business College. He was also a student 
for one year at the Wagnei Institute of Science, receiving a diploma for a 
special course in science. He subsequently attended the Franklin Institute, 
pursing the mathematical and mechanical courses there as a regular student 
for several years. He also studied natural history at the Academy of Natural 
Sciences, Philadelphia, following these studies at intervals for a number 
of years. In 1865 he became identified with the foreign fruit and produce 
business, at first as bookkeeper with a concern engaged in that line, then 
as traveling salesman with two different concerns, and finally, in 1868, en- 
gaging in the business for himself in Philadelphia, conducting a wholesale and 
retail establishment and dealing in both foreign antl domestic fruits, nuts, 
etc. He did a large and prosperous business until 1899, when he retired 
and in the following year returned to Dover, N. H., of which place he has 
since been a resident. He has been a member for several years of the Dox'or 
Sportsmen's Association, which he is now serving as secretary and treas- 
urer. He is a progressive and up to date citizen, a Republican in politics 
and a member of St. Thomas Episcopal church. He takes a keen interest 
in the commercial prosperity of the city and in its material and moral improve- 
ment and is widely recognized as one of Dover's reliable and substantial 
citizens. 

FRANK D. HENDERSON, who carries on general farnfing and raises 
cattle with profitable results, was born June 10, 1848, on his farm of 125 
acres, which lies three and one-fourth nfiles from Rochester, N. H., on the 
Farmington road. He is a son of Daniel Henderson and a grandson of 
William Henderson. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 859 

William Henderson, the grandfather, was the pioneer settler of the 
family in the town of Rochester. He was already married and more children 
were born on the farm on which he settled in 1774-5, and the following names 
have been preserved: Stephen; Tim, who served in the War of 1812-15; 
James, who died when aged fifty years; \\'illiam, Daniel, Polly, Sally, Mar- 
garet, Susan, Abigail and Betsey. All were reared on the fann above men- 
tioned l)ut when Grandfather Henderson died he left the place equally 
divided between his sons Tim and Daniel. 

Daniel Henderson was born in 1S12. When he reached mature age he 
bought his brother Tim's interest in the farm and always lived here, although, 
being a carpenter by trade, he erected a fine residence at Dover. He married 
Ruth McDuffee, a daughter of Thomas McDuffee, and they had the follow- 
ing children; an infant that died; William, Hannah, Sarah, Thomas, Frank 
D., Charles, Lewis and George. Of these, Thomas and Lewis died each at 
the age of four years. 

Frank D. Henderson, with his brothers and si.sters, attended school in 
youth and had kind and judicious instruction at home. He received his 
farm from his father but earlier had worked in the shoe factory at Rochester 
and continued until 1898, since which time he has given his entire attention 
to the industries pertaining to his farm, .\bout one-diird of his land is under 
fine cultivation. In 1880 the timber was first cut and in 1909 and 1910 Mr. 
Henderson cut timber all over his place but at the present time there is a fine 
new growth. 

Mr. Henderson married Miss Eliza Henderson, a daughter of William 
Henderson, of Cambridgeport, Mass., and they have four children; Horace 
L., Helen Louisa, Ruth Etta and William Daniel. Mr. Henderson and family 
attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He gives his political support to 
the Democratic party but has never been willing to accept public office. He is 
one of the representative and relialjle men of this |)art of Strafford county. 

WINFIELD SCOTT MILLER, who is one of the leading citizens and 
substantial men of Milton Mills, Strafford county, carries on general farming 
on 250 acres of land and in addition to this large estate owns a tract of tim- 
ber land of considerable extent, extending across the state line into the town 
of Acton, Me. He was born in the village of Miller's Corners, in the town 
of Acton, Me., March 4, 18^0, and is a son of Ira and Fannie W. (Merrill) 
Miller. 

The Miller ancestry can lie traced through at least three generations. The 
great-grandparents were Benjamin and Lois (Woodman) Miller, the latter 
being a daughter of John Woodman. Benjamin Miller was born at New- 



860 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ington, X. H., in 1766. They were the parents of eight children: John, 
Caleb, Benjamin, Woodman, Polly, Hannah, Lonisa and Eliza. Benjamin 
Miller died in 1849. 

Caleb Miller, son of Benjamin and grandfather of Winlield Scott Mil- 
ler, was born in the town of Acton, Me., Xuvember 13, 1798, and died Xovem- 
ber 13, 1838. His wife, iMary Miller, was born December 18, 1808, and 
died January 29, 1S27. 

Ira Miller, son of Caleb and father of Winfield Scott Miller, was born 
in the town of Acton, Me., December 13, 1826, and died December 12, 1902. 
He was left motherless when a bal^e of six weeks and was twelve years old 
when liis father died. He was reared l)y liis uncle. Woodman Miller. When 
sixteen years of age he started out to take care of himself and assisted farm- 
ers during the haying season, feeling sufficiently well paid when he received 
twenty-live cents for a day's work. He then went to Lebanon, Me., where 
he worked for Alillett Wentworth for seven months, therel))- earning the 
sum of seven dollars, after which, during the summers he again assisted 
farmers and attended school in the winters, in Acton, ^le., where he after- 
ward was employed by Simon Tuttle at a wage of ten dollars a month, which 
in his second season, was increased to thirteen dollars. He then learned the 
shoemaking trade at Milton Mills and then opened a shop and soon had a 
trade that made necessary the employment of six or eight men. In 1855 
he erected the first shoe factory ever built at Acton, ]\Ie., and embarked in 
shoe manufacturing on a large scale, having a shoe store in connection, later 
selling his factory and buying the Roberts' grist mill. This he remodeled 
and made it the best plant of its kind in the county, operating it from 1859 
until 1866. He then sold out and went into the hotel Inisiness, l)ecoming 
l)roi)rietor of the Central House at Milton Mills, which he conducted until 
1877. He then opened the largest general store at Milton Mills, putting 
in a heavy stock, including groceries, boots, shoes, oil, drugs, hardware and 
farm implements, and this pro\ed a ver_\- jirosperous enterprise. He also 
had acquired 4CX) acres of valuable land, together with his town property. 
In puljlic affairs he was equally impcjrtant and served in numerous impor- 
tant offices. For twentv years he was town clerk and selectman, also for the 
same length of time was town treasurer and also representetl the town of 
Milton Mills in the legislature. I'Vom the formation of the Repuljlican party 
he was identified with that organization, and for years had been a memljer 
of the local ^lasonic lodge. Before his death he sold his store interests to 
his son-in-law, F. H. Lowd. He had a wide accjuaintance and held the con- 
fidence of the people who recognized his business ability as well as his 
business integrity. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 861 

Ira Aliller was married May _'(), i'^4Q, to Fannie W. Merrill. She was 
born in Acton, Me., December 7, 1825. and died January 30, 1^97. She 
was a daughter of Asa and Fannie (Wood) Merrill. Her maternal grand- 
mother was the wife of the son of Ralph Farnham, who was one of the last 
surviving Revolutionary soldiers when lie died at the age of 105 years. To 
Ira Miller and wife three children were born: Winfield Scott; F'annie, who 
died at the age of four years; and F'annie L., who was born August 15, 1863, 
and died May 25, 1898. She married I". H. Lowd and is survived by two 
children, Grace M. and Alice M. 

Winfield Scott Miller attended school at Acton and Milton Mills and 
his sister was a graduate of the West Lebanon .\cadeniy. Mr. Miller began 
to work in his father's grist mill when he was nine years old and continued 
until his seventeenth year, when the mill was sold, and after that he assisted 
in the hotel business. When his father died he received all the real estate 
located in Acton and in Milton Mills. After marriage he lived for two years on 
a farm, He then became associated with his father, remaining with him 
until the latter's death. He has since devoted his time to looking after his 
real estate interests. In his political views he is a Republican but has never 
been willing to accept the responsibilities of public office. 

In 1878 Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Josephine White- 
side, who was born at Lowell. Mass., November 24. 1857, and was reared 
and educated there. She is a daughter of Edward J. and Frances (Thomp- 
son) Whiteside, and a granddaughter of James Whiteside, who died in 
England. Edward J. Whiteside, father of Mrs. Miller, was born in Eng- 
land. His second marriage took place at Lowell. Mass.. and eight children 
were born to the union. The mother of Mrs. Miller, FVances (Thompson) 
Whiteside, was born in Scotland and died at Boston. Mass. She was a 
daughter of Roljert and Nancy ( Stewart ) Thompson, and her grandmother. 
Nancy Tames, was born at Paisley. Scotland, where Robert Thompson was a 
contractor for the building of lirid.ges. 

JOHN E. TOWNSEND. one of Strafford county's well known business 
men. is sole owner of the Townsend Mill, an old plant at Milton Mills, hav- 
in^^ succeeded his father and. indirectly, his grandfather in the mill business. 
He was born at Milton Mills, N. H., September 9, 1871, and is a son of 
Henry H. and Agnes ( Brierley ) Townsend. 

John Townsend. the grandfather, was Iiorn in England and came to the 
United States in 1819 and to Milton :\Iills. N. H.. about 1845. He pur- 
chased the plant of the ]\Iilton ^Manufacturing Company and continued it. 
carrying on woolen manufacturing under the name of John Townsend. 



862 HISTORY OF STR.'\FFORD COUNTY 

His one son, Henry H., was born in Massachusetts, and his two daughters, 
Caroline and Jennie, at Milton Mills. 

Henry H. Townsend was born at Dorchester, ]\Iass., in 184J, and died 
at Milton Mills in 1904. When he w^ent into business it was with S. H. 
Atkins as a partner, under the name of Townsend & Company. With twenty 
employes the company engaged in the manufacture of felt until 1880, when 
Henry H. Townsend bought his partner's interest, after which he erected 
what is now known as Tov\nsend's Mill. He entered into the business of 
manufacturing both wool and cotton blankets and continued it prosperously 
until his death, at the age of sixty-two years. Between 1894 and 1900 accom- 
modations were greatly increased to meet the demands of trade, and by that 
time fifty people were given constant work in the mill. Henry H. Town- 
send was a shrewd, careful business man, always too busy to accept the 
responsibilities of office, although well cjualified through excellent judgment 
and a high sense of honor. He married Agnes Brierley, a daughter of 
Edward Brierley, who was a felt manufacturer. They had two children, 
Grace M. and John E. The mother of these children died in 1S91 and was 
buried in the Milton Mills cemetery. She was a member of the Congrega- 
tional church. 

John E. Townsend was educated at Milton Mills and Lindsey University, 
Me. He afterward entered his father's office and continued therein until 
the latter's death. He then took charge and operated the mill until 1906, 
when he bought the plant of the estate and conducts the mill along the line 
of fine blanket manufacturing, affording constant employment to si.xty-five 
men. As superintendents he has men well known for their efficiency, includ- 
ing F. H. Simms, A. T. Loud, J. F. Archbold and E. .\. Wentworth. This 
mill is classed as a 4-set mill and is equipped with electricity, the plant site 
covering two acres. 

Mr. Townsend married Miss Eda B. Li)ud, a daughter of Elbridge and 
Melissa Loud, of Acton, Me., and they have two children: Henry .\., who 
attends the Brunswick School at Greenwich, Conn.: and .\gnes M., who is 
a student at Brookline, Mass. In politics a Republican. Mr. Townsend was 
elected in 1903 a member of the Xew Hampshire legislature. He is a 
thirty-second degree Mason and belongs aho in the Odd hallows at I\Iil- 
ton Mills. The handsome family residence is on the corner of Western 
avenue and Church street, Milton .Mills. 

EZRA C. GOODWIN, superintendent of the L B. Williams & Son 
Belt factory at Dover, N. H., and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in 
South Berwick, Me., February 27, 1841. a son of Samuel and Polina .\. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 863 

(Cooper) Gdixlwin. Duth his parents were natives of South Berwick, where 
tlie Goodwins are among the old settled families, having originally come 
from England. The immigrant ancestor was James Goodwin, wdio settled 
in Kittery, Me., about 1628. Jedediah Goodwin, grandfather of our sul)- 
ject, in his day was a prominent citizen of South Berwick, following the 
combined occupations of teacher, i)reacher, farmer and shipbuilder, being 
also a local judge. He was a man of some influence in local politics. His 
father was a Revolutionary soldier. 

Samuel Goodwin, father of Ezra C, resided in South Berwick, Me., 
until 1S52, when with his family he came to Dover, N. H., which place 
was his home for the rest of his life. 

Ezra C. Goodwin was eleven years old when he accompanied his jjarents 
to Dover. He was educated in the public schools here and began industrial 
life at the age of fourteen. On April 29, iSCn. he enlisted as a private in 
Company D, 2d N. H. Volunteer Infantry, his regiment becoming a part 
of the /\rmy of the Potomac. W'hh it he fought in both the first and second 
battles of Bull Run, the Siege of Yorktown, the battles of Williamsburg, 
Fair Oaks, Kettle Run, Gettysburg and Cold Har1)or, in which last men- 
tioned engagement he was wounded three times, su])sequently spending sev- 
eral months in the hospital. He was then granted a furlough, which he 
spent in I])over, later returning to liis regiment. In h'ebruary, 1865, he 
was honorably discharged for disability, having been previously wounded 
at second Bull Run and Gettysburg. He had received promotion to the rank 
of sergeant. 

On his return home he entered the employ of I. B. Williams in the lat- 
ter's loelt factory at Dover, which concern later became mergerl into that of 
I. B. Williams & Sons, a prominent manufacturing establishment w ith which 
Mr. Goodwin has been connected since Octolier, iS()5, for the last few years 
having been superintendent of the plant. In addition to belts the company 
manufactures lace-leathers and welting. I'rom 250 to 300 men are em- 
ployed, over whom Mr. Goodwin has supervision. Mr. Goodwin is a mem- 
ber of Charles W. Sawyer Post, Xo. 17, G. A. R., of Dover, of which he has 
been commander three years and is now serving as senior vice commander. 
He belongs to the Odd Fellows and to the local Grange. For two years 
he was a me nber of the Dover city council and also served two years as 
alderman. For the same length of time he represented Ward 3 of Dover in 
the New Hampshire legislature, in politics being a Republican. He is 
widely recognized as a broad-minded, reliable citizen and has made a multi- 
tude of friends. 

Mr. Goodwin was first married to Lucy H. Beal of Dover, N. H., of 



864 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

whicli union two children were born — Harry B. and Grace G.. the latter 
being now deceased. He married for hi-r second wife Mary .\. Felker, of 
Dover, X. H. Mrs. Goodwin is a consistent member (if \\a>hington Street 
Free Will Baptist clnircli, Dover. 

J. ED\\'ARD RICHARDSOX, a well known resident of Dover, a rep- 
resentative citizen and successful professiimal man, has l)een established 
as an architect since 1894, making choice of his native citv as the scene of 
his professional work, with office at 36 Masonic Temple. He was born 
September 2~. 1873. and is a son of J. Herbert and Jettie (Huntress) Rich- 
ardson. I.iith iif whom were natixes of Xew Hamjishire. 

J. Edward Richardson was educated at Dover, completing the high 
school course. He was about nineteen years of age when he began the 
study of architecture. Fossessing a natural talent in this directinn Mr. 
Richardson pro\ed an apt student; he advanced so rapidly that by 1894 
he so thoroughly understood the principles of his profession that he opened 
his own office and has continued in practice e\er since. He has designed 
many of the beautiful structures for which Dover is justly celebrated and 
has also made the plans for other buildings here and at other points. As 
a competent and tasteful architect he is well known all over Strafford 
county. 

Mr. Richardson married Miss Mary M. Worthen. of Dover, and thev 
have four sons — Charles E., Melvin W'., Albert F. and Homer H. Mr. 
Richardson has been affiliated with the Republican party since attaining man- 
hood l)ut has ne\'er been \ery acti\e in politics. In fraternal life, however, 
he takes much interest, as did his father, and belongs to Straiford Lodge. 
A. F. & A. M. : Belknap Chapter. Xo. 8: Orphan Council, Xo. i, and St. 
Paul Commandery. and is also a member of Olive Branch Lodge. Knights 
of Pythias, all of Do\'er. 

ERXEST ALBERT CROSS, general farmer, owns si.\ty-tive acres of 
excellent land, which is located two and one-half miles east of Rochester 
Square, on the Rochester Hill road. He was liorn opposite the site of the 
Odd Fellows' Building, in the city of Rochester, .\ugust iq. f^.^7, 'UkI is a 
son of Xathaniel and Jennie (Stillings) Cross. 

Nathaniel Cross was born at Rochester, X. H., and was a son of Joseph 
Cross, who once was register of deeds for Strafford count}-. X^'athaniel 
Cross during many years of life was connected with the Wallace shoe factory 
as boss finisher in the dressing room. After lie retired from business he 
spent his remaining days as a member of his son's household and died while 



\ 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 865 

i-isiting his daughter in Maine, when aged seventy-nine years. He married 
Jennie Stilhngs. of Ossipee, X. H., who (hed in 1880, at the age of forty-six 
years, being survived by an imly child. Ernest Albert. The parents of Mr. 
Cross were steadfast nieuihers nf the Congregationalist church. 

Ernest Albert Cross was reared and attended school at Rochester and 
then entered the Wallace shoe factory and was under his father's supervision 
in the dressing siioe room for a time, after which he entered the service of 
the Boston and Maine Kailrdad L'ompany, and was so occupied for sixteen 
years. During this time he was yard clerk in the W. X. 1'. Division of the 
B. & M. Railroad and later was yardmastcr. In lyoo Mr. Cross turned his 
attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing his present property, known as 
"Maple Place." from David Whitehouse. He has made many improvements 
here, including the erection of a garage and ice house and a new barn with 
dimensions of 38x60 feet. He handles cream, skim milk and general products 
and has 120 customers at Rochester, to whom he makes deliveries by auto- 
mobile twice a week. Through his energy and enterprise. Mr. Cross has 
made this enterprise successful. 

On March i_', 1881. Mr. Cross was married to Miss Elizabeth .\. Jack- 
son, who was born at Rochester, X. H.. a daughter of James H. and Lucy 
(^Mayfield) Jackson, l)nth now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cross attend the 
Congregational church. In politics Mr. Cross is a Republican, as was his 
father. He is identified with ihe Rochester (Grange. Patrons of Husbandry, 
and with the Odd I'ellows. 

F. W. CLARK, a prosperous agriculturist of the town of Rochester, 
Strafiford county, N. H., is the owner and resides uiion a farm of 175 acres, 
located one half mile west of Conic on the Barringtc^i and Gonic Road. He 
was born on this farm March 4, 1851, and is a son of Smith and Abigail 
(Henderson) Clark. He is a grandson of Plezekiah Clark, and a great- 
o-randson of Jacob Clark. It is an old Xew Plngland family and has long 
been estalilished in Strafford county. 

Jacob Clark, above mentioned, came from the vicinity of Portsmouth, 
X. H., and settled on Waldri.n Hill. Outer Barrington. but later moved 
to Round Pond, North Barrington. He had two sons, Aaron and Hezekiah. 
The latter, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was reared in Bar- 
rington and was favored with a good educational training. He married 
Hannah Ham, wiin was born on the farm <in which her grandson, F. W. 
Clark, now lives. Five daughters and three sons blessed this marriage, and 
all grew to maturity and lived at Barrington. Hezekiah Clark was a farmer 
by occupation and had the nld b(»mestead farm his father had taken up on 
Round Pond. He died at the age of sixty years. 



866 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Sniitli Clark was eldest of the eight children born to his parents, and 
was born in North Barrington. He spent all of a long and useful life on 
the farm, dying at the advanced age of ninety years and eleven months. 
He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious attachment was a Baptist. 
He married Abigail Henderson, a daughter of Richmond Henderson, and 
they l)ecame parents of two sons and three daughters. 

F. W. Clark was the third of the children born to his parents and was 
reared on the home place. He received a public school education, attending 
the Gonic school, and then turned his attention to farming, at which he is 
meeting with good results. He has 175 acres in his home tract, in addition 
to which he has a wooded tract of fifty acres in StrafYord county. He is a 
Democrat in politics, but is in no sense a politician, being only interested to 
the extent of seeing good administrative officers elected. Fraternally, he is 
a member of the Order of Odd Fellows at Rochester. 

RALPH AI. IvIMBALI^, a representative citizen of Strafford county, 
formerly postmaster of the village of Alilton of which he is a selectman, was 
born in the city of Rochester, N. H., August 28, 1859, and is a son of Alva 
and Annie M. (Hayes) Kimball. 

Alva Kimball was born and reared at Rochester, where he became a 
man of public importance, serving in the state legislature. Loyally enter- 
ing the army at the opening of the Ci\il war, he served as officer in the 
5th N. H. Volunteer Infantry. His death occurred in 1868, his burial being 
in the old Rochester cemeterv'. He married Annie AI. Hayes who survives 
him, being now in her seventy-eighth year and an esteemed resident of the 
village of Milton. Her father was Richard Hayes, of Fanuington, one of 
the founders of the Congregational church there. Four children were born 
to Alva Kimball and wife, two of whom sur\i\e. 

Ralph ]M. Kimball was nine years old when his father died and he was 
carefully reared by his solicitious mother who saw that he had educational 
opportunities both at Rochester and Milton. For two years he worked on 
farms in Massachusetts before settling permanently in the village of IMilton. 
For one year he served as finst assistant under Postmaster Charles H. Looney 
and then ser\'ed four years as postmaster, under the administration of 
President Harrison. He has always been a loyal party man and has fre- 
quently assisted his friends in their ambition to secure public office. Mr. 
Kimball was concerned in shoe manufacturing at Milton for some time and 
is now successfully interested in raising poultry. 

Mr. Kimljall married Miss Carrie E. Willey, a daughter of the late 
Jonas D. Willey, of Middleton, N. H.. and they have two children: Annie 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 867 

B., who is the wife of George L. l*"reeinan, ciiief engineer for the Sawyer 
& Molton at Portland, Me., and has four ciiildren — Emily, AHce, Barbara 
and George, Jr.; and Ralph \V., who is a student in the Nute High school. 
Mr. Kimball and family are members of the Congregational church, of 
which he has been a trustee for eight years. For the past se\enteen years 
he has been treasurer of the local lodge of the A. O. U. \\'., and belongs 
also to the Knights of Pythias, at Milton. 

ORLANDO R. WIGGIN, one of the best known and busiest contractors 
and builders at Dover, has been established at No. 65 Park street since 1S92. 
He is a native of Barrington, N. H., born November 11, 1858, and is a son 
of George and Sophia (Hayes) Wiggin. 

George Wiggin was born at Durham, N. H., a descendant of Thomas 
^^'iggin, who was born in England and at an early day settled at I\ocking- 
ham, N. H. George Wiggin has spent the greater part of his life at Bar- 
rington, the birthplace of his wife, and followed farming. He is now de- 
ceased. 

Until he was nineteen years of age, Orlando R. Wiggin lived on the 
home farm near Barrington and attended the country schools and also P'rank- 
lin Academy. When twenty years old he began to learn the carpenter trade, 
with the firm of Clark & Tibbetts, then well known builders at Do\er, and 
remained through his apprenticeship and as a journeyman. He then went 
into building and contracting and has been more than ordinarily successful, 
having a large amount of important local construction work to his credit. 

Mr. Wiggin married Miss Mary L. Morrison, of Dover, and they havr 
five children; Roy E., Warren E., Thomas H., Ida M. and Donald D. Of 
his parents' children the following survi\e : Mary .\., who is the widow of 
Joshua M. Ham, of Dover; Samantha, who is the wife of Melvin Hall, of 
Barrington; George W'., also of Barrington; James I. and Orlando R., both 
of Dover; Elmer E., of East Barrington; and Charles P., of SpringT-'ale, 
Me. Mr. Wiggin is a Republican, as is his father, and has served two 
years as a councilman from the Second Ward, city of Dover, and for two 
years as an alderman from the same ward. He belongs to Mount Pleasant 
Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Olive Branch Lodge, Knights of Pythias, both 
of Dover. A reliable business man and public-spirited citizen, Mr. Wiggin 
enjoys a large measure of public esteem. 

HENRY H. CLIFFORD, a w^ell known and respected citizen of Dover, 
N. H., now living retired from active business life, was born in Dover, 
September 18, 1862, a son of Stewart and Margaret A. (Hawkins) Clif- 



868 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ford. His fatlier, iiuw deceased, was a nali\e of I'limi Island, Mass.; his 
mother of Dover. X. H., where slie is now residinjj at tlie age of 85 years 
with the sul)ject of this sketch. Stewart Chft'ord was a well known husiness 
man of Dover in his day. for many years heing the prt)prietor of a dveing 
establishment. In pulitics he was a Democrat, and he was of English ancestry. 

Henry H. Clifford was reared to manhood in Do\er and educated in its 
public .schools. When a young man he learned the trade of baker at Charles- 
town, Mass. Subsequently returning to Dover, he entered the employ of 
B. S. Hodgkins, a well known Ijaker and caterer, with wliom he remained 2 
years. He then bought out his employer's business and carried it on him- 
self for over a quarter of a century, retiring in 1910, after accumulating 
a fair competency. His success was self-earned and he is now regarded as 
one of the substantial citizens of Dover. In politics he is a Republican and 
in the fall of igij was a candidate for county commissioner, polling a 
large vote and being defeated by a narrow margin only. He is a member 
of Moses Paul Lodge. .A. F. & A. M., of Dover, and belongs also to the local 
lodge of Knights of Pythias. Progressive and public-spirited, he has a 
wide circle of friends and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow 
citizens generally. 

Mr. Clifford married Mary j. Lee, a native of Isles of Shoals, X. H., and 
they have one daughter, Margaret M.. who is a student at the Xew Hamp- 
shire State Normal School, at Plymouth. X. H. Mrs. Clifford, who is a 
daughter of Thomas Lee. late of I'ortsmouth. X. II.. is ;i ladv of line 
literary ability, having won a national reputation as an authoress of iiuenile 
books and stories, the latter being gladl)- accepted bv some of the leading 
and high class magazines. She was awarded a diploma from the National 
Press .Association of Indianapolis, having completed the storv-writing course 
of study of the association and passed with the highest credit. She was for- 
merly a member of the W^oman's Club of Dover. Mrs. Clifford and daugh- 
ter are prominent members of Dover's best social circles. 

MOSES C, CHAMBERL.MX. proprietor of the Chamberlain Stock 
farm, containing 300 acres and situated one and one-half miles southwest 
of Milton Mills, N. H., was born on this farm January 15. i86j. and is a 
son of Samuel d. and Elizabeth ( Fall) Chamberlain. 

Samuel G. Chamberlain was born also on the above farm, a son of 
SauTuel N. Chamberlain and a grandson of Moses Chamberlain, who was 
the first of the family to own this property. He was born on a farm in 
Strafford county, one mile south of the homestead, and came to the town 
of Milton in earlv manhood. Here he reared his family and the land has 




SAMUF]L G. CHAMBERLAIN 



N.\ 




i 

i 



BAED B. PLUMMER 



AXD REPRESENTATIVE CITIZEiNS 871 

remainetl a family pussessiun ever since. Samuel G. Chamberlain married 
Elizabeth Fall, wlni was born at Lebanon, Me., and they had four children: 
Alexander H., who is foreman of a mill at Union, X. 11.; Adelia E., wife 
of C. W. Lowe; Frederick .M.. who is employed by tlie Boston Ice Company 
at Milton, and Moses G. The mother of the above mentioned family died 
at the age of sixty-seven years, but the father lived to be eighty-four years 
old. Their burial was in the Miltnn Mills cemeterw 

Moses G. Chamljerlain was educated in the town of Alilton and in the 
village of Milton Mills. All the Chamberlains have been farmers to some 
extent, and Moses G., the youn,gest son. remained on the home place and 
continues the agricultural activities in which his father and grandfather 
also prospered. A large portion of the land is devoted to pasturage; milk 
production is a leading industry, a morning shi[)ment of lOo quarts being 
made daily to Boston. Also about one thousand cords of lumber ]:ave been 
cut and shipped from the place. Mr. Chamberlain keeps his property in 
fine order, cultivates about fifty acres and breeds high grade cattle. In him 
the Grange at Milton Mills has a valuable member, for he is deeply inter- 
ested in all progressive agricultural movements, and at present he is treasurer 
of the local liodv'. 

yiv. Chamberlain married Miss Arthie E. Junkins, who was born at 
L'ni(in, X. H., a daughter of the late James H. Junkins. They have one 
daughter. Blanche E., who is the wife of A. F. Walker. Mr. and Mrs. 
Walker reside als(_» on the farm. They ha\'e one s(jn. Burton Moses Walker, 
r^lrs. Chamberlain belongs also to the Grange and assists in promoting the 
social affairs of the order. Like his late father, Mr. Chamberlain is identified 
with the Keiniblican jiarly. 

BARD B. I'LUMMER, one of the selectmen of the town of Milton, 
Strafford County. X. H., owns and resides upon a farm of 200 acres, located 
on I'lummer Ridge, three and one half miles north of the village (if Miltijn. 
He is a representative of one df the county's oldest families, one that became 
established here in the very early colonial da_\'s. Mr. Plummer has always 
been actively identifieil with all that relates to the welfare and progress of his 
home community and county, and frequently has been called upon to serve 
in official capacity by his fellow citizens. He is of the fourth generation of 
F'lumniers to be born and reared in his present home, the date of his birth 
bein.g June 18, 1846. He is a son of Enoch W. and Orinda ( Ayers) Plummer. 

Francis Plummer. the first of our subject's ancestors in this country, 
was born in Wales in 1594. In 16,^4, he crossed to America in the sailing 
vessel, "Elizabeth Dorcas," settling in what now is Newbury, Mass. He and 



872 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

his wife became parents of the following children, the three oldest of whom 
were born in Wales, all being reared in Newbury : Samuel, Joseph, Hannah 
and Mary. Samuel, next in line of descent to Bard B. Plummer, married 
i\Iary Bidfield, by whom he had twelve children; Samuel, Mary, John, 
Ephraim, Hannah, Sylvania. Ruth, Elizabeth, Deborah. Josiah, Lydia and 
Bathusa. This family was probably reared in Xewbury. Ephraim Plummer 
married Hannah Jaques and their children were Mary, Hannah, Samuel, 
Elizabeth. John, Ruth, Daniel. Richard, Bidfield, Sarah and Emma. Richard 
Plummer, next in line of descent, was married to Elizabeth Beard, by whom 
he had five children: John, Samuel, Bidfield. Thomas and Sarah. Of the 
family last named, John Plummer married Elizabeth Titcomb and they had 
four children — Joseph. Beard, John and Betsy. 

Beard Plummer, son of John and Elizabeth Titcomb Plummer, was born 
in Rochester, N. H., to which place his father had moved from Newbury. 
He hitiiself moved from Rochester to the town of Milton and located on 
what has since been the Plummer humestcad. The old house, still standing, 
was remodeled in 1848, the clapboards an<l the nails all being hand-made. 
.\t the time Beard Plummer arrived there were but few families in the town, 
the accommodations were primitive and their hardships many. This hardy 
pioneer married Susannah Ham and their children were Jonathan, Enoch. 
Joseph, Betsy, John, Susan and Bard. Mr. Plummer was the first senator 
chosen to represent the town of Milton. Joseph Plummer, grandfather of 
the subject of this sketch, married Sally Brown and the names of their 
children were Jonathan. Caroline. Enoch \\'.. Bard, Joseph and Sarah. All 
were reared on the home farm. 

Enoch \\'. Plummer. son of Joseph and Sally (Brown) Plummer, was 
born on the old home place in 181 5. He followed farming in a general way 
and erected the barn now standing on the Plummer farm. He lived to reach 
the age of eighty-one years, dying in 1896; his wife had died the previous 
year, and both were buried in the cemetery on Plummer Ritlge. Her maiden 
name was Orinda Ayers and their marriage was blessed witii seven chil- 
dren: John T., Joseph E., May B., Bard B., Sarah, Fannie \V. and Susan. 
Mr. Plummer was a Republican in politics, and at one time served as repre- 
sentative of the town of Milton. In addition to farming, he also was owner 
of a half interest in a saw mill, his partner being Lewis Plummer. He was 
a devout christian, a member of the Congregational church, and for more 
than forty years was a deacon in the church, death terminating that tenure. 

Bard B. Plummer has always been engaged more or less in agricultural 
pursuits. He has sen-ed with public spirit and with marked efficiencv in 
various positions. He was a member of the school board five years, was 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 873 

moderator of tlie townsliip school board eight years, and is at the present 
a trustee of Nute High Scliool of Milton. He also is one of the trustees and 
is treasurer of Nute Charitable Association of the town of Milton. He was 
for two years high sheritif and served several years as deputy sheriff. He 
has always been consistent in his support of Republican principles. 

Bard B. Plummer was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Wentworth 
and they have four children: Lucy C, wife of George E. Eo.x of .\ -ton, 
Me.; Bard B. Jr.; Orinda and Fannie W. Bard B. Pluiumer, Jr.. iv.ar- 
ried Ruth L. Fall and they too reside on the home farm. They ha\e four 
children — Elizabeth, Rutli, Bard and Lymon. Religiously, the subject of 
this record is a member of the Congregational Church, of which he also is 
deacon, having succeeded his father to that office upon the latter's death. He 
is prominent as a ^lason, being past master of L'nity Lodge, F. & A. M.. 
of which he was secretar}- nineteen years, and is a member of Columbian 
Chapter of Farmington, St. Paul Commandery of Dover; the N. H. con- 
sistory at Nashau, N. H., and the Mystic Shrine at Concord. He is also 
Past Patron of Unity Chapter of O. E. S.. past master of Lewis W. Milton 
Grange of Milton, and past dictator of Lowell Lodge, Knights of Honor. 

JAMES A. JACKSON, who carries on general farming in the town of 
Rochester, where he and wife own 190 acres, situated three miles east of 
Rochester Square, on the Rochester Hill road, was born on this farm Decem- 
ber 9, 1851. He is a son of James, a grandson of Stephen and a great- 
grandson of Caleb Jackson. 

Caleb Jackson, the great-grandfather, accompanied by his brother, who 
was a physician, came very early to the town of Rochester from Connecticut. 
He located on the Rochester Hill road, one mile east of the present city 
of Rochester, and there reared a family, five of his children reaching 
maturity — Samuel. Stephen, Lydia. Hannah and Clements. Nothing is 
known of his wife except that she came of a family named Drew and was an 
estimable woman. They lived to be about eighty-four years old and their 
burial was in the Hanson cemeterv. 

Stephen Jackson, the grandfather, was married first to Betsey Knight 
and they had one daughter. Polly. His second marriage was to Betsey 
Hayes, and they had three children : James ; Andrew, who died at \Vest Con- 
cord ; and Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of George Hayes. The 
third marriage was to Betsey Place and they had one son, Stephen 2d, wlio 
died in California and was buried there. Stephen Jackson and all his wives 
and children now rest in the Haven Hill cemetery on the Rochester road. 

James Jackson, father of James A. Jackson, was born in Rochester, 



874 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Deceinher j. 1813. He married Lucy Ann Marrifield, a daughter of Jacob 
and I.ucy Marrifield. of Sanford, Me., and after marriage they settled on 
a part i)f the jiresent home farm and here three children were born: Olive 
Maria, a nurse. May 14, 1847: James Andrew, subject of this sketch: and 
Elizabeth A., l)orn January jg, 1857, who is the wife of E. A. Cross. Tiie 
mother of tile above family was loom January 26, 1821, and died July 30, 
1908. The father died January 11, 1900, and they rest side by side in the 
Haven Hill cemetery. They were kind, quiet, virtuous people and were 
members of the Free Will Baptist church. 

After his school days were over James A. Jackson remained on the home 
farm, which has since continued to be his home. Of the 100 acres designated 
as tiie iiome farm, aliout forty acres are tillable and Mr. Jackson has it 
under a fine state of cultivation. He was married June 15, 1887, to Miss 
Martha Elizabeth Allen, who was born August 31. 1859, on a farm on the 
Salmon Falls road, a daughter of Amasa and Elizabeth Allen. They have 
one son. Ernest Allen Jackson, born July 9. 1888. who after graduating 
from tlie Rochester High school, went into railroading and is now fireman 
on the B. & M. Railroa<l Ijetween Pnrtland and W'eircester. He married 
Miss Lillian Osgood and they ha\e one daughter, Helen E. Mr. Jackson 
gives liis political support to the Democratic party. He is justly proud of the 
fact that his grandfather. Stephen Jackson, was not only a reputable citizen 
and honest fanner, but was loyal in time of public peril and in the record 
preserving the names of officers of the War nf 1812 may be found his as a 
commissioned ensign. 

MRS. EMHA" E. LOONEY, a highly esteemed resident of Milton, 
X. H.. prominently ideiitifietl with numerous organizations, some of them 
being national in character, is the widow of Hon. Ciiarles H. Looney, for 
mail}- years a leading citizen of Stratford county and formerly a niember of 
both the lower and the upper branches of the state le,gislature. Mrs. Looney 
was born at Milton, X. H.. and is a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Hodg- 
dun) Miller, the former of w liom was born in England, .\fter coming to 
.America, Robert Miller resided in Boston. Mass.. where he learned the 
tailor's trade. Then after coming to the \'illage of Milton he was married 
to Sarah Hodgdon, who was bom at Lebanon. Me., where her father, Isaac 
Hodgilon was a substantial farmer. To Robert Miller and wife three chil- 
dren were born: Emily E.. (Mrs. Looney); a son who died at the age of 
twenty-two years; and Helen, who is the wife of Harn,- Scott Coles and 
resides in Boston. 

Emilv E. Loonev was reared at Milton and attended school here and 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 875 

at Lebanon, wiiere she had academic advantages. For a sliort time prior 
to her marriage she taught school. She has always maintained an interest 
in intellectual pursuits and has been prominent in social life. She is a mem- 
ber of the Rochester Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and 
has been continuously interested in other patriotic organizations, particu- 
larly the Woman's Relief Corps, of which she was department president 
during 1909 and 1910. She is active also in local charities and a helpful 
promoter of the benevolent agencies of the Congregational church, of which 
she is a member. Miss Miller was united in marriage with Charles H. Looney 
and they had the following children ; Xed Francis, w ho was educated at 
Milton and in the Lebanon Academy, married Adelaide C. Waldron and 
resides in Boston; Walter Eugene, who succeeded his father, in i()02, as 
deputy collector of customs, at Portsmouth; Robert, who, for ten years has 
been principal of the Milton Grammar school; and Harry, \\h(; is employed 
as a shoe cutter in a shoe factory at Milton. 

Charles H. Looney was born at Milton, N. H., and after a busy and use- 
ful life passed away here in April, 1902, his burial being in Prospect Hill 
cemetery. He was a son of Charles Francis and Rhoda A. (Leighton) 
Looney. Charles F. Looney was born at Manchester, England and learned 
the textile trades there. After he came to Milton, N. H., he engaged in 
manufacturing and died here at the age of fifty-two years. The mother of 
the late Senator Looney was his second wife and she survived until 1906. 
The present family residence, on South i\Iain street, was her old home and 
is, perhaps, the oldest house in the town of Milton. Charles H. Looney 
was engaged in a mercantile business at Milton. He early took an interest 
in public affairs, at the age of nineteen years being made postmaster of the 
village. In 1885, he was sent by the votes of the Rcpul)lican party as a 
representative of the town of Milton to the lower house of the state legis- 
lature and at the next election was sent to the senate, in both legislative 
bodies proving that he possessed rare cpialities of statesmanship. He was 
then appointed deputy collector of customs at Portsmouth and continued 
in that office until his death, with the exception of one term. He was 
interested also in lumbering in Maine and New Hampshire. He was the 
first secretary of the Nute High School and Library and was succeeded in 
this office by his son Walter. He attended the Congregational ciiurch and 
fraternally was a Mason. 

HON. ANDREW KILLOREN, business man and statesman, who has 
been a resident of Dover, N. H., since 1856, when he was a child of three 
years, is one of Strafford County's best known and most popular citizens. 

51 



876 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 17, 1853, a son of John and 
Bridget (Scanlon) Killoren. His parents, wlio were natives of County 
SHgo, Ireland, came to America in 1853, residing for a time at St. Johns, 
Newfoimdland. Later coming to New England, they lived some time in 
Dover, N. H., subseciuently going to Cincinnati, Ohio, where the father 
died. His widow, with her five sons, then returned to Dover. Of these 
sons Michael became a prominent merchant of Dover and also served his 
ward as alderman. James was a soldier in the Civil war. while John, like 
his brother Michael, was a prosperous merchant and served as alderman 
and as a member of the school board. 

Andrew Killoren was reared in Dover and educated in its public schools. 
For a number of years he was engaged in the grocery business with his 
brother, and also engaged in the ready made clothing business with his 
brother John. Beginning to take an active interest in public affairs as a 
member of the Democratic party, he was elected assessor, in which posi- 
tion he served for two years. In No\em]jer, 1886, he was elected to the 
New Hampshire legislature and served in the memorable session of 1887, 
representing Ward 5 of the city of Do\-er. During the session he worked 
hard for the bills providing for the municipal water works at Dover and 
for the establishment of the New Hampshire State College at Durham, 
both of which measures became laws. 

In November, 1888, he was re-elected tu the legislature "and in the 
session of 1889 he introduced the bill known as "Labor Day," the first 
Monday in September, and it became a law, in consefjuence of which Mr. 
Killoren is widely known as the "Father of Laljor Day in New Hamp- 
shire." During the same session he also introduced the l)ill provitling that 
a voter moving from one ward to another in the same city should not lose 
his vote, which bill also passed and became a law several sessions afterward, 
he being practically the father of this bill also, as he was the first to intro- 
duce it into the New Hampshire legislature. 

In 1890 Mr. Killoren was again elected to the legislature and in the 
session of 1891 he introduced the bill known as a "Weavers' Fine Bill," 
which passed the house but was killed in the senate. Elected state senator 
in November, 1892, from the Twenty-third New Hampshire District, after 
a unanimous nomination, with the largest Democratic majority ever accorded 
a candidate from that day to the present, he served in the following ses- 
sion with the ability that had already distinguished him. He amended what 
was known as the "Dependent Paupers Bill," which provided that the chil- 
dren of the dependent poor who were being cared for in the different 
county farms throughout the state should be placed in the orphanages of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 877 

tlie denominations to wliich thev respectively belonged at the expense of 
the state, and this bill became a law during that session, 1893. 

In addition to the above useful activities, Mr. Killoren has also per- 
formed good service in the Dover city government. He served fifteen years 
as a member of the school board, on the board of water commissioners 
six years, and for three years has been chairman of the board of health. 
For a number of years he has been the local agent for the Mutual Life 
Insurance Company of New York. He is a member of the Ancient Order 
of Hibernians, for a number of years was president of the local branch of 
that order and also served it as N. H. state treasurer. He attended three 
national conventions of the order, held respecti\'ely at Trenton, N. J.; 
Boston, Mass., and Denver, Colo. He is a member of St. Mary's Church, 
at Dover. With a character strongly altruistic, he is naturally public spirited 
and does not spare himself when he sees an opportunity to do some good 
service for humanity. In a business and social way he has made many 
warm friends who know his sincerity and appreciate the hi.gh ideals he 
has constantly before him and for the attainment of which he is ever striv- 
ing. 

IRA W. JONES, who has been established in his ow-n business at Mil- 
ton since 1900, is a designer of water power plants, a practical millwright 
and general engineer, having been specially trained for this line of w'ork. 
He was born in South Milton, N. H., June 10. 1854, and is a son of George 
H. and Lucy Jane (Varney) Jones. 

George H. Jones was born at Milton, as was his father, Joshua Junes, 
and now lives in South Milton, where he follows farming. He married 
Lucy Jane Varney, who died in 1S97, when aged se\'enty-one years. They 
had four children, two sons and two daughters, the latter being deceased. 

Ira \V. Jones attended the district schools in South Milton and the 
Milton High school. Recognizing his special talent he then entered the 
Starr King Drawing school at Boston, Mass., where he received his tech- 
nical training as a draughtsman and afterward spent three years in Boston 
working at ])attern and model making. Mr. Jones then learned the trade 
of millwright as a necessary adjunct to his chosen line of work and for 
four years devoted himself to practical effort as millwright, afterward for 
one year being employed with a machinery company at Worcester, Mass., 
as machinist and draughtsman. For the twelve succeeding years he was 
a salesman through New England for a business firm of Dayton, O., and 
afterward for eighteen months was salesman for the Holyoke Machine 
Company of Worcester, Mass. In 1900 lu: embarked in a general engi- 



878 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

ncering business for himself, Iia\ing his offices on Main street, Mihon, 
employing from ten to fifteen trained designers and draughtsmen and having 
contracts all o\-er New England, the southern states and Canada. Mr. Jones 
is an intelligent, wideawake and progressive citizen, but not a politician. 
He votes with the Republican party. 

Mr. Jones married Miss Lncia C. Wentworth, a daughter of George 
C. S. Wentworth of Milton, and they have two children: Nettie \\'., who 
is the wife of Ernest C. Lord, of Dover, and Mary C, who lives at home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Jones reside at Lebanon, X. H. 

GEORGE F. PINKHAM, who resides on the old family homestead 
containing eighty-four acres, situated in the town of Rochester, was born 
on this farm, December 14, 1847, and is a son of Wells R. and Martha 
P. (Gray) Pinkham. 

Wells R. Pinkham was born in New Durham. X. H., January 24, 1S04. 
and died on his farm in Rochester, December 8, 1879. He was a true, 
just man in every relation of life and his memory is lovingly preserved 
by his children, who long profited by his care and advice. Before coming 
to the town of Rochester he learned a trade in a nail factory in Massachu- 
setts, but. after purchasing the farm in 1837 from the Henderson heirs, 
he devoted the rest of his life to its care and improvement. The house 
and barn had been built by the former owners and needed but little repair- 
ing; they still are serviceable buildings and are carefulh- preserved l)y their 
present owner. Mr. Pinkham never cut timber on his farm. He reared 
his seven children from the proceeds of the products of his farm and 
those who desired to learn a trade were given such opportunit}-. In poli- 
tics he was a Democrat but ne\er believed in any secret society. He was 
never led into any kind of a speculation, all his actions being honest and 
above-board. Lie was a member of the .\dvent church. He married Martha 
P. Gray, who was born in Strafford, May 10, 1815, and died ]May ir, 1892. 
Her father was William Henry Gray. She was the mother of four sons 
and three daughters, George F. being the fifth born of the se\'en children. 
The parents were laid to rest in a private cemetery nn the farm. 

George F. Pinkham with his brothers and sisters attended a district 
school that was located on the home farm and he remained at home and 
became his father's helper and successor. This place is located three miles 
from Rochester Square and is partly bounded by the four-rod and the ten- 
rod roads. _Mr. Pinkham carries on large farming operations and raises 
fine cattle. He has been identified with the Rochester Grange since its 
beginning, being the third of the charter members to put his name down 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 879 

on the books. For nine years lie was an official and for tliree years was 
one of the most punctual members, missing but three night sessions in 
all that time. For the last thirty years he has been on the school board. 

Mr. rinkhani was married first to Cora E. Kate, of Brookfield, N. H., 
who left one daughter, Cora Etta, who is the wife of Ernest Roberts. His 
second marriage was to Clara J. Dugan, of Madbury, town of Rochester, 
a daughter of Jacob K. Bickford, and they have one son, Frank B. The 
father of Mrs. Pinkham was born and reared at Rochester Neck. He 
married Matilda, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Jenness) Varney, old 
settlers. Mrs. Pinkham was the youngest of four children. Her father 
died at the age of sixty-seven years; her mother survives at the age of 
ninety-two and lives on the old home farm. Often Mr. Bickford would 
tell that when he and his wife went to housekeeping they had not the price 
of a gallon of molasses, but at death he left a fine farm of 150 acres and 
a bank account, and was a man of consequence, ser\ing as a selectman 
and on the school committee. Mrs. Pinkham is secretary of the Bickford 
Reunion Association. 

S. F. DAWSON, Jr., president of the Milton Leather Board Company, 
of Milton, N. H., is well known in manufacturing circles in several sec- 
tions of New England. He was born at Lawrence, Mass., June 17. 1879, 
and is a son of S. F. and Eliza A. (Cutting) Dawson. 

S. F. Dawson, Sr., who is treasurer of the Milton Leather Board Com- 
pany of Milton. N. H., was born in England, in iS4r). and was a babe of 
six months when his parents brought him to the I'nited States and estab- 
lished the home at La\\Tence, Mass. There he \\as reared and still resides. 
He was brought up in the leather business and about 1882 entered into 
this business at Lawrence, Mass., carrying it on under the style of S. F. 
Dawson. In 1892 he removed the concern to Milton, organizing the Milton 
Leather Bciard Company. Here a large business has been built up. the out- 
put Iseing 20.000 pounds every twenty-four hours, and employment being 
given to twentv-fi\-e men. He married Eliza A. Cutting, who was born at 
Potsdam, N. Y. Thev ha\e two children, Mrs. Arthtu- Barker, of Law- 
rence, Mass., and S. F.. Jr. Mr. Dawson maintains lii^ hrtuie at Lawrence 
but spends two days oi the week at the plant in Milton. In politics he is 
an independent voter. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and to the Pilgrim 
Fathers and with his family attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

S. F. Dawson. Jr.. was educated at Lawrence, Mass. As soon as his 
school days were o\er he became actively connected with his present busi- 
ness, subsecjuently becoming head of the concern. On i\Iarch 2^, 1909, he 



880 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was married to Miss Editli Ackerman, who is a daughter of Rev. G. E. and 
Eugenia Ackerman, and they have two children : Seth W'illard, who was 
born at Laurence, Mass., and Harold Cleveland, who was born at Milton, 
N. H., which is the family home. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson are members of 
the Congregational church. In politics ^Ir. Dawson is a Republican and 
fraternally is a Mason. 

CHARLES S. OTIS for many years was a prominent business man 
and esteemed citizen of Dover, a man who chose the better part when 
brought into association with his fellow men and by his charity, kindness 
and justice won their resi>ect and regard. He was born Xovember 15, 1846, 
at Lee, N. H., and died at his home in Dover, Xo. 61 Park street, July 
21, 1908. His parents were Thomas J. and Olive (Goodwin) Otis, natives 
respectively of Strafford and Rockingham counties. 

Charles S. Otis was reared on a farm and obtained his education in 
the country schools and a private school conducted for a time at Lee. During 
his youth he followed farm pursuits, but for twenty years prior to his 
death had been largely interested in the manufacture of lumber, iiaving 
moved to Dover with his family in 1894. From con\ictions of right he 
■was active as a citizen and accepted public office at times, ser\"ing as a 
member of the city council of Dover, and also as an alderman, represent- 
ing the Secontl Ward. He believed in the principles of the Repulilican 
party. 

On December 24, 1873, Mr. Otis was married to Miss Flora B. Nutter, 
who was born at Alton, N. H., November 23, 1853, a daughter of Charles 
A. and Ann M. (Varney) Nutter, her father lieing a nati\e of Barnstead 
and her mother of Alton, N. H. Three children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Otis: George E.. who is deceased, and Harry G. and Pauline O. Airs. 
Otis continues to reside in the family home at Dover, in which city she is 
highly esteemed in many circles. She is a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Ladies, and also of the W. C. T. \J. She belongs to the 
Congregational church at Lee, to which Mr. Otis also belonged for a number 
of years. Mr. Otis was one who possessed qualities which make for remem- 
brance by family and friends, his loving care for his family and his thought- 
ful consideration for others being well remembered characteristics. 

HON. GEORGE J. FOSTER, born in Concord, N. H., February 13, 
1854, is son of Joshua Lane and Lucretia (Gale) Foster. He was gradu- 
ated from the Portsmouth high school in 1869, but his father gave him a 
higher education by initting him at work on the Dover \\'cekly Democrat, 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 881 

when he was seventeen years old, when the paix-r was started in Jannary. 
1872, and the Daily Democrat in June. 1873, when Mr. Foster was nineteen 
years old. He has remained continuously in the w(.irk of managing these 
papers forty-three years. The present standing cf these papers shows that 
his father was a good schoolmaster and the son a bright pupil. Mr. Foster, 
Sr., was one of the keenest editorial writers that has appeared in New 
Hampshire; the son did not take to that part of the work, it was not neces- 
sary, but devoted his attention and energy to the mechanical and business 
part of running a successful newspaper. He could handle the pen all right, 
but it was not needed as long as his father and brother Charles lived. That 
no mistake was made in making the young man the business manager is 
manifest by the present standing of the papers among the press of New 
Hampshire, and the complete pecuniary success of the enteri)ri.se. His 
long training had made him keen in perception and sound judgment as to 
what is the right thing to do at the right time. t(.) please his patrons by 
giving them the news, fresh from the acts, complete in facts and detail, and 
by treating the business men in such a square and courteous way that he 
gave the advertisers in his ])apers more than their money's worth in return, 
as well as the satisfaction, which is worth more than money. 

Outside of being a good newspaper man Mr. booster has been a good 
citizen. He has been a member of the school committees almost continu- 
ously since i88j: he has been chairman of the Ijoanl several years and has 
used all his influence t^ advance the schools to better work in what they had. 
and also to intrdduce new methods and new departments which would keep 
Dover schools on an eipial, if not a little ahead of otlier schools in the 
state. His s]5ecialty on the committee was on finance, for schools cannot 
do good work without good financial su|)|ir)rt. Xo school mone)' was e\'er 
wasted with Mr. j-'oster's consent. 

Mr. Foster has l)een a staunch Republican since the first presidency of 
Grover Cleveland. As such he has represented his ward in the legislature 
of 1893, and he was an efficient member of the General Court, serving on 
important committees and ne\'er Ijctraying the interests of his constituents, 
or his city, or his ])art\-. 

Mr. Foster has been mayor of Dover three times; his first election was 
by the city councils to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mayor Alonzo 
T. Pinkham, August 22. 1906; he served in that office until the first \Vednes- 
day in January, 1907. The important event of that ]ieriod was the dedica- 
tion of the Wcntworth Hospital, which had been given to the city by Hon. 
Arioch Wentworth of Boston. The dedicatory service was on August 30th 
and marked the completion of one of the most \'alual)le institutions the 
city ]iossesses. 



882 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Mr. Foster next served as mayor two full terms in 1909 and 1910, during 
which time there were made several marked improvements. The Govern- 
ment Imilding for the post office was completed on Washington street. The 
filter bed for the water works was completed, which removed all complaints 
about the purity of the domestic water supply, concerning which there had 
been much complaint before. -\lso two wells were driven for an increased 
water supply. An impro\enient was made in the efficiency of the fire 
department by the purchase, on recommendation of Mayor Foster, of a 
chemical fire extinguisher engine. Mayor Foster kept a careful and intel- 
ligent watch over all the business interests of the city, never allowing his 
private business to interfere in any way in answering the calls of public 
business, which he conducted as carefully as he did his own affairs. In 
fact, being a successful manager of a good newspaper thoroughly qualified 
him for being a first-class mayor of the cit}\ During his second year, on 
his recommendation, playgrounds were provided for the children and ama- 
teur base ball games, all of which was highly appreciated by the young folks 
and commended by the citizens in general. 

As a society man Mr. Foster favors St. John Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is a member of Moses Paul Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 96; 
Olive Branch Lodge, Xo. 6, K. P.; Dover Lodge, Xo. i8j, B. P. O. E.. 
and is a thirty-second degree Alason of the Scottish Rite. For many years 
he has been a member of the Bellamy Club, and its president four years. 
He is a trustee of the W'entworth Flome for the Aged, and also a trustee 
of the Strafford Savings Bank. 

Mr. Foster is ninth in descent from Rugenald (?) Foster, who came 
from England at the time so many emigrated from England to Massa- 
chusetts in 1638, and with his family was on board one of the vessels em- 
bargoed by King Charles L Soon after he arrived he settled in Ipswich 
with his wife and five sons and two daughters. It is said that he lived to 
extreme old age: that his children also lived to past three score and ten. 
and left families whose descendants are in all parts of the country. The 
Foster family has authentic records co\ering a period of nearly one thousand 
vears ; it has furnished to the world its share of fruits of toil ; it has con- 
tributed its share to enterprise and progress. Wherever it appears in the 
affairs of men it l^ears its crest, the iron arm. holding the golden javelin 
poised towards the future. 

During its existence the Foster family has been a hardy and progressive 
race, almost universally endowed with an intense nervous energy; there 
have been many instances of high attainments. A bearer of the name has 
been ex-officio vice president of the Republic (Hon. Lafayette G. Foster. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 883 

president pro tern, of the Senate during Andrew Johnson's administration) ; 
anotlier, Hon. John \V. Foster, of Indiana, was secretary of state under 
President Harrison. Hon. Charles Foster of Ohio was secretary of the 
treasury. The New Hampshire Fosters ha\e a good record. These facts 
are mentioned incidentally to show that George J. Foster comes from good 
Puritan stock. 

On July 22, 1880, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Anna C. 
Clark, daughter of Seth H. and Clarissa Clark. They reside in an elegant 
residence jn Hough street. They have two sons and a daughter, Bertha 
Florence, who graduated from Wellesley College in 1900 and was united 
in marriage with Mr. Harold C. Glidden, June 7, 191 1. The sons, Arthur 
and Fred, are both engaged on the newspaper in \arious departments, mak- 
ing the third generation in succession, which is a somewhat remarkable fact, 
at least in New Hampshire. 

JEREMY BELKNAP GUPPEY, a well known and highly esteemed 
citizen of Dover, N. H., residing on a farm of over 100 acres situated 
partly in Dover and partly in Rollinsford, was born in Dover, N. H., April 
6, 1831, younger child of John and Hannah (Dame) Guppey. His father 
■was a native of Portsmouth, N. H., and his mother of Kittery, Me. She 
was daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Plaisted) Dame. He was fifth in 
descent from Deacon John Dame, who settled in Dover in 1633. She was 
fourth in descent froiu Roger Plaisted of Kittery, 1650. 

Tiie immigrant ancestor of the family of whom our subject is a great- 
grandson was Joshua Guppey. who came to this country from England 
in the year 1700, settling at Beverly, Mass. From him the present line of 
descent is traced through Capt. James Guppey (grandfather of J. Belknap), 
a sea captain, who made his home at Portsmouth, remo\-ing to Dover, N. H., 
in 1768, where he purchased the farm now owned and occupied by the 
subject of this sketch, and here he died. His son John, succeeding to the 
fami, resided on it all his life, engaged in agriculture: he died in 1855. 
He and his wife Hannah were the parents of eight children, of whom J. 
Belknap was the joungest and is now the sole sur\i\or. 

He had two brothers who won prominence in highly worthy fields of 
labor. General Joshua James Guppey, born August 27, 1820; graduated 
from Dartmouth College. 1843, -'^- B-- -^- M. 1S57: studied law; went 
West; settled in Wisconsin; judge of probate, 1849-50; judge of County 
Court, 1850-1858. 1860-1882. In the Civil War he was lieutenant colonel 
of the Tenth Wisconsin Volunteers, colonel of 23d Wisconsin Volunteers; 
brevet brigadier genera! of volunteers, 1865. He was one of the most 



884 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUKTY 

distinguished men of the state; died at Portage, December 8, 1S93. ^'^ 
remains were brought to Dover and interred in the family burial ground 
in Pine Hill Cemetery : unmarried. 

Another brother, Joseph Dame Guppey, born February 11, 1823, died 
June 3. 1S90; lie was educated in the public schools and Franklin Academy 
of Dover. In his younger days he was a famous schoolmaster. In his 
later years he was engaged in farming and in public affairs; besides holding 
other offices he was mayor of Dover in 1879 and 1880. Previous to that 
he had been alderman two years and county commissioner two years. He 
was a man of marked ability. The Guppey Club of Franklin Square was 
named in honor of him. 

J. Belknap Guppey was reared to man's estate on the old family home- 
stead, where he now li\es. His education was acquired in the common 
schools and Franklin .\cademy of Dover, and in the larger school of life, 
in which he has lieen an apt pupil. His farm is a good piece of agricultural 
property, and the house in which he resides was built in 1690, being one 
of the old landmarks of the county, and is next to the oldest house in Dover. 
the Drew Garrison at Black river being ten years older. It has been kept 
in good repair and is a comfortal)le family residence. The frame of the 
house is of white oak; the timbers are hewn with perfect exactness. It is 
finished with the utmost care. A delicate beaded edge is shown on the 
square beams inside in e\ery room. The parlor is finished in clear white 
pine, very wide panels perfectly free from knots. In the southwest corner 
of the parlor stands a handsome buffet, exquisitely made ; and the front 
entry is paneled from top to bottom. The winding oak stairs have a sub- 
stantial oak rail. There is a huge beveled glass mirror on the wall, near 
the buffet, above which is a picture of a young girl in a loose pink gown, 
leaning against a white pillar which is labeled "Sacred to Friendship." The 
mirror is perhaps sup])Osed to remind the lady beholding herself in it that 
she is far more beautiful to her friends than to herself. On the north 
wall of the parlor are large jjortraits of King George III and Queen Char- 
lotte. These were brought from Fngland by Captain James Guppev in 1760. 
the year their majesties were crowned. He is the great-grandfather of 
Queen \'ictoria. who is grandmother of the present King George of Eng- 
land. So three generations of the Guppey family cover the period occupied 
by six generations of kings and queens of England. This shows what a 
vigorous race the Gu])])ey family is. 

Air. Guppey is a Republican in politics, and although he is getting along 
in years, is a wide-awake and up-to-date citizen, taking an interest in the 
leading questions of the day. a supporter of the church, and favoring wide- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 885 

spread, practical educalion. In fact, any worthy cause is pretty sure to 
receive his cordial approval and support. He believes in doing good work 
with his estate while alive, instead of be(jueathing it by will for an executor 
to settle. About a half dozen years ago he denoted to the city a beautiful 
playground for children. Ijetween I'cjrtland and h'orcst streets. Abnut the 
same time he gave the city the free use of the tract known as the "Cuppey 
Pines,'" in which the boys and young men have a fine base ball ground, which 
is much used in the base ball season. During this current year, 1913, he 
has donated a large tract of land, nu the hill north of Atlantic Avenue, to 
be used by the city as a pul)lic i)ark forever. It is one of the fine.st loca- 
tions in the city for such a use. All this generosity was for the public 
good, for which his fellow citizens hold him in high esteem. That is not 
all. 'I'wci or three years ago he made \aluable donations to the three religious 
societies in Dover — to the First Church, to St. John's Methodist Episcopal 
Cliurch. and to the Pierce Memorial Church — to each a good tenement 
house on or near Portland street, from wliii'h these organizations are receiv- 
ing a good rexenue for the support of religious work. 

JOHX H. B.\TEMAN, a well known citizen of Strafford county, has 
resided on his \aluablc farm of forty acres in Rollinsford since the s|)ring 
of iQi.v and for many )-ears has i)een engaged in both farming and lum- 
bering, owning timber land in StrafTord and East Xorthwood, X. PI. lie 
was born at Do\er, X. II.. January 27. 1846. and is a son of Richard \Y. 
and Lydia 1 Pea\ey) Bateman. 

Richard W. Bateman was liorn in Cumberland county, England. In 
184J; he came to the L'nited States, finding employment at Dover, N. H., 
where he remained for manv vears as bead machinist and blacksnu'th in 
the Cocheco. now the Pacific, Mills. In 1S37 he met with an accident in 
these mills that caused his death. He was sur\i\ed by his wife, who was 
a nati\'e of X'ewington. X. H. 

John H. Bateman had his own wa}' to make in the world after the 
death of his father and his l>oyhoo(l days were spent in attending school 
when he was able and in working as he found opportunity. He grew up 
with good principles. lio\\e\ er. and an ardent loxe of countrv and on Sep- 
tember 5, 1S64. enlisted for ser\ice in the Ci\il war, entering Company E, 
i8th X. H. Volunteer Infantr}-, which became a part of the Army of the 
Potomac. He participated in numerous shar]) engagements and was in the 
se\'en days' battle in front of Petersburg. He participated in the triumphal 
review at Washington, doing provost duty during the entire period of the 
parade, and was honorably discharged June to, 1865. In July, 1913, Mr. 



886 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Batenian attended the great gathering of the Bkie and Gray at Gettysburg, 
Pa., wliere he met old comrades, renewed old friendships and extended the 
hand of kindly fellowship to many who were once his enemies. It was a 
wonderful occasion. .-Vfter the close of his army life he went to Strafford 
county, N. H., and this section has continued to be his home. 

On December i6, 1868, Mr. Bateman was married to ]\Iiss Sarah E. 
Foss. who was born August 15. 1844, in Strafford, a daughter of Daniel 
and Mary D. (James) Foss. the father a native of Straft'ord and the mother 
of Lee. N. H. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bateman was Richard Foss, 
\\ho was a son of Nathaniel h'oss, an early settler of Strafford. It is a 
fine old New England name and was borne by a recent governor of Mas- 
sachusetts. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bateman — Orpha L., 
William and an uiniamed infant all being deceased; John F., who is a resi- 
dent of Pittsfield, N. H. ; and Edith E., who is the wife of Victor McKay, 
also of Pittsfield. One daughter of ]\Ir. and Mrs. McKay, Leah E., resides 
with her grandparents. Mr. Bateman is a Republican in politics. 

CHARLES PLUAIER, one of the best known residents of RoUinsford, 
N. H., was born in this town October 8. 1847. a son of William and Pame- 
lia (Waldon) Plumer, the father being a native of RoUinsford and the 
mother of Dover, N. H. His paternal grandfather was Eljenezer Plumer. 
a native of what is now RoUinsford and a descen(huU of one of the early 
settlers of this town. The Plumer family is said to be of Scotch origin. 
William Plumer, who resided all his life in RoUinsford, was in his day a 
representative to the State legislature ; he also served as selectman, held 
other town offices, and was cai)tain of militia. He died January 20. i8yo. 
Of his family three now survive, namely: William H., a resident of Max- 
well, Neb.; Charles, subject of this sketch; and Fred, who lives in Rollins- 
ford, N. FI. William, the father, was a memljer of the Baptist church of 
South Berwick, Me., and was a well known and respected citizen. His 
sister, Mary W^. was the mother of the late Senator Edward H. Rollins 
of New Hampshire. 

Charles Plumer was reared to man's estate in his nati\e town of Rol- 
linsford, being educated in the public schools here and at South Berwick 
Academy. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he 
followed for several years. He then went to Lincoln County, Neb., where 
for several years he was engaged in stock raising at Maxwell. At the 
same time he was employed as express messenger by the LTnion Pacific Ex- 
press Company, controlled by the L'nion Pacific Railway Company. Re- 
turning east in 1880, he located at RoUinsford Station, this county, where 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 887 

lie has since remained. He lias served as selectman of tlie town and in 
other offices, and is a reliable and popular citizen. 

Mr. Plumer married for his first wife, Ella M. Fellows, a native of 
Sandown, X. M., and daughter of Kufus Fellows. He married secondly, 
October 27, 1H86. his present wife, whose name in maidenhood was Ella 
E. Knowlton. She was born at Salmon Falls, N. H., a daughter of Jere- 
miah and Eliza (Goodwin) Knowlton, both her parents being natives of 
Eliot, Me. Mr. and Mrs. I'lumer attend the Congregational church at 
Salmon Falls, of which for the la.st twenty years he has been treasurer, 
being also secretary and treasurer of the Sunday school. In politics he is 
a Republican with independent proclivities. He belongs to the Masonic 
order and to the Odd Fellows, and is also a charter member of Hiram R. 
Roberts Grange, wdiich he has also served as master. Mrs. Plumer was 
for years organist of the Grange. She is a memljer of the Women's CluJj 
at Somersworth, N. H., and is secretary and treasurer of the Ladies' Aid 
Society of the Congregational church at Salmon Falls, being also clerk of 
the church. She was formerly a teacher in South Berwick Academy and in 
the grammar school ai Salmon Falls, and is a member of the Robinson 
Seminary Association .\lumnae. For many years she has been the Salmon 
Falls correspondent of the Somersworth Free Press. She is also secretary 
of the Goodwin Family Association and organist of the Congregational 
church at Salmon Falls. 

HON. JOSEPH D. ROBERTS, one of the prominent and representa- 
tive men of Strafiford county, bears an honored name and in his own person 
has won public esteem and on many occasions has been elected to offices 
of trust and responsibility by his fellow citizens. From 1895 ""til i8'/> 
he served as a member of the New Hampshire legislature; for a number 
of years has been president of the Salmon Falls Bank, of which he is yet 
a director and is also a trustee of the Rollinsford Savings Bank, while his 
agricultural interests are extensive. He was born in Rollinsford, N. H., 
November 12, 1848, and is a son of Hiram R. and Ruth (Ham) Roberts. 

Hiram R. Roberts was born also in Rollinsford, a son of Stephen Rob- 
erts and a grandson of John Roberts, an early settler in Strafford county. 
The old Roberts homestead has been continuously in the family since 1737. 
Hiram R. Roberts was an influential and useful citizen of this county. He 
served as an associate judge in middle life. In 1874 he was his party's chosen 
candidate for governor and it was said that he received the largest vote 
ever cast up to that time for a Democratic candidate. For many years 
afterward he served in the office of justice of the peace and was one of 



888 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

the promoters of the Sahiioii h'ahs Bank, <>\ whicli he was president for 
a long period, and one of the founders of the Rolhnsford Savings Bank. 
He carried on farming during tlie larger portion of his life and died on 
his old homestead in 1876. Of his children the following sur\-i\'e: Walter 
S., who is a resident of Des Moines, la. ; Hall, \\ ho lives at I'ostville, la. ; 
Susan R., who is the widow of Samuel H. Rollins, is a resident of Rol- 
linsford ; Joseph D. and I'Vancis \\ ., whi) lives at Seattle, Wash. 

Joseph D. Roberts attended the Rollinsford schools in his youth and 
later passed ten winter terms as a student in an academy at Berwick, Me. 
From boyhood his interests have been agricultural. He has taken a very 
acti\e interest in the Patrons of Husbandry, for man\- years has been a 
member of the New tlampshire State Grange, and for the last fourteen 
years has been its treasurer and a trustee. He belongs to the Hiram R. 
Roberts Grange No. 194 of Rollinsford, of which he has been master. For 
a cj[uarter of a century Mr. Roberts has been in the i)ure bred stock business 
and for the last fifteen years has gi\en nuich attention to the breeding of 
Holstein cattle. His beautiful estate containing 256 acres bears the name 
of Hill Top b'arni. 

On July 31, 1873, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Addie E. Littlefield, 
who was born in York county, Me., a daughter of Thomas B. and Eliza- 
beth (Jones) Littlefield. Of their family of ten children the following are 
living: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Charles Coker of Salem, Mass.; 
Harry, who li\-es in Montana; Edith A., who is professor of l)otany and 
geology at Mount Holyoke College, lieing a graduate of Smith College, 
and having also attended Chicago University; Hiram H., who is a select- 
man of Rollinsford and lives on the old homestead; Ruth, whi) is the wife 
of Harold Dodge, and Joseph C, Clara H. and Dorothy D., who are all 
of Rollinsford. J\lr. Roberts and wife are members of the Baptist church 
of South Berwick, Me. h^rom 188(1 until iS(;o Mr. Roberts was a com- 
missioner of StraiYord county and for many years was a selectman of Rol- 
linsford and often president of the board, as he has long l)een of the 
board of education. For ten years he has served as a member of the New 
Hampshire State Board of Agriculture, being its cliairman. Fie has led 
a busy and useful life. 

CHARLES H. ANDREWS, general farmer, residing in the town of 
Rochester, where he has 150 acres of land situated three miles from Roches- 
ter Square, city of Rochester, was born at Gonic, N. H., October 14, 1S53, 
and is a son of Benjamin and Loui.se (George) .\ndrews, the former of 
whom died at Lynn, Mass., and the latter at Salem, lioth aged fifty-seven 
years. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 



889 



Charles H. Andrews has been a resident of Rochester since he \va> ten 
years old. He attended school here in boyhood, after which he engaged 
in farm work, having a preference for it beyond any other kind of employ- 
ment. When he married he settled un the present farm, forty acres of which 
is tillable, the rest being given np to pasturage. He keeps high grade cattle 
and operates a milk route, handling'the product of twelve cows. The father- 
in-law of Mr. Andrews, James T. Hanson, lived on this farm from the 
age of seven years until his death on .\pril 7, 1889, at the age of seventy- 
one years. During the lifetime of Air. Hanson, Mr. Andrews assisted in 
keeping the buildings in repair and since then has made all needed impro\e- 
ment, although originally they were so substantially constructed that com- 
paratively little change has been neetled. The barn was Iniilt in 186S. and 
the dwelling was erected 100 years ago. 

On April 2^. 1873, Afr. .\ndrews was married to Miss Clara Ida Han.son, 
who was born on this farm, the eldest of the three children born to her 
parents, who were James T. and Lois A. { W'entworth) Hanson. James 
T. Hanson was born in Rochester, N. H.. and spent his life as a farmer. 
He was a Democrat in his political opinions init never accepted political 
ofifice. He married Lois H. Wentworth, who was born in 1825 antl died 
May 17, 1900, and both were buried in the Somersworth cemetery. They 
were luembers of the Congregational church and were worthy, respected 
people in e\-ery relation of life. Air. and Airs, -\ndrews have two sons: 
Everett J., who is a resident of Haverhill, Mass., and Raymond B., who 
assists his father on the homestead. Mr. Andrews is a Democrat in politics ; 
lie has served in local offices and at present is a member of the city council 
of the city of Rochester, having been elected in 191 1 for three years. Ray- 
mond B. Andrews belongs to the fraternal order of Red Alen, 

CHARLES A. GOODWIN, who for the past four years has lived 
somewhat retired at Rollinsford Junction, after thirty years of agricultural 
activity on his farm m Rollinsford, is a veteran of the Civil war and a 
highly respected citizen of Strafford county. He was liorn at Sanford, 
Me., December 8, 1843, a son of Rev. Charles K. and Dorcas P. (Libbev) 
Goodwin. 

Rev. Charles E. Goodwin was born at Lebanon, Me., and died in Straf- 
ford county, N. H. (where he had lived for a few years previouslv) in 
1899, at the age of eighty-three years. He was a .son of Charles Goodwin, 
born also at Lebanon, who was a descendant of Daniel Goodwin, who came 
from England to America in 1652, founding a family in York county, 
Maine, which has ^|lread to other .sections, ever preserving the old, sturdy 



890 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

traits of character that from the first distinguished it. Rev. Charles E. 
Goodwin was the representatixe of the scNxntii generation in America. He 
was widely known as a minister in the Christian church and for many 
years preached at different places in York county, ]\laine. He married 
Dorcas P. Lihljey, horn also at Lebanon, and of their children the follow- 
ing sur\i\e: I\iir_\- L., who lives at West Medford, Mass.; Charles A., 
residing in Rollinsford; Edward J., president of Packer Collegiate Insti- 
tute, Brooklyn. X. "S'., a noted educator and graduate of Bates College and 
formerly assistant commissioner under the late Dr. Draper, who was com- 
missioner of education for the state of New York; and Mary, who is the 
widow of John L. Bennett, and resides at Xo. 31 Belknap street, Dover. 

Charles A. (ioothvin attended the public schools in York county, Maine, 
and later an academy at .\ndo\er, X. H., afterward for seven consecuti\e 
years teaching winter terms of school in his nati\'e county. In 1877 he 
came to Rollinsford, where, as stated above, he was a farmer and stock 
raiser for thirty years. He has an honorable Civil war record. On Sep- 
tember 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, 27th Me. Vol. Inf., which 
was called out to defend the city of \\^ashington, the enlistment co\ering 
ten months. His term expired on June 30, 1863, but he was one of the 
300 members of his regiment who voluntarily remained as pickets around 
Washington for four more days of danger. They were released on the 
evening of July 4, 1863, after the battle of Gettysburg, Init their service 
was not forgotten, in proof of which Mr. Goodwin can display a gold medal 
voted by Congress to the 300 men who showed real patriotism in defense 
of their capital city. This medal is a valual)le and cherished keepsake, 
bearing, in ]\Ir. Goodw in's case, the following inscription : "The Congress 
to Corporal Charles A. Goodwin, Co. B, 27th Me. Infantry." On July 22, 
1864, he re-enlisted, entering Company A, 5th Mass. Vol. Inf., and again 
was assigned to duty at \A'ashington, where he was honorably discharged 
November 17, i8r)4, when he returned to Straft'ord county, his home ever 
since. 

Mr. Goodwin was first married to Miss Charlotte Wilson, a native of 
Kittery, Me., and they had two children, Jennie M. and William, both of 
whom are deceased. On August 12, 1877. he was married secondly to 
Miss Amanda A. Bennett, who was born !\Iarch 26, 1847, ^t Freedom, 
N. H., a daughter of Sylvester and Olive (Lang) Bennett, the father a 
native of Freedom and the mother of Wakefield, N. H. Mrs. Goodwin's 
grandfather, Joseph Bennett, was said to have been a native of England 
and a resident for many years of Freedom, N. H., where Mrs. Goodwin 
was reared and attended school and also, for a short time, taught school. 




STEPHEN C. HEADER 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 893 

Botli she and Mr. Goodwin are members of the Hiram B. Roberts Grange 
at Rolhnsford, of which Mr. Goodwin was master for two years. They 
attend the South Berwick Free Baptist Church. Mr. Goodwin belongs to 
the Sahnon Falls lodge of Odd Fellows and to the Encampment at South 
Berwick, Me. In politics he is a Republican; for two years he served as 
a selectman of Rolhnsford and for one year was chairman of the board. 

STEPHEN CHASE MEADER, agent for the Gonic Manufacturing 
Company, of Gonic, N. H.. was born in Rochester. N. H., December 14, 
1840, a son of Levi and Amanda (Eastman) Meader. He comes of an old 
New England family, established Ijy John Pleader, who came from England 
in 1650 and settled at Oyster River, between Portsmouth and Dover, where 
he had a land grant in 1656. He had a son Daniel, among others, and 
seven at least of Daniel's sons settled at Rochester about 1750 to 1760, who 
took up land in that part of the town known as Meadeboro. Benjamin, 
the son of Daniel mentioned above, had a son Stephen, who was the grand- 
father of Stephen C. and Walter S. Meader of the Gonic Manufacturing 
Company. 

This Stephen Meader was born in Rochester in 1782 and resided on a 
farm near Meadeboro Corner, which is now in the possession of one of 
his descendants. 

Levi, the fourth son of Stephen, was Ijorn in Rochester. Feliruary 4. 
1S13. In 1837 he married Amanda Eastman, of Peacham, Vt. His son, 
Stephen Chase Meader, whose natixity is given aI)o\e. during boyhood li\ed 
on the farm with his parents, attending the district sclmol and laying the 
foundation of a strong, healthy physi(jue. When lie was about 14 years 
old his father moved to Gonic \illage. in part to get better educational 
advantages for his large family. Here yi.umg Ste])hen. in the intervals of 
the A'illage school sessions, worked in the mill. In 1856 he entered the 
Friends' school in Providence, R. 1., where he remained nearly four years. 
He was a diligent student, excelling in mathematics and chemistry. In i860 
he completed his school life at Providence, returned to Gonic and entered the 
mill in the employ of the late N. V. Whitehouse, working in various parts 
of the mill. From this time forward his mastery of the details of manu- 
facturing was rapid. His methodical habits and quick insight into the var- 
ious processes united to gmjd indgment and faithfulness hastened his promo- 
tion to the position of dyer, then finisher, superintendent, and finally to 
that of agent, to which last place he was fonnally appointed in 'June, 1S81. 
He is a director of the Rochester Loan and Banking Company, also a 
Trustee of the Rochester Library and a director of the Rochester Loan and 

52 



894 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Buikling Company. Since he took cliarge of the Gonic Manufacturing 
Conii)any in ii^8i, the coniimny has been remarkably successful. 

Like his father and his brother John lie has been twice elected to repre- 
sent the town in the State legislature. The prominent points of his character 
are quiet, unobtrusive ways, decision, firmness and a conscientious regard 
to duty, always seeking for the best results and shaping the means at his 
command with excellent judgment to obtain them. Constantly alive to the 
requirements of the position he holds and of undefatigable industry and 
perseverance, while holding to the ancient faith of a long line of ancestors 
as a member of the Quaker fraternity, he is liberal to all religious denom- 
inations and a generous contributor to the support of the village church. 
He is a judicious helper in educational and moral purposes for the good 
of the community in which he lives, and his future usefulness to the town, 
his associates and his family can only be measured by the years he may 
live. He married Effie Seavey, of Rochester, September 20, 1870, and has 
one child, Gertrude Pleader Andrews. 

THE GOXIC MAXL'FACTURING COMPANY, of Gonic, N. H., 
was the second industry in the town to develop into a woolen factory, as 
a producer of woolen goods for the general market, which dates back to 
183S. Prior to that time and, in fact, up to 1848, the water power was 
used largely for sawmill, gristmill and some other industries required by 
the wants of the immediate neighborhood. From 1840 to 1848 two sets of 
machinery were run, making satinets and bockings, but mainly woolen flan- 
nels. In 1848 the whole concern was swept away by fire and in the following 
year the building was replaced by the present No. i mill, built with four sets 
of machinery, to make woolen flannels exclusively. From this date up to 
1859 it was owned and managed by N. \". W'hitehouse, since deceased. In 
the year last mentioned the concern was incorporated with a capital stock 
of $50,000, the W'hitehouse family and the firm of Parker, Wilder & Co., 
being its stockholders. N. \\ W'hitehouse was the first president. Samuel 
B. Rindge and Marshall P. ^\'ilder. with himself, were the directors. The 
factory employed at this time about fifty people. i\Ir. W^hitehouse was its 
agent and so continued until 1877, when the whole interest of the concern 
merged into possession of Parker, Wilder & Co. For about three years — • 
from 1877 to 1880 — the plant was closed down, it being started again in the 
year last mentioned, under the direction of the present Agent, S. C. Meader. 

In 1865 the large No. 2 mill was built. Within the past 30 years under 
the present management many important alterations, improvements and 
additions have been made, resulting in increasing the production more than 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 895 

fourfold, and in a higher standard of excellence in the goods. Everything 
in and about the mill is of the best; every appliance to increase the produc- 
tion or perfect the quality of the goods has been adopted, and everything 
for the comfort, safety and convenience of the operatives is provided for. 
The goods are designed largely for women's ware. 

The first officials of the company were N. V. Whitehouse, Marshall P. 
Wilder and Samuel B. Rindge, directors; Ezra Farnsworth, treasurer, and 
Charles S. Whitehouse, clerk. N. V, ^Vhitehouse, as already noted, was 
also agent until 1877. Benjamin Phipps was made treasurer November, 
1868, and held that position until his death. Ezra Farnsworth succeeded 
N. V. Whitehouse as a director, and in 1881 the venerable Marshall P. 
Wilder retired and was succeeded by William H. Sherman. On May 3, 
1883, Samuel B. Rindge died and Col. Francis J. Parker of Boston succeeded 
him. The present officers are P'arker Bremer, president ; Stephen C. Meader, 
director and agent, and Samuel Rindge, director and treasurer, the last 
mentioned having been appointed treasurer at the death of Benjamin Phipps. 
John Meader, formerly superintendent, was succeeded at his death by John 
L. Meader, who now fills that position, with Harry H. Meader as assistant 
superintendent. Julia E. Meader is bookkeeper, W. S. Meader paymaster. 
George B. INIcEIwain was dye-master for many years, his present successor 
being William L. McElwain. L. M. Richardson is boss weaver, James Lucey 
boss carder, Theo. ^^'ilmont boss spinner, George ^larsh boss finisher, James 
Teague boss wool sorter. About two hundred people are now employed. 
The company owns fifty tenements, which are rented to the employes. 

During the last year the power at the sawmill privilege has been largely 
increased by the construction of a canal, 1,000 feet long, and the erection 
of a power house, water wheels, dynamos, etc.. to transmit about 550 horse- 
power back to the mill. The mill at present has 14 sets of Davis & Furber 
cards, 116 Knowles" Broad looms and produces about 1,000,000 yards of 
cloth \-alued at about $700,000. 

EDWARD A. WILLAND, superintendent of the StratYonl County 
Farm, in Dover, was born in Berwick, ^le.. May 11. 1846. His father, 
Nathaniel H. Willand, followed the combined occupations of farmer and 
tanner for many years successively in Berwick, Me., and Rochester, N. H., 
to which place he removed in 1846. On the breaking out of the Civil War, 
he responded to the call for \T)lunteers by enlisting in Company I, Fourth 
New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, being nnistered into service at Con- 
cord. At the close of his term of enlistment, which was for one year, he 
re-enlisted, this time for three years, and served subsequently until the end 



896 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

of the war, taking part in many important battles. After receiving an hon- 
orable discharge he found employment as cook on a merchant vessel running 
between London and the West Indies, and was thus occupied until 1871. He 
then ga\e ii]) the sea and took his residence in Rochester, X. H.. where he 
died May ^<^, 1876. He married Hannah F. Hubbard of Berwick, Me., 
liy whom he had four children, namely: James H., who died in infancy; 
James H. (second), who died at the age of eight jears; Edward A. and 
Emma, wife of John H. Blaisdell. 

Edward A. Willand was but a babe in arms when his parents took up 
their residence in Rochester, this state. He attended the public schools of 
that town until he was thirteen years old and afterwards spent two years 
at the Biddeford High School. He then learned the carpenter's trade, serv- 
ing an apprenticeship of three years ami becoming an expert workman in 
the manufacture of sashes, doors and Ijjinds. During the ne.xt two years 
he worked at his trade in Boston and Dover. He then entereil the employ 
of E. G. and E. Wallace, tanners and shoe manufacturers, of Rochester 
with whom he remained fifteen years. For a time he served as chief of 
pnlice in Rochester before it became a city. Subsequently locating in Do\er, 
Mr. Willand was elected the first regular police officer at Sawyer's Mills. 
Three years later he was elected assistant marshal of Dover, which office he 
resigned in 1893. He was appointed to his present position as superintend- 
ent of the Strafford County Farm in April i, 1893. 

Politically Mr. Willand has been identified with the Republican party 
since coming of age, and has always remained true to the party. He stands 
liigh in the Masonic order belonging to Humane Lodge, No. 21, of Roches- 
ter; Temple Chapter, No. 20, of Rochester; and to Dover Lodge of Per- 
fection, having also taken the Scottish Rite, and also to the Dover Senate, 
K. A. E. O. 

Mr. \\illand was married in Dover, December 25, 187 1, to Calista A. 
Chesley. daughter of Samuel and Maria (Hanson) Chesley, of Barrington. 
Thev are the parents of two children — Ella M., a graduate of the Dover 
High School, having been the valedictorian of her class, who is the wife 
of Col. E. B. Folsom, and Blanche E., the wife of Frank E. \'arney. Mr. 
Willand is a man well known throughout the county and his record in the 
administration of his present office has justified the confidence of his fellow 
citizens in his ability and integrity. 

VICTOR E. PAGE, a representative citizen of the city of RcKhester, 
is a general farmer and stock raiser and resides two and one-half miles from 
Rochester on the l-'armington road, where he owns one of the most attractive 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 897 

residences in this part of the county. Tiie iionic i)lace contains 300 acres, 
and together w ith tiiis he possesses other farms and city jjroperty. He was 
born at Boston, Mass., March 9, 1868, and was the youngest in his parents" 
family of five children, the parents being Dr. William H. and Nancy (Jen- 
kins) Page, both now deceased. The grandparents of Mr. Page were Capt. 
Benjamin and Huldah (Hussey) Page. Daniel Page, the great-grandfather 
of Victor E. Page, came from England and was an early and prominent 
settler of Rochester, N. H., where he reared a family, one of his sons, Benja- 
min Page, becoming a captain in the War of 181 2. 

Dr. \\illiam H. Page, son of Capt. Benjamin Page and father of Victor 
E., was a graduate of the Medical College of Harvard University, Class 
of 1853. W'hile in the college he was the assistant of the Professor of 
Anatomy (Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes), the highest position then obtain- 
able. Upon lea\ing the college he was unanimously elected House Surgeon 
to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Upon leaving the hospital he was 
unanimously elected dispensary physician, a position he held for several 
years. He then spent two years in \arious hospitals of Europe, where he 
recei\etl the highest compliments as a medical expert; but, as soon as the 
first report of the first gun at Fort Sumpter was heard across the water, he 
returned, and in answer to a letter from Goxernor Andrews of Massachu- 
setts, offered to go to the front without pay. He served all through the 
Peninsular campaign in 1862, where he rendered invaluable services, and 
remained with the army till the disastrous retreat to James Ri\er, when he 
was the only surgeon to volunteer to stay with the 3,000 wounded tliat 
General McClellan was obliged to abandon to the enemy. On his return 
to Boston Dr. Page served as examining Surgeon of Recruits in that city 
and was appointed one of the examining surgeons for the L'nited States Pen- 
sion Office, and was employed by various railroad corporations in important 
surgical cases and as a medical expert by the Attorney General of Massa- 
chusetts. Owing to ill-health Dr. Page mo\ ed to New Mexico and later died 
in California. He married Nancy Jenkins and they had five children: 
William H., who is a prominent lawyer of New ^'ork City, and president of 
the New York Athletic Club; Nina, who is traveling in Europe; Harriet P. 
Junkins of New York City; (jeorge H.. who is deceased, and Victor E. 

Victor E. Page was left motherless at the age of two weeks and fourteei; 
years afterward took up his residence with his uncle, Richard T. Rogers. 
Mr. Rogers was born in the town of Rochester. Strafford county, N. H.. 
July 3, 1818, a .son of Samuel and Nancy (Tripe) Rogers. The earliest 
ancestor of Mr. Rogers in .-\merica caine from Dublin, Ireland, bringing 
with him an infant son. John Rogers. The latter grew to manhood and 



898 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

marrieil ^lary AIcDuffie, who had been born on the sea. John Rogers was 
the lather of Samuel Rogers and the grandfather of Richard T. Rogers. 
The father of Nancy (Tripe) Rogers is said to have invented the diving 
bell in use at Portsmouth, N. H. Samuel Rogers had two children, Eliza- 
beth and Richard T. The latter received his early schooling in the town 
of Rociiester and was diligent as a student. At the age of twenty-one years 
he went into the lumber business and also acquired such an excellent kno\vl- 
edge of law that he was able to transact a large amount of probate business. 
He was a Republican in politics and served Rochester many years as select- 
man; he was also county commissioner and served several terms in the state 
legislature. His death occurred October 28, 1890. On December 25, 1877, 
he married Olive M. Page, a daughter of Benjamin and Huldah (Hussey) 
Page, and who was a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, and a teacher for 
many years in the public schools at Boston until her marriage to Mr. Rogers. 

Victor E. Page attended school at Boston until fourteen years of age. 
He then accompanied his aunt, Mrs. Rogers, to Rochester, and for two 
more years attended school in Rochester, after which he spent two years 
at Phillips Exeter Academy, Class of 1888. Since then he has been engaged 
in his farm activities. For twelve years he operated a morning milk route 
to Rochester. He has about fifty acres of his land cleared, the rest being 
in pasturage and lumber land, and annually he winters about thirty head of 
cattle and other meat stock. 

Mr. Page married Miss Frances S. Gerrish, daughter of Ebenezer Ger- 
rish, of this city, and they have seven children: Olive F., Nina E., Beatrice, 
Gladys, Roger E., Florence E. and Dorothy E. Mr. Page is a Republican 
and was the youngest man ever elected to the Rochester city council at the 
time of his tenn of office, and just missed election to the legislature by a 
few votes. He is a member of the Rochester Fair Association and belongs 
to the local grange. His acquaintance is wide and his friends are many. 

JOHN THOMAS WENTWORTH HAM. of the firm of John T. W. 
Ham & Co., dealers in hats, caps, furs and furnishing goods in general, has 
been actively engaged in this business since August i. 1S31), when he entered 
into partnership with the late Amos D. Purinlnn. wlio iiad Ijeen engagefl in the 
business many years. Mr. Ham had been a clerk with Mr. Purinton five 
years preceding that date, and had learned all the details of the business 
before he became a partner of the firm, so in fact, he has been active 
in the business nearly sixty years, and has not yet retired, being the ranking 
merchant in term of senice in Dover. The dates are these : He was bom 




JOHN T. W. HAM 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 901 

July I, 1838; he became clerk in Mr. I-\irinton's store September 4, 1854: he 
became partner of Mr. Purinton August i, 1859; the firm of Purinton & Ham 
was dissolved by the death of the senior member in 1877; this firm conducted a 
large wholesale as well as retail business, their wholsale trade extending into 
northern New Hampshire and Maine; following the death of Mr. Purinton, 
Mr. Ham conducted the business alone at the same place on Central avenue, 
up to 1890, when Mr. Alden Hatch entered into partnership with him and has 
so continued to date, under the firm name of J. T. W. Ham & Co. Up to 
1900 the business of the firm had been located on the north side of the river 
near the Central avenue bridge; that year he purchased the J. K. Purinton 
store on the south side of the river, adjacent to the bridge, and erected on the 
spot the present elegant and finely equipped brick building in which his business 
has been conducted since that year. On this spot the hat, cap, fur and fur- 
nishing business has been conducted continuously since 1833, a period of 80 
years. Mr. Jacob K. Purinton was the elder brother of Amos D. Purinton, 
Mr. Ham's partner. 

Mr. Ham entered into a business partnership with Mr. Purinton, as before 
stated, when he was twenty-one years old ; Mr. Purinton was so well pleased 
with this arrangement that he very cordially consented to a further and closer 
partnership by the marriage of his only daughter, and only child, Abbie Maria, 
with Mr. Ham, May i, i860, which proved to be a most happy union for 26 
years, which was only dissolved by the Angel of Death, who took her lovely 
spirit across to the other shore September 10, 1886, and the mortal eyes of a 
most estimable woman were closed to the scenes of earth. They had no chil- 
dren. Mrs. Ham was one of Dover's most highly esteemed women, being 
highly educated, brilliant and the best of wives. Her sudden death caused 
great grief in the family connection. 

Mr. Ham was the only son of John and Martha (Wentworth) (Drew) 
Ham, born July i. 1838; he was named "John," for his father, and "Thomas 
Wentworth" for his mother's father, Thomas Wentworth, who was fifth in 
descent from Elder William Wentworth. Thomas was son of Col. Jonathan 
Wentworth, and grandson of .Samuel. I)oth of whom served in the Revolu- 
tionary war; Samuel had another son, Daniel, who served in that war for 
liberty and independence. Jonathan was Captain of a company at the battle of 
Bunker Hill ; later he was Major in Col. Thomas Bartlett's regiment at West 
Point; after the close of the war he was Colonel of the 2d New Hampshire 
regiment in 1789. His residence was Dover. 

Mr. Ham's grandmother, Mary Roberts, wife of Thomas Wentworth, was 
daughter of Col. James Roberts, who served in the Revolutionary amiy. He 
was Ensign in a company of Berwick f Me.) men in Col. Scammon's regiment 



902 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

at tlie battle of Bunker Hill. Later he was Captain in Col. Robinson's ( Maine) 
regiment ; still later he was Major in Col. John W'hither's regiment, in the 
expedition against Quebec in 1776. After that he was Lt. Colonel in Col. 
Wiggles worth's regiment and served in the campaign that ended in the sur- 
render of General Burgoyne at Saratoga in October, 1777. After the close of 
the war he was Colonel of a militia regiment in Alaine. His residence was 
Berwick. 

Mr. Ham's father. John Ham, was fourth in descent from William Ham, 
who came to New England in 1640 and settled at Portsmouth on the point 
of land in the Pascataqua River, where the buildings are now (1914) located 
that were constructed for an immense paper mill. l'>om him it was called 
Ham's Point for nearly a ccntur}^ and a half. By a later owner it was 
changed to the name Freeman's Point. William's son, Lieutenant John, who 
was born in 1649 and died in Dover in 1727, was the first of the name who 
settled in Do\er, on a grant of land at Tolend, near the second falls in the 
Cochecho River. Later his residence was on what is now Central avenue, 
and his house stood on the east side of it. next to the south of the house 
on the corner of Ham street, and opposite Milk street. The original deed 
of this land from Peter Coffin to Lieut. John Ham is now in possession of 
his great great grandson, John Thomas Wentworth Hani. The house and 
the large farm around it remained in possession of the Ham family 200 
years, the successixe owners after Lieutenant John being: Benjamin, born 
in 1693, died in 1781 ; John, born in 1737, died in 1824; John, lx)rn in 
1779, died in i860; John Thomas Wentworth, born in 1838. Thus it is seen 
that the lives of the five owners cover the remarkable period (to 1914) of 265 
years. Four generations preceding Mr. J. T. W. Ham were all good farmers, 
good citizens and well to do business men. Their wives were from good fam- 
ilies, so Mr. Ham. the subject of our sketch, is the product of some of the best 
New England and New Hampshire stock, and in his career has shown himself 
worthy of it. 

Mr. Ham has ne\'er sought to hold public office, and only consented to 
serve two years as member of the Common Council, for \Vard Three ; he had 
no taste for that sort of business, and it is a matter of conscience to do well 
whatever he undertakes, so he declined further prefennents. But for many 
years he has served the public in other capacities. He is trustee in the man- 
agement of Pine Hill Cemetery ; trustee of the Wentworth Home for the Aged, 
since 1897, having served as one of the Building Committee when the institu- 
tion was organized. At the building of the Masonic Temple in 1890, he was 
chosen one of the fi\e members of the Building Committee and he has con- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 903 

tinned to be one of the directors and business managers of the concern ever 
since then. 

No man ever revered and loved his mother more dearly than Air. Ham 
has and does his mother, Martha Wentworth. She was of medium height, 
slight figure, pleasing in iier address, a good conversationalist, but not over 
talkative, and possessed superior intelligence and a first class housekeeper. 
She was one of the early members of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church in 
Dover, which was organized in 1824, and she remained one of its most faithful 
members to the end of life. Her husband was a staunch member of the Society 
of Friends, and was popularly knoA\n as I-Viend Ham. an excellent man and a 
prosperous citizen. It was their custom to both attend the Friends' Meeting 
in the forenoon and the Methodist Church in the afternoon. In addition to this 
she rarely failed to attend the weekly prayer meeting and class meetings at 
St. John's vestry. She was always ready to lend a hand in any work the 
Church had to do. Under such parents Mr. Ham was trained and educated 
in the ways of doing what was rigiit. Need any one wonder, then, tiiat for 
thirty years he has been a working member of St. John's Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Dover? Such is the fact antl for many years he has been one of the 
trustees and a member of its finance committee. When at home, and in health, 
he has rarely failed to attend the morning service of the Church, and to extend 
a welcome hand to all strangers whd might \isit there for worship. 

In the Fraternity organizations of tiie city Mr. Ham has for many years 
been a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Prescott Encamp- 
ment. Also he is a naember of 01i\e liranch Lodge, Knights of Pythias and 
is trustee of Lodge No. 84, Benevolent, Protective Order of Elks. He is a 
member of the New Hampshire Genealogical Society, and of tiie New Hamp- 
shire Society Sons of the American Revolution. 

Mr. Hani's attention was first called to I'ree Masonry in 1862, when 
he was 24 years old, and he received degrees in Stratford Lodge, Dover, 
on the following dates; Entered apprentice. December 3, 1862; fellow 
craftsman. March 3. 1SO3; master mason. April 29, 1863; so he has now 
been a full fledged member of the order fur more than half a century. On 
December 23, 1863, he was elected treasurer of the lodge and has held that 
office continuously to the present time, liaxing received his fiftieth annual 
election at a recent meeting of the lodge. That he has Ijeen a faithful and 
efficient officer is fully evidenced by this fact. He has not aspired to or 
accepted any other office in the lodge, yet no man stands higher in the confi- 
dence, good will and esteem of the lodge than he. As treasurer he has 
never failed to attend and render his reports on all occasions when called 
for by the rules and they have always been found correct. Since November 



904 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

2-], 1863, he has been a member of Belknap chapter; he was elected treas- 
urer of the same and has served as such ever since. 

iMr. Ham has received the Cryptic degrees of Orphan Council in 1863, 
and on September 25, 1867, he was elected its treasurer, having served in 
that capacity by annual elections to the present time. In that same year, 
half a century ago, he was admitted to membership in St. Paul's Com- 
mandery, K. T., of Dover, and received the orders in due course. His 
membership in the four branches — lodge, chapter, council and commandery — 
is now well advanced in its fiftieth year. He has been treasurer of the 
commandery since June 17, 1S67, by annual re-election, and is now com- 
pleting his forty-seventh year in that office. In more recent years Mr. Ham 
has been initiated into the various degrees of Ancient and Accepted Scot- 
tish Rite Masonry, completing the journey upward September 10, 1902, 
when at Providence, R. I., he was created sovereign grand inspector general, 
thirty-third and highest degree of the order, being made also an honorary 
member of the Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction. He has served as 
treasurer of New Hampshire Chapter, Rose Croix, since May 8, 1902. On 
December 14, 1906, he was promoted to noble of the Mystic Shrine, Bek- 
tash Temple, at Concord, N. H. It may be added that he is a director 
of the Masonic Building Association, having served in that capacity since 
its organization in 1890. It will thus be seen that Strafford Lodge, A. F. 
& A. M. of Dover, has a member whose Masonic record cannot be equaled 
probably by any member of the fraternity in New England. 

Mr. Ham holds membership in Mt. Pleasant Lodge, I. O. O. F., of 
Dover, and since July 31, 1872, he has been a member of Olive Branch, K. 
of P. He is a trustee of Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover. As a man and citizen 
he is highly esteemed for his agreeable manners, public spirit and high 
sense of personal honor and integrity. Since early manhood he has taken 
a keen and active interest in the growth of the commercial and manufactur- 
ing interests of Dover and of the county generally, and also in its social and 
moral development. Mr. Ham married Abbie M. Purinton, who died in 
1886. 

JOHN A. ALLEN, proprietor of Egwanulti Farm, a tract of land con- 
taining some 500 acres, situated in Rochester, is interested in general farm- 
ing, lumbering and the breeding of fine stock and pure bred poultry. He 
was born on this farm November 5, 1865, and is son of Amasa and Eliza- 
beth (Blaisdell) Allen. 

Amasa Allen was the son of William and Sarah (Nute) Allen and was 
born November 15, 1820. William (2d) was born 1794, the son of Sam-, 
uel, born 1761 ; Samuel was son of William (ist), who was born 1717. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 905 

William (ist) was one of Rochester's earliest settlers, coming to Roch- 
ester in 1746, having received a grant of land from the king. A portion 
of this land is now a part of the farm now owned by John A. William (1st) 
was the son of John ( ist) (1685), who was the son of Charles, who came 
to "Old Strawberry Bank," as Portsmouth was then known, in 1635. 

In his early manhood Amasa Allen was a shoe manufacturer, but loving 
the soil and "to see things a growing," he became a farmer at about the 
time of his marriage to Elizabeth A. Blaisdell. The children of this union 
were Charles W., deceased March, 191 1; Clara A., wife of the late Senator 
Charles H. Seavey, deceased, April, 1895; Martha E., wife of James A. 
Jackson of the Rochester Hills road, and John A. 

John A. Allen was educated in the district school at the Academy at 
West Lebanon and at the Academy at South Berwick. He married January 
18, 1888, Miss Bertha L., daughter of Simon L. and Lydia (Parsons) 
Home. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have three daughters — Bessie L., Mattie B. 
and Bertha E. All are graduates of Rochester High School. The eldest 
is a successful teacher in one of the city schools. The two younger have 
entire charge of the poultry department of the farm and the results prove 
their good management. They make a specialty of White Plymouth Rocks 
and of White Leghorns. 

Mr. Allen has recently set out a fine orchard of peach, pear, cherrry, plum 
and apple trees. Mr. Allen has given much attention to the raising of Hol- 
stein Friesian stock and has a fine herd of thoroughbreds, and also some 
fine grades — thirty-two head at present. He does an extensive dairy busi- 
ness, selling milk and cream in the local markets. He raises much hay and 
grain, using modern machinery in the raising and harvesting crops. A 
7 1-2 horse power gasolene engine furnishes power for filling the silo, sawing 
wood and grinding grain for home use. A smaller engine pumps water for 
the stock and for the pressure tank which supplies the building with water. 
To carry on the work of the farm five men are employed the year round 
and more in busy seasons. 

Mr. Allen is afifiliated with the Republican party but is not a partisan, 
and always works for what he believes to be the highest good of the com- 
munity. He has ne\er sought for office but has served on the School Board. 
He has always worked for temperance, good roads and good government. 
He is a member of Rochester Grange, a member of the Holstein Friesian 
Association and of the Strafford County Sheep Breeders' Association. He 
and his family are members of the Walnut Grove F. B. Church, of which 
Amasa Allen was for many years senior deacon. 



906 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

HON. CHARLES H. .MOKAXG*. who has heen interested in the 
manufacture of brick at Dover Point, N. H., since 1S75, is not only a pros- 
perous Inisiness man of Strafford county but also one of political imiior- 
tancc. He was burn at Lubec, Washington county. Me., July 31, 184O, and 
is a son of James and Caroline (Kelley) Morang. 

Joseph Morang, the grandfather, came of French parents but was born 
in the province of Quebec, Canada, and afterward moved to Lubec, Me., 
where his son, James Morang, was subsequently born and grew to manhood, 
when he married Caroline Kelley, who was born at Trescott, Me. 

Charles H. Morang grew up in the fishing village of Lubec and for 
a few years engaged in the fishing industry, mainly on the Atlantic coast 
off Lubec. For three years he followed farming on land bordering the 
Kennebec river. Me. In 1873 he came to Dover, X. II., and two years 
later went into brick manufacturing at Dover Point, at present being the 
senior member of the firm of C. H. Morang & Son, brick manufacturers, 
their business being an extensive one. 

Mr. Morang married Miss Sarah Littlefield. who was born in Maine, 
and they have the following children: Mabel 11., wife of Richard G. Pray, 
of Port.smouth, N. H. ; Florence, wife of Charles Rines, of Portsmouth; 
Fred L.. who is associateil with his father at Do\er Point; Alice, wife uf 
Robert Goodwin, of Portsmouth, and Ralj^h IL, who resides at Dover Point. 
Mr. Morang has been a very acti\e and ])ublic spirited man and has so secured 
(he respect and confidence "f his fellow citizens that they base manv times 
elected him to honorable and responsible offices, bdr three years be serveil 
as selectman representing the Fourth Ward (jf l)o\er city, and for two 
terms was a meml)er of the Do\er city council, and fur twn additional terms 
was a member of the board of aldermen of Do\er. He ser\ed twn terms 
also from the Fourth ward in the New Hampshire legislature and in 191 2 
was brought forward by his party and friends for election to the state 
senate. Since manhood he has been loyal in his support of the Republican 
party. He belongs to Mount Pleasant Lodge. Odd I'ellow s. at Do\er. 

CHARLES H. LEAVITT*, a well known and respected citizen of 
Dover, who is engaged in general agriculture on his farm of thirty acres, 
situated in the town of Dover, was born November 5, 1853. in Effingham, 
N. II., and is a son of John C. and Hannah M. (Clark) Leavitt. 

John C. Leavitt was born at Effingham, \. H., and with the e.xception 
of a few years, during which he was a resident of Dover, spent all his life 
in his native place, dying there some years ago. For a number of years 
he w'as engaged in a general mercantile business and for a time also in 



c 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 907 

manufacturing:. He married Hannali M. Clark, a native also of Effinghaim 
and a daughter of Dr. David \V. C. Clark, formerly a well known physician 
of that place. Mr. Leavitt was twice married and his surviving children 
are; Mary E., who is the wife of Charles Jellison, of Concord, N. H. ; 
Charles H., of Dover, and John E., of Boston, Mass. John C. Leavitt at 
one time was a member of the New Hamjtshire legislature, representing 
hltiingham and was elected on the Republican ticket. He was a memljer of 
the Alasonic fraternity. His father, James Leavitt, who was of English 
extraction, was also a resident of Effingham. 

Charles H. Leavitt attended the Effingham schools and remained there 
until he was seventeen years of age. He then came ti> Dover and was 
gi\en a position in the Dover post office, in which he continued, desjiite 
anging administrations, for thirteen years, and for three years was assist- 
ant postmaster. Subsequently, for thirteen years more he was a bookkeeper 
at the Cocheco Mills, in the print works department, retiring in 1908 to his 
farm in Dover, since which time his interests have been more or less cen- 
tered on its improvement and development. On January [3, 1875, Mr. 
Leavitt was married to Miss Gara A. Ward, of Rumney, N. H.. a daughter 
of the late Daniel S. Ward, at one time judge oi the police court of Do\-er. 
Mr. and Mrs. Leavitt have one son. Lester W. In politics Mr. Lea\ itt is 
a Republican and fraternally an Odd Fellow. 

DAVID W. WATSON, proprietor of Little Bay I'arm. containing 100 
acres, situated near Little Bay. the town of Durham, carries on general 
farming and gardening, making a specialty of growing onions. He was 
liorn at Maiden. Mass.. October 2/, 1854. and is a son of Daxid and I'^lizalieth 
(Ocliorne) \\'atson. Da\id Watson was born at Woodstock. Vt.. but spent 
many years of his life at Maiden. Mass., and was one of the owners of 
the Boston Type Foundr3^ He was a son of David Watson, who was a 
man of scholarl\- acquirements, one who understood tive different languages. 
The Watson ancestry is Scotch. 

David W. Watson was given excellent school advantages and attended 
the public schools of Maiden and a noted pri\'ate institution — the Chauncy 
Hall school at Boston — later taking a business course in the Bryant and 
Stratton Commercial College. Boston. For a time he was connected in a 
business way with an amateur printing press concern at Boston. I:)ut since early 
in the eighties he has de\oted himself to his agricultural acti\'ities, his fore- 
sight and good judgment being shown in his specializing on a vegetable for 
which his soil is particularly adapted and one that is in demand the world 
over. 



908 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Mr. Watson was married at Maiden, Mass., to Miss Hattie Soule, who 
was born at Boston, a daughter of John P. Soule, for many years having 
an art studio on Washington street, Boston, in which city he was a well- 
known Freemason. Mrs. Watson died in October, 191 1. She was the 
mother of eight children, namely: Ethel C, who is the wife of A. W. 
Simpson of Madbury, N. H. ; David A., a resident of Durham; Gertrude 
E., a trained nurse, at Portland, Me.; Lucia S., wife of Dean Smalley, of 
Lynn, Mass., Leon P., a resident of Barrington, R. I. ; Miles S., who is of 
Ipswich, Mass. and Earl E. and Philip W., both of whom are students in 
the agricultural department of the Xew Hampshire State College. Mr. Wat- 
son has been careful in the educational training of his children and three 
of them — Miles S., David A. and Lucia S. are graduates of the New Hamp- 
shire State College. Three also are graduates of Robinson Seminary at Exeter, 
N. H. ; Ethel C, Gertrude E. and Lucia S. Mr. Watson and family attend 
the Congregational church at Durham. In politics he is atfiliated with the 
Republican party, and he belongs to the Royal .\rcanum, at Dover. He is a 
man of public usefulness, responsible and reliable in the small things as well 
as the big events of life and stands among the representative citizens of Straf- 
ford county. 

MRS. ARABELLA MASON, who is a well known and highly esteemed 
resident of Dover, N. H., is a representative of one of the oldest families of 
Dover Point, N. H. She was born at Dover and is a daugliter of Andrew 
T. and Ann E. (Roberts) Roberts. 

Andrew T. Roberts was born also in Dover, a son of Alonzo Roberts, and 
a grandson of Daniel Roberts, all of Do\'er. It was Thomas Roberts, who 
came from Great Britain to America between 1624 and 1643, was the founder 
of the family at Dover Point, and ever since it has been a leading one in the 
county, prominent in local and state affairs. Andrew T. Roberts spent his 
entire life at Dover Point, and was interested there in brick manufacturing, 
as was his father, Alonzo Roberts and as also was .-\aron Roberts, the mater- 
nal grandfather of Mrs. Mason, .'\ndrew T. Roberts served in local oflices 
and when Dover was incorporated was the first street commissioner. He 
was a man of industry and enterprise, one who recognized, however, that 
public improvements that would benefit the whole community must be the 
result of concerted effort: lie must be credited with arousing public atten- 
tion to various matters that resulted in permanent adxantages to the com- 
munity. His family consisted of two daughters and one son, the latter, 
Clarence H., being now deceased. Mrs. Mason had a sister, Emma Z., who 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 909 

died Dec. 9, 1913, ami w lio was the wife of Edwin A. Reed, of Worcester, 
Mass. 

Arabella Roberts was reared at JJo\er I'oint and enjoyed pleasant social 
surroundings ami educational ad\antages in her youth. After graduation 
from the Dover High scIuxjI and from the New Hampshire State Xornial 
school at T'lymouth, X. EL, she taught school for a number of years in Dover, 
taking a great interest in educational work and pro\ing a capable and popular 
teacher. In 1889 Aliss Roberts was married to Harry Mason, of I'hniouth, 
N. H., where they resided for some time. Harry Mason was a descendant of 
one John Mason, who recei\'ed a ro}'al grant of land from the King of Eng- 
land, in colonial days, which co\ere<l a part of Maine, New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts, Idionias Roberts at that time Ijeing the go\ernor of the colony. 
The death of Harry Mason occurred Xo\-ember 30, 1908. He is sur\i\ed by 
an only son, Jolin R. Mason, a manly, promising youth, wdio is a member 
of the class of 191 5, at Dartmouth College. 

Mrs. Mason owns an excellent farm of eighty acres, which she devotes 
to general farming and dairying. She Ijelongs to the First Congregational 
church of Dover, as did her mother. She is interested in many of the leading 
questions of the day and belongs to the Woman's Club of Do\'er and is acti\e 
in the city's pleasant social life to some extent. 

HOWARD M. ROBERTS, who is an extensive lirick manufacturer at 
Dover Point, N. H., is a member of one of the families that may ha\e come 
from Wales and settled here as early as 1633. He can trace his ancestry back 
through Hanson, Joseph, Stephen and John Roberts, his great-great-grand- 
father, all of whom were born at Do\er Point. The earliest known ancestors 
of the family was Joseph, soti of Joseph and Elizabeth, born October i~ . 
1692. Howard M. Roberts was born in the town of Dover, on August 13, 
1832. His parents were Hanson and Lydia (Henderson ) Roberts, the mother. 
like the father, belonging to a piimccr family of Dover Point, her father. 
Thomas Henderson, being the pioneer in the brick manufacturing industry 
here. 

Hanson Roberts engaged in brickmaking and became a man of ample 
fortune through this industry. Throughout life he maintained his home at 
Dover Point although, at times, his political duties called him for a time 
to other places. He was widely known and served two years in the New 
Hampshire legislature. He married Lydia Henderson and they l)ecanie 
parents of nine children, the only survivor of this family being Howard 
M. Roberts of this record. 

Howard M. Roberts attended the Dover schools and remained at home. 



910 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

assisting on the farm, until he was eighteen years of age and then went to 
Boston, Mass.. and there served an apprenticeship of three and one-half years 
to the mason's trade and followed tlie same for several years. Early in the 
fifties he made the long trip l)y water to California. After reaching San 
i'Yancisco he worked for a time at his trade, subsequently spent one year 
in the gold mines in Middle California and another year in northern Cali- 
fornia. He then returned to New England, locating in Chelsea, Mass., whence, 
late in 1861, he returned to Dover, where he has resided ever since. He 
owns an orchard of eight acres, growing peaches, plums and Baldwin and 
Ben Davis apples, but for forty years his main business has been brick 
manufacturing. 

Mr. Roberts married Miss Sarah T. Roberts, a native of Dover Point and 
a daughter of Alonzo and Mary Roberts, who were well known people here. 
They have two children : Frederick H. and Stephen W. Mr. Roberts is a 
Democrat but has nexer accei)te(l any public office. 

WILLIAM WALMSLEY.* who is one of Strafford county's most re- 
spected citizens, resides near Dover and is engaged in gardening, fruit grow- 
ing and poultry raising. He has led a busy and useful life and lias lived in 
different parts of the world, his tra\-cls exceeding those of the ordinary e\'ery- 
day man. He was born in Lancashire, England, June 2^. 1850, and is a son 
of George and Alice (Smith) Walmsley. For generations the Walmsleys 
have belonged to Lancashire and both parents were born there. Their family 
consisted of four children : William ; George, who is a resident of Passaic, 
N. J.; Mary A., who is deceased; and Alice J., who still li\es in England. 

William Walmsley was ten years old when his parents moved to Barce- 
lona, Spain, his father l)eing called there to become overseer of the printing 
plant in textile works. The family remained in Spain for five years and 
then returned to England and William W^almsley completed his educa- 
tion in the schools of his native place. In the meanwhile he had worked in 
tc-Ntile mills and learned the business and was alile to command a fair salary 
when he made up his mind to come to America and seek emplojanent in the 
great New England cotton mills. It Avas in December. 1869, that he secured 
passage on the steamship Palmyra, of the Cunard line, boarding the vessel 
at Liverpool, and after an enjoyable voyage of fourteen days was landed 
safely at Boston, Mass. Afterward he was employed at Pawtucket, R. I., and 
in the Crompton Print works at Crompton, R. I., and in other mills until 
1900, when he came to Do\er and entered the Cocheco Print works, where 
he continued until 191 1, as a machine printer. In the above named year he 
retired from mill work and turned his attention to his present industries 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 911 

which bring him much pleasure as well as profit. He makes a specialt)- of 
growing White Orpington fowls. 

On June i, 1S71. Mr. W'alnisley was married to Miss Elizabeth Hall, 
who was born April 30, 1848, at Manchester, England, a daughter of James 
F. and Ann (Holt) Hall. She was reared in Lancashire and came to the 
United States in 1871, sailing from Liverpool and landing at Boston, as 
did her husband. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. W'alm- 
sley: Elizabeth G., who is the wife of Arthur C. Lane, of Boston; Lucv A., 
the wife of John H. Twombley, of North Andover, Mass.; William J., a 
resident of Boston; Alice, wife of D. L. Robinson, of Manchester, N. H. ; 
James, who lives at Cambridge. Mass.; Ethel, wife of Clarence C. Bridge, 
of Haverhill. Mass.; ^Minnie, who resides at Haverhill; George, a resident 
of Norwich, Conn. ; and Arthur, whose home is at Manchester. Mr. and 
Mrs. Walmsley are members of St. Thomas Episcopal church at Dover, 
of which he is a vestryman. Mrs. Walmsley belongs to the St. Thomas 
Parish Society and the St. Thomas Woman's Guild. Mr. Walmsley has 
never been active in political circles but has given support to various public 
spirited movements where he has had his home. He is a member of United 
Brothers Lodge of Odd I-'ellows, at Lawrence, Mass. ; Washington En- 
campment No. 16, Manchester, N. H., and of Major Waldron Council 
No. 989, Do\'er, Royal Arcanum. 

SAMUEL H. ROLLINS, who for many years up to his death, which 
took place March 22, 191 1, was one of the best known and most highly 
esteemed citizens of Rollinsford, N. H., was born in this town', January 
17, 1842, a son of William H. and Elizabeth (Erost) Rollins. He was 
a descendant of an early settler of Rollinsford, whicli town was named in 
honor of the family. The father of our subject was born here, his wife 
Elizabeth coming from Durham, N. H.. which was her native place. 

Samuel H. Rollins was reared to man's estate in Rollinsford, in his 
boyhood attending the public schools and South Berwick Academy. Erom 
an early age he was trained to agriculture and stock raising, which occupa- 
tions he followed for over a cjuarter of a century, being a member of the 
former well known firm of stockraisers, W. H. and S. H. Rollins. He was 
also a director of the Salmon Falls Bank. The Rollins Stock Farm con- 
tains about 300 acres of land devoted to fine stock raising together with 
dairying and has long been recognized as one of the flourishing industries 
of the county. A Republican in politics, Mr. Rollins took an actix'e ])art in 
public affairs, serving for a time as a member of the school board, for two 

years as selectman of Rollinsford, and for one term as representative from 
53 . . 



912 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

this lowii to the Xew Hampshire legislature, in all uf which otiicial positions 
he showed a high degree of efficiency. He attended the Episcopal church 
at Dover, and was known far and wide as an upright man and a useful 
and public-spirited citizen. His death was the cause of much sorrow in the 
community. 

Samuel H. Rollins was married December 5, 1875, to Susan R. Rob- 
erts, a native of Rollinsford and a daughter of Hiram R. Roberts, formerly 
a well-known citizen of this town. Mrs. Rollins is a member of the South 
Berwick Baptist Church, and is a lady highly esteemed throughout this 
vicinity, having numerous friends and moving in the best social circles. 

ELBRIDGE G. GAGE, a prominent business man and substantial citizen 
of Dover, N. H., has been engaged in the manufacture of brick for the 
past twenty-nine years and now controls three different yards, making a 
specialty of the celebrated water-struck brick. Mr. Gage was born February 
15, 1856, in the town of Dover, N. H., and is a son of Gerry R. and Abigail 
B. (Tuttle) Gage, both parents being natives of Dover. 

Gerry R. Gage was a carpenter by trade and an expert workman. For 
many years he was with the Governor Sawyer firm, became superintendent 
and acted as such until his death, which occurred in recent years. He mar- 
ried Abigail B. Tuttle and they had ten children, of whom the following 
survive: Elizabeth, who is the wife of George Card, of Dover Point; Thomas 
F. of Portsmouth: James M., who is a resident of Milton: John P., who 
lives at Dover; Ida F., wife of Charles S. Roberts of Dover; Carrie R., 
who lives at Dover; and Elbridge G. This family was founded in Dover by 
the grandfather, Jonathan Gage, who was a well-known man in his day. 

Elbridge G. Gage attended the public schools in Dover and his interests 
have always been mainly centered here. He owns a fine farm of ninet}- acres, 
which he devotes to market gardening. In early manhood he learned the 
carpenter's trade with Hanson Bros., of Dover and worked at it until he 
embarked in brick manufacturing, in -which industry he has prospered. 
In the operation of his three yards, during the busy season he requires the 
help of fifteen men, his annual output aggregating 2,000,000 brick, Boston, 
Mass., taking almost the entire amount. 

Mr. Gage was married December 25, 1875, to Miss Laura J. Coleman, 
who was born in Dover, a daughter of the late Henry Coleman, and they 
have three children: Albert H., of Dover; Edith M., wife of Charles Hutch- 
ings, of Dover; and Annie B., wife of John Colwell, of Dover. Mr. Gage is 
a member of the Free Will Baptist church. He is identified with the fra- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS !)]3 

ternal order of Odd Fellows, and in politics, like his late father, is a Repub- 
lican. He is recognized as a man of sterling integrity in his business tran- 
sactions and of useful activity in other circles. 

EDGAR J. HAM, who is a prominent citizen of Strafford county, a 
member of the board of county commissioners, resides on his farm of 175 
acres, situated two miles south of Gonic, in the town of Rochester. He 
was born on this farm April 13, 1870. and is a son of Joseph W, and Sarah 
H. (Roberts) Ham. 

Joseph \V. Ham was born on the above farm and was a son of Tames 
Ham, who was the founder of the family in Strafford county. Joseph W. 
Ham carried on farming until his death in 1891, at the age of sixty-five 3'ears 
and his burial was in the cemetery at Rochester. In politics he was a Demo- 
crat but never desired public office. He was a man of correct life and high 
character and for a number of years belonged to the organization known 
as the Good Templars. He married Sarah H. Roberts who survived him, 
and they had seven children, of whom the eldest and the youngest yet 
survive. 

Edgar J. Ham was 21 years of age at the time of his father's death. 
He was the youngest of the family and remained with his mother on the 
farm which he has never left. He carries on a general line of agriculture on 
fifty acres of his property. Mr. Ham was married June 10, 1900, to Miss 
Mattie Roberts, who died in August, 1913, She was a daughter of Levi 
and Rachel Roberts, of Rochester, N. H. Since early manhood Mr. Ham 
has taken an interest in public matters and has become on'e of the political 
leaders in Strafford county. He is now .serving in his third term as a 
county commissioner, enjoying the distinction of being the first man honored 
by a third election to this office and receiving the highest vote that was 
ever cast for an}- ofticial in Strafford county. He is a thirty-second degree 
Mason and is a Knight Templar of Palestine Commandery, belonging to 
the Blue Lodge at Rochester. He belongs also to the Odd Fellows lodge in 
that city. For 23 years he has been a member of the Grange and on many 
occasions has been an official in this organization. He is a member of the 
Baptist church at Gonic, N. H. 

HON. JOHN H. NUTE, whose public .services have made him known 
all over the state of New Hampshire and whose business connections have 
identified him continuously with one of the great industrial concerns of Dover 
for almost half a century, was born on Rocky Hill, Dover, N. H., September 
13, 1839. His parents were Isaac M. and Mary A. (Jenkins) Nute. 



914 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Isaac M. Note was born in Strafford county, N. H., and was a son of 
John Xiite. in early days well known in the vicinity of Dover. Isaac M. 
Nute was a farmer and also, for years, was employed in what are yet 
called the Sawyer Mills. He identified himself with the Republican party 
on its organization and in 1863 served as a member of the New Hampshire 
legislature, representing the Fourth Ward of Dover city. He was a man of 
fine parts and of sterling integrity and his community lost a good man when 
he died in February, 1867. He married Mary A. Jenkins, who was born 
in Madbury, N. H. 

John H. Nute was reared and educated at Dover, attending the Pine 
Hill public school and Franklin Academy, the latter institution being under 
the control at that time of Prof. Thomas Henderson, a well known educator. 
At the age of eighteen years he entered the Sawyer Mills, where, for two 
years he worked in the finishing department. The proprietors, F. A. and 
J. Sawyer, operated these mills for many years. In September, 1867, Mr. 
Nute reentered the mills in the repair shop, where he continued for five 
years in the carpenter shop of the repair department, and in June, 1872 
went to work as a machinist in the repair department, which position he 
still occupies. For nearly half a century Mr. Nute has thus been identified 
with this company and is one of the oldest continuous employes. While 
attending carefully to his private business as above indicated, Mr. Nute by 
no means forgot his many responsibilities as a citizen and as a public servant. 
He served with excellent judgment as selectman of the Fourth \\'ard, Dover 
City, and as councilman of the same for three terms, and in 1885 and 
1887 he served in the lower house of the New Hampshire legislature. 
During the session of 1889 and 1890 he served one term of two years in 
the New Hampshire state senate, representing the Twenty-third senatorial 
district. While in the senate he was largely instrumental in securing the 
passage of the bill that secured a charter for the Dover-Somersworth and 
Rochester Electric Railroad, and in everj^ way was watchful as to the inter- 
ests of his constituents. Senator Nute belongs to the Elks at Du\er and 
is a member of the various Masonic bodies of this city, belonging also to 
Bektash Shrine at Concord. X. H. 

CHARLES A. HAM, who is one of the substantial citizens of Rollins- 
ford, a general farmer and dairyman, is a representative of one of the early 
families of this section, one that has been connected with agricultural 
advancement here for several generations. He was born at Rollinsford, 
N. H., January 25, 1852, and is a son of Morris and Laura A. (Warren) 
Ham. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 915 

Morris Ham was born in Kollinsfonl. a son of Nathaniel Hani, who 
was a native of Portsnioutii, X. H. Tlie latter was the fonnder of the 
Hani family in what is now Rollinsford. He was not a man of wealth, 
hence his sons had to make their own way in the world, but from him 
they inherited sturdy traits of character that have been better far than 
unearned fortune. For many years Morris Ham was a man of local 
prominence in his neighborhood and served in the office of selectman. In 
his political views he was a Democrat. He and his wife were members 
of the Calvin Baptist church at South Berwick, Me. His death occurred in 
1874. 

Charles A. Ham grew to manhood in his native place, attended the 
public schools and later the South Berwick and the Dover Academies, Well 
equipped for almost any line of business he chose an agricultural life and 
has never felt that he made any mistake in his choice. He owns sixty acres 
of valuable land, devoting the greater part of it to dairying and has a 
profitable milk route in Dover, having operated the same for over a quarter 
of a century. He usually has a herd of fifteen milch cows, Dover taking his 
entire volume of milk and cream. 

Mr. Ham was married to Miss Vera W^entworth, who was born at 
Northfield, Mass.. a daughter of John P. Wentworth. They had one 
son, .Arthur AL, wh<j married .-Mice Redmond, and they in turn ha\-e one son. 
Morris F. Mr. Ham was married secondly to Miss Alta E. Paul, who is 
a dau.ghter of the late Henry Paul, of Riillinsford. 

In politics Mr. Ham is a Republican. For a number of years he has 
been deeply interested in the practical workin,gs of the Patrons of Hus- 
bandry and is a charter member of the Hiram R. Roberts Grange, of which 
he was the first secretary, serving three succcssi\'e years, and subsequently 
was treasurer of the same. He belon.gs also to the Odd Fellows, at Salmon 
Falls. He is recognized as a man of excellent judgment in local matters 
and lias ser\ed as selectman. 

WILLIAJNI M. BOWMAN, president of one of the important business 
organizations of StraftVird county, the Somerswurih I-'oundry Company 
located at Salmon Falls, is a man of large experience in his particular line. 
He was born at Falmouth. Mass.. in October, i860, and lived there until he 
was twelve years old. 

At the age of 21 years Mr. Bowman learned the tinsmith trade at .\ttle- 
boro. Mass., and then entered the employ of the Weir Stove Company at 
Taunton. Mass.. where he remained for the next fi\'e years, working in the 
sheet iron department. From Taunton he went to Plymouth and for several 



916 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

years was in the employ of the Plymouth Foundry Company, afterward 
becoming connected \\ith the Walker Pratt Manufacturing Company, of 
W'atertown, ]\]ass., first working at his trade and then becoming foreman 
of the setting up (le[)artment, wliere he continued two years. Mr. Bowman 
then went into the stove manufacturing business on his own account, at 
I'lymouth, Mass., forming a partnership with E. F. Shaw under the firm 
name of the Pilgrim Foundry Company, and the business was carried on 
there for one year. In 1901 Mr. Bowman and ^Ir. Shaw came to Salmon 
Falls and purchased the plant of the Somersworth Machine Company at 
Salmon Falls and at once organized and incorporated what is known as the 
Somersworth Foundry Company. For se\eral years Air. Bowman acted 
as vice president of the corporation, afterward being elected to the presidency, 
and is now the active head and director of the policy of the company, which 
company finds continuous employment for one hundred men in the shops 
and the administrative department. Mr. Bowman is a trustee of the Kol- 
linsford Sa\ings Bank of Salmon Falls. 

Mr. Bowman's first marriage was to Miss Ida L. Briggs, and they had 
three children, the one sur\i\or being: Harold M.. who is superintendent 
of the Somersworth b'nundry Compan_\''s plant. The output of this [ilant. 
stoves, are manufactured in all sizes and for both heating and cooking and 
they are sold throughout the New England and middle states. Harold M. 
Bowman is also secretary of the Somersworth Foundr_y Company, the other 
officers being: William M. Bowman, president; Mrs. F. L. Holmes, vice 
president ; and F. L. Holmes, treasurer. 

'Sir. Bowman's second marriage was to ]Miss Florence .\. Philpolt. of 
Salmon Falls, N. H. The mother of Mr. Bowman, }ilrs. .Vnna G. (Bur- 
dick) Bowman, a native of Newport, K. I., now resides at Attleboro, Mass., 
and is in her seventy-seventh year. Flis father, David S. Bowman, a native 
of Falmouth, Mass., is deceased. Mr. Bowman is largely a .self-made 
man and his success in the management of his undertakings has been the result 
of self directed energy. He enjoys public confidence. He votes with the 
Republican party on national questions but in local affairs uses his own 
judgment. He has long been identified with the ^Masonic fraternity and 
belongs to the lodge at Salmon b'alls. 

MRS. ANNIE W. BAER, who is a well known and highly esteemed 
resident of Rollinsford, N. FI.. was born in South Berwick, Me., and is a 
daughter of Lorenzo and Elvira ( Went worth) Stackpole, the former of whom 
was a native of Somersworth and the latter of what is now Rollinsford, 
N. FI. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 917 

James Stackpole, tlie founder of the family in America, was born in 
Ireland and came from there to the United States in the latter half of the 
seventeenth century, securing a grant of land on the Salmon Falls river in 
New Hampshire. On this land, however, he nexer lived, possibly on account 
of its remoteness from other settlements, h'inally he established himself on 
one of the Newichawanock grants and there spent the rest of his life. He 
left a son, I'hilip Stackpole, who, in turn left a son, Joshua Stackpole, who, 
in turn, was succeeded l)y a son, Tobias Stackpole, who was the great-grand- 
father of Mrs. Baer. The line was continued in Moses Stackpole who be- 
came the father of Lorenzo Stackpole, who was the father of Mrs. Baer. 
It is interesting to trace an ancestral line so clearly as this and to note, in 
each generation, the perpetuation of family traits that reflect credit on the 
sur\iving descendants. 

Until the age of eight years, Mrs. Baer lived in her native place and then 
accompanied her ])arents when they moved to Rollinsford, wliere she at- 
tended school until old enough to become a student in the South Berwick 
Acadeniy, and later, attended the academy at New London, N. H. She 
thus grew to wnmanhood enjoying both educational and social adxantages 
and on January 3, 1872. was united in marriage with Bernhardt Baer. He 
was a native of Baden. Germany, born in 1844, and when twenty years of 
age, in 1864, came to America and subsequently to Strafford county, N. H., 
where he continued to reside until the time of his death, July iG, 1913. Dur- 
ing his latter years he resided on the farm in Rollinsford now owned and 
occupied bv Mrs. Baer. a valuable property consisting of 180 acres of land 
which is chiefly devoted to dairying. ]Mr. Baer was a member of the Moses 
Paul Masonic lodge at Do\er. and for many years belonged to Hiram R. 
Roberts Grange. Patrons of Husbandry, of which Mrs. Baer is a charter 
member. To Mr. and ]\Irs. Baer one son was born, Lorenzo E., who resides 
with his widowed mcither. 

Although of a modest and retiring personality, Mrs. Baer has been a 
central figure in many circles for a number of years, having preserved her 
interest in both public and local affairs and has been particularly active in 
connection with historical organizations. She is a member of a local historical 
society known as the Northam Colonists, a member also of the Piscataqua 
Pioneers, of the New Hamp.shire Historical Society and of the Dover Woman's 
Club. Her church mcmliership is with the Baptist body at South Berwick, 
Me. In every movement promising to be generally beneficial, Mrs. Baer 
has exerted influence and as indicative of the high regard in which she is 
held bv those who have known her almost her entire life, is the fact that for 
seven years she was elected a member of the school board of Rollinsford. 



918 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

HON. EDWIN A. STEVENS, president of the Rollinsford Savings 
Bank, is one of the representative business men of Salmon Falls, and as a 
wise and conservative financier is held in high regard all over Strafford 
county. He is identified with numerous important enterprises, and in 1896 
and 1897, ably represented Rollinsford in the General Assembly of New 
Hampshire. He was born December 27, 1843, in Effingham, N. H., and 
is a son of Silas M. and Nancy J. Stevens, the former, and died there at 
the age of 26 years. The mother, who was born in Shapleigh, Me., died 
when aged about 72 years old. 

Edwin A. Stevens was in his third year when his father died and he 
was subsequently a member of the household of his grandparents at Shap- 
leigh, Me., until his 15th year. For about one year he had educational 
advantages at Somersworth, X. H., after which he became a clerk in a 
general store there, where he remained for two years. A desire to see 
something of the world, or perhaps a youthful love of adventure, then led 
him to enlist in the United States Navy, and for eight months he was on 
the sloop "Macedonia." After this experience he returned to school and 
during 1863 was a student in the academy at Berwick, Ale. In 1864 he came 
to Salmon Falls and entered industrial life with the Somersworth Machine 
Company, of which he was superintendent for thirty-seven years, also being 
interested for some time in the coal and wood trade. Gradually his business 
abilit}' and reliability became generally recognized and some years ago he 
was elected to his present position of president of the Rollinsford Savings 
Bank, of which he is also a director and trustee. He is also a director in 
the Salmon Falls Bank and in the South Berwick (]\Ie.) National Bank, 
and a trustee in the South Berwick Savings Bank. ]Mr. Stevens has fre- 
qxiently been elected on the Republican ticket to important public offices. 
He has served two years as selectman of Rollinsford, for a number of years 
was supervisor of elections, and luau}' times has been selected as moderator 
of town meetings. His high personal character and jwliiic spirit ha\'e con- 
tributed largely to his popularity. 

]\Ir. Ste\'ens married Miss Clara A. Speed of Salmon Falls, and they ha\e 
four children: Charles E., a resident of' Salmon Falls; Mabel G., wife of 
Walter F. Norton, superintendent of the N. L. P. & H. Company, of Nashua. 
N. H. ; Florence E., wife of Charles H. Wentworth, cashier of the South 
Berwick National Bank, and Caroline T., who is a teacher in the public 
schools of Plymouth, N. H. Mr. Stevens and family are members of the 
Baptist Church at South Berwick, Me., in which he has been a deacon for 
thirty-three years. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the 




EDWIX A. STEVEXS 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 921 

Blue Lodge at Salmon Falls, Edwards Chapter at Somersworth, Orphan 
Council at Dover, St. Paul's Cominandery, Dover, and the New Hampshire 
Consistory at Nashua. X. H. 

HON. WILLIAM H. MORTON, once an influential citizen of Straf- 
ford county and a prominent business man of Salmon Falls, was born Febru- 
ary 9, 1814, at Portsmouth, N. H., and passed out of life at his home in 
Salmon Falls, June 4, 1904. His parents were William and Sarah (Griffith) 
Morton. They were natives of New England, their ancestry being of Wales 
on the maternal side and of England on the paternal. 

In the village schools of his native place William H. Morton first at- 
tended to the business of acquiring an education and after removing with his 
parents, to Salmon Falls, in 1823, he had academic advantages at South Ber- 
wick, Me. At that day it was not a difficult matter for an industrious youth 
to secure employment in a textile factory in New England and very many 
commenced business life in the wool sorting room, as did young Morton, and 
he continued at that work until 1834, when the mill was burned. He then 
went to Grafton, Mass., where he worked in a woolen mill for two years, 
when he felt prepared to embark in a mercantile business on his own account. 
In 1842 he moved from Grafton to Blackstone, Mass., where he continued 
merchandising and reasonably prospered but finally decided to return to 
Salmon Falls. Here he opened a general store and did a large business until 
185 1 and then sold in order to become cashier of the Salmon Falls Bank, 
which had just been organized, and this responsible position he continued 
to fill until within a few years of his demise. He had become well and 
favorably known in financial circles and was a trustee and one of the in- 
corporators of the Rollinsford Savings Bank for many years and for a 
prolonged period following its organization was its secretary and treasurer. 
He was a man of enlightened understanding and progressive in many of his 
ideas. In 1S49 when the town of Rollinsford was incorporated he was 
made town treasurer and .served long; in 1853 he became town clerk; he 
was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which he held until death; 
served two years as a selectman of the town of Somersworth and also 
of Rollinsford, and in numerous other offices displayed public spirit and 
efficiency. He was a Republican in politics and served one term as a 
member of the New Hami)shire Senate from the Dover district. He was 
charitable and benevolent and was always ready to contrilxite the cause 
of religion. 

In 1841 Mr. Morton was married to Miss Sarah F. Merriam, of Graf- 
ton, Mass., who died in 1849, survived by one daughter, Mrs. Etta Mer- 



922 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

riam, of Meriden, Conn. In 185 1 Mr. Morton married Miss Arniine Leavitt 
of York, Me., and two of their three children survive: WilHam A., of 
Haverhill, ^Mass., and Sara Josephine. The mother of these children died 
in iHOCt and in 1S68 Mr. Morton married Miss Marv Shackford, of Ports- 
mouth. Mrs. Morton is living and makes her home with Miss Sarah Joseph- 
ine Morton, at Salmon Falls and at Buxton, Me. Both ladies are prominent 
in social life and are members of the Somersworth Woman's Club. Miss 
Morton attended the public schools of Salmon Falls, and after leaving the 
high school entered Robinson Seminary at Exeter, N. H., where she was 
graduated in 1883. She is a member of the South Berwick Woman's Club 
and of the Margery Sulli\-an Chapter of the D. A. R. at Dover. Both 
ladies are active workers in Christ Episcopal Church at Salmon Falls, of 
which Miss Morton has been the organist for many years. 

JACOB S. M. FORD, owner of Ri\-erside Farm, in the town of Dover, 
was born in the house in which he resides. October 26, 1835, and is a son 
of Jacob and Sarah (Mitchell) Ford. 

Jacob Ford was bom on Dover Point, X. H.. Xo\ember 11, 1800, and 
was a son of JacoLi Ford, who mo\'ed from Massachusetts to Dover Point 
and lived there until death. Tn 1834 Jaco1) Ford moved from Dover Point 
to the farm now- owned and occupied by his son. where he continued to 
reside until his death, June 24, i'87i. He followed farming and also was 
a brick manufacturer and was a man (if Inisiness energv. In politics he was 
first a ^^'hig but later a Republican. He married Sarah Mitchell, a daughter 
of Samuel Mitchell and a granddaughter of John Mitchell, who was a Revo- 
lutionary soldier who. for a time, served on General Washington's stafY. His 
burial was at New Durham, N. H. Of the ten children born to Jacob and 
Sarah Ford, there are five yet living: Betsey A., who lives w^ith her brother, 
Jacob S. M. : Susan A., who is the widow of Freeman J. Houghton and a 
resident of Westminster, Vt. ; Noah P., who is a resident of Haverhill, 
Mass.; Jacob S. M. : and Sarah J., who is the wife of Edwin J. Parsley, 
of Strafford, N. H. The mother died in December, 18S4. 

Jacob S. M. Ford had such educational opportunities as were common 
in his day and section; he hel|)ed on the home farm anrl also learned the 
shoemaking trade. Near the close of the Civil war, when fresh troops 
were needed by the Government mainly for guard duty near Washington. 
D. C, Mr. Ford offered his services, enlisting on September i, 1864, in Com- 
pany D. First N. H. Heavy Artillery, and was honorably discharged nine 
months later, after which he returned to Dover. Riverside Farm contains 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 923 

eighty acres of productive land and he devotes it to general farming. He 
is a member of the G. A. R. post at Dover, being one of the two survivors 
of a quartette of brothers entitled to Grand Army honors: Horace K. 
Ford, now deceased; Noah P. and Jacob S. M., surviving, and William 
H.. deceased. Almost a lifelong resident, Mr. Ford is widely known and 
he is held in rc'-pecl and esteem l)y his fcllnw citizens. 

HORACE \\ . JENKINS, who is engagd in general agriculture on a 
farm of i8o acres in Madbury, this cinnity, was born in Madbury, N. H., 
February 8, 1864, a son of Jonathan and Martha (Emery) Jenkins. He 
is a grandson of Ephraim Jenkins, who was a well known citizen of Mad- 
bury in his day. 

Jonathan Jenkins, who died in March, 1900. was a lifelong resident of 
Madbury, where he served as selectman. He also represented Madl)ury for 
one term in the New Hampshire legislature. He was engaged chiefly m 
farming, Init also to some extent in the lumber industrv. He was a member 
of the Society of Friends, and in politics was a Republican. At his death 
Madbury lost one of its most useful and acti\e citizens, a man who was 
not only well known and respected at Imme Init also generally throughout 
the county. Pie and his wife Martha had fnur children, of whom there are 
now two survivors: Horace W. of ]\Iadliury, and Herbert T., who residues 
in Portsmouth. N. H. 

Horace W. Jenkins was reared to man's estate in Madbury and educated 
in its public schools. From his youth u]) he has been engaged in farming 
and dairying and. being a man of gmul practical experience along these 
lines, he has made it pay. In his political opinions he is a Repulilican with 
independent procli\'ities. He is progressixe and jjulilic-spirited and favors 
everythin.g calculated to achance the material or moral welfare of the com- 
munity in which he li\-es and of the county generally. He lias a wide 
acquaintance and enjoys the re|)utation of being a prosperous and reliable 
citizen. 

PHILIP H. STILES, a pr(.iminfnt citizen of Somersw orth, N. H., is agent 
for the Great Falls Mamifacturing Cimipany. Pie has been a resident of this 
city since April. 1865. and his entire business career has been in the emijloy 
of the company he now represents. Beginning as a boy of fourteen years, he 
diligently applied himself to his tasks, meriting his advancement from one 
position to another until he was general superintendent and finally agent 
of the company. 

jNIr. Stiles was born in Harrison, ^le., July 4. T85J, and is a son of David 



924 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

and \'ina G. (Hunt) Stiles. His fatlier was a native of ^Maine and his 
mother of Chatliam, N. H. From Harrison he came with his parents in 
1865 to Great Falls, N. H., where for a time he attended the public schools. 
At the age of fourteen years he began working for fifty cents per day in the 
carding department of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company. He con- 
tinued in that and the spinning department off and on for about a quarter of 
a century, becoming successively card grinder, second hand and overseer in 
the carding department. In 1900 he was appointed general superintendent, 
a position he filled with marked efficiency until 191 1, when he was made agent 
of the company. He is a broad-gauged man of public spirit and has always 
supported movements the object of which was to advance the interests or 
elevate the moral tone of the communitv. When the first council was organ- 
ized after the incorporation of Somersworth, Air. Stiles became one of the 
first councilmen, representing the first ward as such for three years. He 
has always been a Republican in politics. 

Philip H. Stiles was united in marriage with Miss Addie M. Parker, who 
was born in Berwick, Maine, and is a daughter of Samuel T. Parker of that 
place. Of three children born to them but one survives, namely: Sadie A. 
Religiously, the family is affiliated with the High Street Baptist church. 

MARSHALL B. FOSS, a prosperous and well known citizen, proprietor 
of the "Three Brook Farm," Madbury. was born in Strafford county, X. H., 
Xovember 5, 1846, a son of Leonard and Mary A. ( Bunker) Foss. His father 
was a native of this county, while his mother was born in the famous "Bunker 
Ciarrison" at Durham. X. H.. in former days a log garrison house used by 
the settlers as a protection against Indians. It derived its name from a 
great grandfather of our subject on the maternal side. The maternal grand- 
father of Mr. Foss was John Bunker. 

Leonard Foss was a .son of James Foss. He removed with his familv 
from Strafford, X. H., to Durham, where he lived for many years, but finally 
died in Dover about a quarter of a century ago, at the age of 48 years. Of 
his four children, two now survive, ^Marshall B., whose name begins this 
sketch, and Emma F., widow of David Caswell, late of Haverhill. Mass. 
She now resides in Salem, i\Iass. A Republican in politics, Leonard Foss 
for a number of years served on the Durham school board. He was a 
good business man and had the confidence of his neighbors to such an extent 
that he was often called upon to act as administrator in settling estates. 

Marshall B. Foss was reared in Durham and for a year or so worked 
with his father at carpenter work and afterwards at shoemaking, the father 
being engaged successively in both these occupations. The trade of carpenter 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 925 

he has followed more or less all his life, but has lately engaged in farming 
on the "Three Brook Fann" already mentioned, which contains about 70 
acres and is one of the best farms in Madbury. He married Julia M. Willey, 
and they have had two children — Mary A., wife of Urban Home who is a 
member of the police force of Beverly, Mass., and Fred E., who is a deco- 
rator and resides in Lowell, Mass. Mr. Foss is a Republican in politics and 
is a man who has won a well-earned reputation for good citizenship, being 
among the representative men of his class in Strafford county. 

JAMES E. TRICKEY, whose name is well known in many sections 
of the country as a former genial and capable host of numerous summer 
resort hotels, now resides in the Long Hill neighborhood in the town of Dover, 
where he owns forty acres of land, which for many years has been the Trickey 
homestead. He was born at Jackson. X. H.. July 15, 1849, and is a son 
of Samuel and Sarah A. ( Johnson ) 'J'rickey. The father was born in Jackson 
and the ninther in Durham. The Trickey family is of English extraction 
but as far back as the grandfather, James Trickey, has belonged to New 
Hampshire. From Jackson Samuel Trickey moved with his family to the 
farm now owned by his son, and died there in his seventy-sixth vear. Of 
his family of children three survive: Augusta A., who is the widow of Joseph 
N. Hayes, of Rochester; Cyrus P., who is in the piano business at Boston, 
Mass.; and James E., of Dover. 

James E. Trickey was educated at Jackson and was nineteen years old 
when the family moved to Rochester, later settling in the town of Dover. 
He assisted his father until he found an opening in the line of business which 
he believed would be congenial. For thirty years afterward he was ci )n- 
nected with the Laurel House at Lakewood, N. J., in an official capacity. 
Later he was manager of the Ferry Park House at Saco, before he went to 
the Laurel House for one seasnn. He was then manager of the lialduin, 
at Beach Plaven, N. J., for a season, fullnwing which he spent a season as 
manager of the Balsams, at Di.xville Notch, N. H. He was also identified 
officially with the Thorn-Mountain House, now known as Wentworth Hall, 
at Jackson, N. H., for four seasons, that being his first hotel experience and 
proved an excellent preparation for the strenuous activities of later positions. 
Mr. Trickey has had a life full of varied experiences, and while his patience 
and generosity were often taxed, he possessed the tact that is a part of the 
popular hotelkeeper's equipment, and the executive ability to provide for 
comfort of his guests. Mr. Trickey's neighbors feel that they know him 
well and welcome his permanent settling down among them. Mr. Trickey 
married Miss Louise S. Sherman, of Boston, Mass., a graduate of the 



926 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Boston Xornial School. The\' attend the Unitarian church. He belongs 
to W'ecohamet Lodge, Xo. 3, Odd Fellows, and in his political views he is 
a Republican. 

HOLMES B. ROUXDS, a well known and esteemed citizen residine 
on the Log Garrison farm, Dover, N. H., was born in China, Me., November 
19. 1835- '1 son of Joseph and Elsie (Drew) Rounds. His father was a 
native of New England and of Scotch ancestry, his mother also being a native 
of New England. The subject of this sketch was their only child. 

Joseph Rounds died when his son Holmes was in his second year and 
'Sirs. Rounds then I)r(jught her son to Strafford County, N. H., locating 
on the Garrison road in Dover. Here she taught school for a time, but sub- 
sequently married Joseph T. Peasley, now deceased, by whom she had five 
children. Of these latter two are living; Joseph E., died Nov. 14, 1913; he 
resided on the Peaslee farm, Dover; ^Lirtha E. and John T., are residents 
of Dover. 

Holmes B. I\oun(l> was reared in Dover, where he attendetl the public 
schools. He may truly lie called a self-made man. as he has had to make 
his own way in the world since quite young. The Garrison farm, of which 
he is the owner, contains 160 acres of land and is devoted to general farm- 
ing. On it is located the old Log Garri.son Hou.se. famous in local history 
as having been formerly a fort in which the early settlers here were accus- 
tomed to take refuge in case of Lndian alarms. It is kept in a good state of 
preservation by our subject. 

Mr. Rounds married Ellen S. Peavey, who was liorn in Dover, N. H., 
a daughter of Bryant and Anna Pea\ey of this city. They have passed 
their golden wedding anniversary, having been married o\-er fifty years, but 
are still youthful in heart and mind. Their friends are numerous in this 
locality. :\Ir. Rounds belongs to Mt. Pleasant lodge of Odd Fellows at 
Dover and Dover Grange. He attends the L'ui\ersalist church, of which his 
wife is a member. 

W.ALTER F. GAGE, was one of the widely esteemed citizens of Dover, 
where he was born October 9, 1848. He was a lifelong resident of Gage's 
Hill, and died February 21, 1909. He was a son of Daniel and Sarah 
(Hersom) Gage, and a grandson of James Gage, who was the founder of 
the family in Strafford county and the original settler of Gage's Hill, to 
which he gave his name. Daniel Gage was born on this place and spent his 
life here. He married Sarah Hersom, who belonged fo an old family of 
Berwick, Me. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 927 

In the district schools ami at I'ranklin Academy. Walter 1", Gage was 
educated and throughout life was a well informed man anti interesFnig com- 
panion. He followed agricultural pursuits for thirty-seven years and for 
this length of time conducted a milk route at Do\er. In many ways he was 
useful to his community and served with strict integrity as a member of the 
city council and also as a member of the board of aldermen at Dover. In 
politics- he was a Republican. The only fraternal body with which he was 
connected was the Knights of Pythias, of which he was a charter member 
at Dover. In his family Air. Gage was kind, thoughtful and indulgent and 
in his community was accommodating, courteous and charitable. 

On February 14, 1877, Mr. Gage was married to Miss Amanda J. Stir- 
ling, who was born January 12, 1853, at South .\tkinson, Me., a daughter 
of Ephraim and Susan ( Ham ) Stirling, and a granddaughter of Harry 
Stirling, of New Castle, N, H., who was a sea captain and was of Engli.sh 
extraction. Captain Stirling and one of his sons were lost at sea while on 
a voyage in foreign waters. Mrs. Gage has the following brothers and 
sisters: Wesley B., who resides on Broadway, Dover, N. H. ; Truman, who is 
a resident of San Gabriel, Cal. ; John H., who is a resident of Dover; Elsie 
S., who is the widow of Henry Hope, and resides at Lowell, Mass., and 
Isabel G., who is the wife of William Pray, of Dover. The father of Mrs. 
Gage was also a sea captain and owned mills at South Atkinson. He later 
moved to Blackwater, N. H., and was engaged in farming for a few jears 
before removing to Garrison Hill, where he died March 30, 1888, being 
survived by his wife until May, 1890. Tw'o children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Gage: Cora B. and Everett W., both of whom remain with their mother. 
The Gage farm is a fine estate of about 300 acres. The familv attends the 
Central Avenue Free Will Ba])tist church, to which Mr. Gage was a liberal 
and willing contributor. 



'b 



ELIAS C. VARNEY, a ])rominent and highly esteemed citizen of Dover, 
residing in the Blackwater district, was born May 28, 1835, in Rochester, 
N. FL, a son of George W. and Sarah F. ( Hanson) Varney. He is a grand- 
son of Elias Varney, who settled at an early day in Barrington, N. H., where 
he resided many years and finally died. George \\''. Varnev, father of our 
subject, was born in Barrington and came to Rochester at the age of ten 
years, becoming a memlier of the household of E. Cloutman, Esq., being 
here reared to man's estate. His wife, Sarah, whom he married here, was 
a native of Somersworth. Of their children the following are now living: 
Elias C, whose name begins this sketch ; Sarah F., widow of Howard Parsons, 
late of Dover, N. H. ; Christine, widow of Charles Home, late of Berwick, 



928 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

Me., where slie resides: Susan E., widow of the late Samuel Lord and a 
resident of Dover; Lenora, who is the widow of James Home, late of Dover, 
of wliich city she is still a resident, and Emma, widow of George Cheney, 
late of Manchester, X. H.. where she is now living. The father, George W. 
Varney, (Hed in Rochester over a quarter of a centurv ago. 

Elias C. \'arney was reared to manhood in Rochester, in his hoyhood 
attending the jiuhlic sciiools. He tiien went to Boston, where he was engaged 
in teaming for some 20 years. Subsequently returning to Rochester, he 
took up farming, which occupation he has now successfully carried on for 
30 years with a gratifying degree of success. He has a fine and well culti- 
vated farm ni 143 acres, on which he is also engaged in stock raising. As 
a citizen he stands high in the estimation of all who know him, his capacity, 
integrity and progressive qualities being widely recognized. In politics he 
is independent, being bound by no party shackles but acting on his own 
private judgment when called upon to cast his vote. Both in his reading 
and thinking he keeps well abreast of the times, and his aid and influence 
can always be enlisted on behalf of any cause calculated to benefit the com- 
nninity at large. 

Mr. \'arney was married in 1859 to Sarah F. Moody, a native of Tam- 
worth, X. H.. who died June 13, 1907. She was a most worthy woman 
and a consistent member of the Free Will Baptist Church. She bore her 
husliand four children, namely: George \\'., whd resides in Rochester; Inlm 
W'., a resident of Dover. X. H. ; Elizaljeth ^l., wife of Edward E. Clark, 
of Dover, and Frank, who is also a resident of Dover. Mr. Varney's chil- 
dren are all progressive, intelligent members of the communities in which 
they respectively reside — such as bring credit to a family name. He him- 
self is one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of Strafi^ord County, 
having accumulated an ample competence through his own exertions, backed 
by industry, intelligence and economy. 

EDWARD F. LORD, master carpenter, who has been connected continu- 
ously with the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, at Somersworth, N. H., 
for 33 years, is a valued employe, one whose worth has been recognized by 
well merited advancement. He was born at Berwick, Me., where he still 
maintains his home, Xovember 17, 1854, and is a son of Benjamin S. and 
Sarah (Roberts) Lord, both of whom were natives also of the Pine Tree 
state. 

Edward F. Lord attended the public schools of Berwick during his boy- 
hood and then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has worked con- 
tinuously ever since. Since 1880 he has been connected with the carpenter 
shops of the Great Falls plant, some years since becoming master carpenter. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 929 

In early manhood Mr. Lord was united in marriage with Miss Ella Fall, 
who was born also at Berwick. Me., as were her parents. George and Ellen 
(Melcher) Fall. Her father is deceased. Mr. Lord belongs to the Ma,sonic 
fraternity, attending tiie judge at South Berwick, and also is a member of the 
Odd Fellows, at Berwick. He is a highly respected, earnest and well inten- 
tioned citizen and gives his political support to the Democratic party. Public 
ottice has never appealed to him as he has found his time sufficiently taken 
up with his business affairs and his home and social interests. 

OLIVER AI. VICKER^', a well known and successful agriculturist of 
Dover. N. H.. is a native of this county, having been 1)orn in Rochester, 
N. H., August 22. 1 85 J. His parents were Joshua and Mary (Green) 
Vickery, the father a native of Wakefield, X. H., and the mother of Roch- 
ester. Our subject's paternal grandfather was Samuel Vickery who resided 
in Wakefield many years. The family is said to be of English origin. 

Oliver M. Vickery was reared to man's estate in Rochester and trained 
to agricultural pursuits. For nine years he was employed in Dover but now 
owns a farm of his own of 60 acres here, dex'oted to general farming. He 
was educated in the public schools but the knowledge there acquired has 
been largely supplemented by practical experience in the affairs of life. He 
has resided on his present farm since 1896 and is doing a successful farming 
business. His prosperity is the result of his own personal efforts and he may 
be called a "self-made man" in the best sense of tlie phrase. That he has 
force of character is evidenced by the fact that he lias several times been 
chosen by his fellow citizens to serve in public office. He was formerly a 
councilman of Dover, representing ^^"ard i, and lie served as alderman for 
two terms from the same ward, showing efficiency and a due regard for 
the interests of his constituents. In politics he is a Republican. As a citizen 
Mr. Vickery is up to date and public-spirited, being always found on the 
side of true progress and the moral and material improvement of the city 
and town. He has gained much popularity and has a wide circle of friends. 
Mr. Vickery married Annie B. Osliorn. of Rochester, N. H.. a daughter of 
Hiram S. Osborn. late of that city. Of this marriage there have been two 
children — Walter R.. residing at Lakeport. X. H.. and .\lta. wife of Herbert 
Meader of Dover. X. H. 

GEORGE H. ^^'Y-VTT, Jr., general farmer, who is successfully carrying 

on his agricultural industries on his 140 acres of land, which are situated 

three and one-half miles east of Rochester Square, on the Dover and Roch- 
54 



930 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

ester stale road, was born in the town of Farmington, N. H., September i8, 
1866, and is a son of Lyman and Mary H. \Vyatt. 

After his school days were over, George H. Wyatt gradnally became 
connected with the saw mih business and during the last ten years has done 
a large amount of lumber contracting. Recently he has sold his saw mill, 
through which he was known in the lumber regions of both Strafford and 
York counties, and now devotes his entire attention to his farm activities, 
which include raising and dealing in stock, particularly horses. He has placed 
his property in fine condition but the buildings were erected by the former 
owner, George W. Varney. 

Mr. Wyatt was married first to Miss Alice L. True, who, at death, left 
four children. The second marriage of Mr. Wyatt was with Miss Nettie 
E. Davis. In politics he is a Democrat but has been generally unwilling 
to accept office ; at one time he was trafific agent at Farmington. He is well 
and favorably known all over .Straft'ord county. 

NEWELL B. FOSS is proprietor of Broad View Farm, containing 185 
acres, situated two and one-half miles west of Rochester Square. He owns 
also 600 more acres in Strafford county and his interests cover farming, 
lumbering and livestock trading. Mr. Foss was born in the town of Straf- 
ford, Strafford county, N. H., August 19, i860, and is a son of Richard W. 
and Emily (Place) Foss. 

The Foss family came from Massachusetts to New Hampshire in the 
person of the great-grandfather, settling on what is now the Foss home farm 
of 300 acres, situated at the foot of the Parker mountains, then known 
as Blue Hills. James B. Foss, the grandfather, married Sarah \\'aldron and 
they had two sons and three daughters, one of the sons, Richard W., receiv- 
ing the farm as his portion and lived on it until he gave it to his oldest son, 
James H. Foss, who is the present owner. He married Emily Jane Place and 
they had four sons and three daughters to reach maturity. 

Newell B. Foss with his brothers and sisters attended school at Straf- 
ford antl the Newhampton Academy and in 1886 he was graduated from the 
Newhampton Commercial College, following which he started out on his own 
business responsibility. ]Mr. Foss's farm was formerly owned and named 
by George \Vallace, who erected all the special buildings, and here was once 
carried on probably the most e.xtensive henneries in the state, also fancy cows 
and horses. A partial description may give some idea of its plan of con- 
struction. The main barn, with dimensions of 50x100 feet, is three stories 
high, the first floor being arranged for horses and carriages. Hay and 
weighing scales occupy the second and third floors. Adjoining the main 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 931 

barn is the cow stable, 35x70 feet in dimensions, with accommodations for 
thirty-eight cows to be kept under sanitary conditions. The cattle barn, 
100x20 feet, also has a cellar with twenty-two cow stanchions and box 
stalls; and the boiler house, 20x35 feet, three stories high, has a cement floor 
on which is located the engine, and here all the cutting and grinding of food 
for the cows and poultry is attended to, modern conveniences being sup- 
plied. The brooding quarters, 200x20 feet, and a separate steam heat plant 
is here utilized. There are six hen houses, 20x100 feet, all finished in proper 
way; and the incubator house operates two stoves and accommodations are 
provided for a tenant. The place and its many improvements and con- 
veniences must be seen in order to be appreciated. Mr. Foss has a handsome 
i6-room residence, built in modern style, with cement cellars and with a 
steam heating system. All the buildings are well supplied with water from 
a drilled well 298 feet deep, and reservoir holding 15,000 gallons. Many 
wonderful improvements have been made here since the time of Mr. Foss's 
grandfather, who conveyed his products to Boston by wagon. 

Mr. Foss married Miss M. Isabella Waterhouse, a daughter of Charles 
H. Waterhouse, of Harrington, N. H., and they have one daughter, Nancy 
Laura, residing at home. She is an educatetl and accomplished lady, formerly 
was a bookkeeper and stenographer for Leslie P. Snow, of Rochester, N. H.. 
and afterward a teacher in the Rochester High school. Mr. Foss is a promi- 
nent member of the Grange and belongs also to the Odd Fellows and the order 
of United American Mechanics, at Rochester. 

DWIGHT HALL.* attorney-at-law, Dover, N. H., was born in Straf- 
ford County, N. H., April 13, 18S7, one of a family of three children of 
Joshua G. and Susan E. (Bigelow) Hall. The father, Joshua G. Hall, was 
a very prominent lawyer up to the time of his death, which occurred October 
31, 1898. He also served the city of Dover as city .solicitor from 1868 to 
1870 inclusi\e. 

Dwight Hall, after attending the |)ublic schools, entered Andover 
Academy, from which institution he was graduated in 1890. He studied 
law at -the Dorister Law School, of Boston. Mass., and was admitted to 
the bar in New Hampshire in 1897. Immediately after he began the practice 
of his profession in Dover, where he has since remained. He served the 
city of Dover as city solicitor and has also been countv solicitor and referee 
in bankruptcy. Elected mayor of Dover, he sened capably in that office 
during the years 191 1 and 1912. He is a director in the Strafford National 
Bank of Dover. 

Mr. Hall married Miss Frances C. Smith, a daughter of James Smith 



932 HISTORY OF STIL\FFORD COUNTY 

and he and his family are nieml^ers of the First Congregational church. In 
pohtics he is a Repubhcan. Mr. Hall is one of the leading members of the 
bar in Strafford County and few citizens of Dover are better known or 
more liighly esteemed. 

ROBERT B. L.\XE, who occupies tlie important position of overseer 
of the spinning department of mills Xo. i and Xo. 2 of the Great Falls 
Manufacturing Company, of Somersworth, N. H., has been identified with 
this extensive plant since December, 1899, when he became a resident of 
this city. He was born at Carroll, Me., October 18, 1868, and was a child 
when his parents removed to Lewiston, Me. 

During the nine years that Robert B. Lane lived at Lewiston. he attended 
school anil after remo\ing to Warren, Mass., was graduated from the Warren 
High school. By the time he was eighteen years of age he had become 
interested in the textile mills at Warren and entered the carding and spinning 
department. He continued with the Warren Cotton Mills for ten years, 
making his way from the bottom of the ladder until he becaine foreman of 
the spinning department. After this he spent a year in the Xew York Mills, 
X. Y., where he was superintendent of mill No. 4, and from there came to 
Somersworth. At first, for a time, he was overseer of the spinning depart- 
ment of mill No. i: later he was given charge also of mill X'^o. 2, and at 
one time he even had mill X^o. 3 under his care. His long experience in 
this particular line has made him very valuable as an overseer and his watch- 
ful eye lets no fault of either workman or product escape him. 

Mr. Lane was married at Warren, Mass., to Miss Mabel Armour and 
they have two children — James W. and Maud T. Mr. Lane and family atter.d 
the Free Will Baptist church at Somersworth. In politics he is a Repulilican 
but is no seeker for office. For many years he has been identified widi tiie 
fraternal order of Knights of Pythias. Mr. Lane is a quiet, industrious, 
public spirited and liberal citizen and stands high in the esteem of those with 
whom the past fourteen years of his life have been spent. 

JOHX' G. LIBBEY. one of the prosperous agriculturists of the town of 
Somersworth. where he owns seventy-five acres of valuable land, was born 
at Lebanon, Jile., February 11. 1867, and is a son of Thomas H. and Mary .\. 
( Goodwin ) Lil:>l)ey. 

Thomas H. Libbey was born at Ossipee, N. H.. and was six months old 
when his father died and the death of his mother left him an orphan at the 
tender age of three years. He was reared by an uncle. Ivorv Hodgdon. of 
Ossipee. with whom he remained until he reached manhood, when he went 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 933 

to Lebanon, INk-. There he married and remained for some years and then 
moved to Boston, Mass., for a short time. He then returned to Lebanon, 
which remained the family home until 1895, when removal was made to 
Somersworth and settlement was made on the farm tliat is now owned by 
John G. Libbey. Here Thomas H. Libbey resided until his death in Decem- 
ber, 1905, his wife surviving until April, 1910. They were members of the 
Free Will Baptist church. Of their children John G. Libbey is the only 
survivor. 

John G. Libbey grew to manhood in his nati\'e place and attended tlie 
public schools. From choice, farming has always been his main occupation. 
On April 11, 1895, he was united in marriage with Bertha Hanscom, who 
was born at Lebanon, Me., a daughter of Aaron H. and Susan (W'oodsum) 
Hanscom, the father a native of North Berwick and the mother of Lebanon, 
Me. Mrs. Libbey has two sisters : Mrs. Ida Brockett, of San Antonio, 
Tex., and JNIrs. Alma Estabrook, of Berwick, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Libbey had 
one son, Maurice C, who is now deceased. As a good and intelligent citizen, 
Mr. Libbey takes an interest in public affairs and gives his political supjiort 
to the Republican party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at 
SpringA'ale, Me. 

JEREMY B. TOWLE, who is one of Dover's best known and most 
respected citizens, has j^assed the greater part of his life here, his main 
interest being farming. He belongs to one of the old families of the state 
and is in the eighth generation from the original settler, who was Philip 
Towle, a native of Ireland and one of the first householders at Kingston. 
N. H. Jeremy B. Towle was born at Wolfboro, N. H., May 13, 1831. a 
son of Levi and Sallie (Dudley) Towle, and a grandson of Jeremiah Towle. 
Levi Towle was born at Hanover, N. H., and moved to Dover in 1840, 
where he spent the rest of his life, dying at the age of eighty-four years. 

Jeremy B. Towle accompanied his parents to Do\'er at the age of nine 
vears. In Ijoyhood he attended the old Pine Hill school and assisted his 
father on the home farm. He learned the shoemaking trade and in after 
years alternated work at the same time with farming. In the fall of 1864 
he offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company D, First N. H. 
Heavy Artillery and was honorably discharged nine months later in the 
meanwhile having been mainly on guard duty at \\'ashington, D. C. He 
returned then to Dover and has since lived here with the exception of a 
few years spent at Madrid, Me. His farm lies on the Back River road. 
town of Dover. 

Mr. Towle was married first to Miss Mary A. Nute, of Madbury, N. H., 



934 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

aiKl ten children were born to them, the following of whom survive: Levi 
W., James B., and Hiram G., all of whom are residents of Dover; Cora B., 
a trained nurse and graduated physician, who is a resident of Boston, Alass. ; 
Edwin D., a physician in practice at Salem, Mass.; and Jeremy S., who is a 
resident of a western state. Carrie E., Alary A., Alice and Abbie are 
deceased. The second marriage of Mr. Towle was to Miss Catherine L. Cook, 
who was born at W'olfboro, N. H., a daughter of Joel E. and Susan M. 
(^^ 'gP") Cook. Her father was born at Wolfboro, N. H., and her mother 
at Newmarket, the latter being a direct descendant in the eighth generation 
from Capt. Thomas Wiggin, who was the first acting governor of the state 
of New Hampshire. Mr. and j\lrs. Towle have two children: Arthur, who 
is superintendent of a woolen mill at Hillsboro, N. H. ; and Ruth W., who 
is a student in the Dover High school. Mr. Towle and wife attend the 
Universalist church. In his political views he is a Democrat. As a citizen 
ever ready to further movements for the general welfare, Mr. Towle stands 
among the foremost and both he and his w'ife have a wide circle of friends 
who hold them in personal esteem. 

Hn<AM A. NASH is a well known citizen of Somersworth, N. H., 
residing at No. 44 West High Street. He was born in this village on Novem- 
ber 8, 1852, and is a son of Joseph K. and Judith (Merrill) Nash. The 
father was a native of France and \\ hen a young man emigrated to America, 
first locating at Elliot, Me. A short time thereafter he came to Great Falls, 
N. H., Avhere he was employed in the carpentry department of the Great 
Falls Manufacturing Company for a period of forty-five years. His death 
occurred in 1876. He was a Republican in [jolitics. Of the children born 
to Joseph K. and Judith (Merrill) Nash, the following sur\-ive: Helen A. 
of Raymond, N. H., widow of Albert Guptill ; Luella A., wife of Isaac 
Hodgdon of Raymond. N. H. : Mary G.. wife of Jacob Foster of Shelbourne 
Falls, Mass.; Hiram A.: and Frederick M. of Duver. X. H, 

Hiram A. Nash was reared to man's estate in Somersworth, receiving a 
public school education. When a young man he learned the trade of a 
carpenter, which he followed for some twenty years. He was married in 
1873 ^"fi shortly after moved to Haverhill, Mass.. where he continued at his 
trade for a number of years. He was for sc\era! years a member of the 
police force in the town of Bradford, a sulnirb of Haverhill. He subse- 
quently became a member of the Haverhill fire department, being lieutenant 
of Hose Company No. 5. and for twenty years he continued in the service of 
the fire department. In 1910, he gave up that position and returned to 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 935 

Somerswortli, where his wife and children had previously gone, owing to the 
death of Airs. Xash's mother. 

February 6, 1873, Hiram A. Nash was united in marriage with Belle 
Jones, a native of Somersworth. X. H., and a daughter of Charles S. and 
Harriet A. (Stanton) Jones, her father a native of Lebanon, Me., and her 
mother of Brookiield, N. H. Charles S. Jones, a son of Daniel Jones of 
Lebanon, Me., was about twelve years of age when his mother died, and the 
family almost immediately thereafter moved to what then was Great Falls, 
N. H., now Somersworth. Here he grew to maturity, and in time became 
established in the hotel business, a field of endeavor in which he attained 
wide prominence. He conducted hotels in Somersworth, in Portsmouth, 
N. H., and in Wells Beach, Me., and became widely known and exceedingly 
popular. He was a stanch Democrat in politics, taking an active part in 
campaigns at all times and working for his party's supremacy. He also at 
times filled ofBces of trust, being at one time a member of the New Hampshire 
legislature and also serving some years as selectman of Great Falls. Mrs. 
Jones died in May, 1896, and her husband survived her until October 10, 
1905, Mrs. Nash being sole sur\-i\or of the family. Mr. Jones was a Mason 
and an Odd Fellow. He w-as a man of public spirit and in his death Strafford 
county lost one of its most worthy and representative citizens, 

Mr. and Mrs. Nash have two children: Guy M. of Haverhill, Mass.; 
and Adelbert M., of Somersworth, N. H. He is an ardent Democrat in 
politics, and takes an earnest interest in public affairs as becomes a good 
citizen. He is not an active member of any church, but he and Mrs. Nash 
have been liberal in the support of churches and worthy enterprises calculated 
to elevate the community. 

MARK ANNIS, who carries on extensive operations in general farming 
and dairying, on his fine estate of 187 acres, situated in the town of Dover, 
is one of Strafford county's well known and enterprising business men. He 
was born on December 7, 1869, in Coos county, N. H., and is a son of 
Mark and Betsy (Burbank) Annis, both of whom were born in New Hamp- 
shire, as was also the paternal grandfather, Joseph Annis, \\ho lived at 
Conway, N. H. 

Mark Annis remained in Coos county until twelve years old and then 
accompanied his parents to Somersworth, and from there, at the age of 
seventeen years, came to Dover. His education had been carried on along 
liberal lines and Mr. Annis is well informed, not only concerning the best 
carrying on of his particular industries, but of matters in general. 

Mr. Annis was married Januarj^ 22. 1887, to Miss Sarah J. Tibbetts, 



936 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

who was born at Lebanon, Me., a tlaughter of Andrew J. Tibbetts of tliat 
place. The death of this estinial)le lady on April 6, 1913. not only brought 
grief to her immediate household but to the community as well. She was a 
member of the Advent Christian church. Se\en children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Annis, namely: Joseph R., Betsy W., ]vlark (a student in the 
Boston Bible School at Boston, Mass.) ; Ebbin E., Andrew J., Teresa M. and 
George E. Mr. Annis is a member of. the Advent Christian church at Dover. 
He is a good-intentioned citizen, anxious to support law ami bring about 
needed reforms and casts his vote independently. 

CYRUS FREEMAX, who is identified with the ( ireat Falls Manufac- 
turing Company at Somersworth, N. H., as overseer of the cloth hall, is a 
well known and prominent citizen of Strafford county, for many years having 
been active in public life as well as in business affairs. He was born February 
28. 1840, at Farmington, Me., and is a son of Cyrus and Elizabeth (Mosher) 
Freeman, both natives of Gorham, ^le. 

Cyrus Freeman was reared to the age of fourteen years at Farmington, 
by his mother, his father having died in his infancy, and then they with other 
members of the family, moved to Lewiston, Me., where he attended school 
and lived for fifteen years. From there Mr. Freeman came to Great Falls, 
in the meanwhile having been well trained in different textile mills, and in 
1870 accepted the position which he now fills. In April, 1861, Mr. Freeman 
enlisted for service in the Civil war and became a member of Company F., 
which was organized at Lewiston, Me. When the company reached Portland. 
Me., it became a part of the First Maine Volunteer Infantry, and Mr. Free- 
man was made an orderly and served three months and after his honorable 
discharge, returned to Lewiston. He takes much interest in Littlefield Post, 
Xo. 8, G. A. R., Somersworth and has served two years as its commander. 

On September 25. 1863, Mr. Freeman was married to Miss Celeste Smith, 
of Lewiston. Me., a daughter of George B. and Lucinda (Litchfield) Smith. 
She died June iS, 1910. Three children were bom to them, of whom two 
are living — Arthur C, who is a resident of Lawrence, Mass. (He designed 
the seal for the city of Somersworth) : and Bessie L., who is a graduate of 
the Somersworth High school and a popular teacher here. Early recognized 
as a man of worth by his fellow citizens, Mr. Freeman was elected a member 
of the first board of councilmen after the incorporation of Somersworth as a 
city, in 1893. and during three of the four years that he served, he was 
president of the board. He served also two terms as a member of the X'ew 
Hampshire legislature, representing the former town of Somersworth. He 
belongs to Libanus Lodge, Xo. 49, A. F. & A. M., Somersworth; Edwards 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 937 

Ruyal Arcli Chapter, fur over a (|uarter of a century having been treasurer 
of botli organizations, and belongs to St. Paul Conimandery at Dover. He 
is also a charter member of Prospect Lodge, Knights of Pythias of Somers- 
worth. Air. Freeman and family attend the Congregational church. 

GEORGE \V. TUTTLE, who is engaged principally in market garden- 
ing, is the owner of a tract of 120 acres on Dover Neck, N. H., being of 
the eighth generation of Tuttles t<j be located on this land. He traces his 
lineage in this country and on his home farm through Joseph E. and Caroline 
H. (Paul) Tuttle, Joseph and Sarah ( Pinkham) Tuttle, William and Anna 
(Hanson) Tuttle, Elijah and Esther Tuttle, Ensign John Tuttle, and Judge 
John Tuttle to John Tuttle, who was the original immigrant. 

John Tuttle, last named, came from Wales to Dover, N. H., in 1633, 
being one of Captain Thomas Wiggins' Company. He was one of the party 
to make settlement on Dover Neck in the fall of that year, his allotment 
being on the east side of the road, near where the school house now stands. 
His son. Judge John Tuttle, became a \ery prominent and influential member 
of the community, his home being on the west side of the street, nearly 
opposite that of his father. He was town clerk from 1693 ^^ 17-9. tmvn 
treasurer many years, representative in the General Court or Assembly of 
New Hampshire from 1698 to 1707, and was judge of the Court of Common 
I'leas from 1695 until his death in 17 jo. He also had a command in the 
state militia. Ensign John Tuttle, son of Judge Tuttle, resided on the grant 
of land on the west side of Back river, given to his grandfather in 1642. He 
engaged in the lumber business with his father, operating a saw mill at 
Toland Falls, where in 171 2 he met death at the hands of the Indians. He 
was ensign in a militia company, which gave him his title, and he was one 
of the most active business men of the town. Joseph and Sarah Pinkham 
Tuttle, grandparents of the subject of this record, had three sons who 
grew to maturity and !i\-ed on the old Tuttle estate, namely : Asa Tuttle. 
the noted Quaker preacher who departed this life in the nineties; Joseph, 
who died in middle life; and William Penn Tuttle, a man of prominence of 
Do\er Neck, \vho died on Alay 4. 191 1. 

William Penn Tuttle, an uncle of George W., whose name heads this 
sketch, was born June 26. 1823, in the home where he lived at death. His 
educational training was acquired in the pulilic schools at Dover and in 
the Friends' School at Providence. K. I. During the early years of his active 
life he was in the lumber business in Rochester and Alilton, also in towns 
in Maine, but his main business was in farming the Tuttle homestead, along 
which line he was one of the most successful on Dmer Neck. He was the 



938 HISTORY OF STIL^FFORD COUNTY 

first Dover farmer to make a specialty of truck farming, and he built the 
first green house for the raising of early \egetables. His product being 
farther achanced than his competitors he always benefited by the earlier and 
higher prices. He was a high minded and acti\e man and enjoyed the highest 
esteem of his fellow citizens. He was for many years leader in the Society 
of Friends, whose meeting house on Central Avenue and Pine Hill was built 
in 1769. He was well versed in the Bible, was a good speaker in public 
meetings, and at all times and intelligent and pleasing conversationalist. He 
was an ardent anti-sla\-ery man and was an important cog in the "Under- 
ground Railroad," doing his share in secreting many of the colored race and 
helping them to the Canadian line and freedom. He was in no sense a 
politician, never sought office, but frequently did all in his power to assist 
good men into office. The only office he ever consented to fill was that 
of sun-eyor of highways in his district, for he had long been a strong and 
practical advocate of good roads, never letting an opportunity pass to further 
that end. He was thrice married, first to Mary Varney of Rochester, 
secondly to Lydia Cartland of Portland, Maine, and his third marriage was 
with Hannah Hanson. He had one son by his first wife but he did not live 
beyond his sixth year. Mr. Tuttle spent the last few years of his life in 
retirement, leaving the care of the farm to his nephew George W. Tuttle. 
His death occurred May 4, 191 1, when he was aged eighty-seven years, ten 
montlis and eight days. 

Joseph E. Tuttle, father of George W., was born at Dover Neck, N. H., 
as was also his wife Caroline H. Paul. He always followed farming, but 
did not live beyond middle life, dying July 12, 1874. He was a Republican 
in politics, and in religious attachment was a member of the Society of 
Friends. 

George \Y. Tuttle was born on Dover Neck, October 22, 1865, and was 
but a small Ijoy when his father died. He was taken to live with an aunt at 
North Berwick, Maine, and was sent by her to the Friends Boarding School 
at Pro\idence, R. L, this school now being known as the Moses Brown School. 
He completed a four years' course there, after which he returned to Dover 
Neck. In school he had learned the art of wood carving, and upon his 
return to his native town took up the trade of cabinet maker which he 
followed four years. He located on a part of the old homestead and erected 
a set of building there in 1890. For about four years he made a specialty 
of the poultry business, after which he spent considerable time in the wind- 
mill industry, erecting windmills in Strafford and adjoining counties and 
some in the state of ]\Iaine. William Penn Tuttle at his death conveyed the 
homestead farm to his grand-nephew, William Penn, and the outlying property 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 939 

to his nephew George W. The two farms are now carried on jointly by- 
father and son in a very successful truck farming business. 

February 19, 1890, Mr. Tuttle was joined in marriage with Miss Jane 
Dennett, who was born in North Berwick, Maine, and is a daughter of John 
Dennett, now deceased. Five cliildren blessed this union, namely : William 
P., Caroline H. (deceased), Esther, Eleanor, and George E. All of the 
children now living make their home in Dover, N. H. John Dennett, father of 
Airs. Tuttle, was born in North Berwick, Me., and his wife, Jane H. Hubbard 
in maiden life, was liorn in South Berwick. Mr. Dennett was a prominent 
citizen and frequently held ofhce. He was supervisor of schools for a time, 
was a selectman of South Berwick, and for some time was a representative of 
his district in the Maine Legislature. George W. Tuttle is a Republican in 
politics, whilst religiously he belongs to the Society of Friends. Mrs. Tuttle 
is a member of the Calvin Baptist church. 

HENRY COCHRANE, general farmer and cattle dealer in the town of 
Somersworth, wdiere he owns 150 acres of land, w-as born in Somersworth, 
February 4, 1859, and is a son of Adam and Jeanette Cochrane. The parents 
of Mr. Cochrane were born in Scotland and after emigrating to America 
came to New Hampshire and settled in the town of Somersworth where they 
resided until their death. Three of their children survive them : Charlotte, 
who is the wife of Amasa Leonard, of Somersworth ; Joseph, who lives at 
Providence, R. I. ; and Henry. The parents attended the Methodist Episco- 
pal church and were people of honest ways and good intentions, 

Henry Cochrane grew up in Somersworth and attended the district schools. 
For many years he has been engaged in dealing in cattle as well as in general 
farming and as he is an excellent judge of livestock makes buying and selling 
profitable. Mr. Cochrane was first married to Miss Effie Ford, a daughter 
of the late George W. Ford, of Dover Point, and they had six children, the 
three survivors being: Ralph, living in Massachusetts; Henry E. and Marian 
M., both residing in Somersworth. George F., Ethel and Frederick are 
deceased. Mr. Cochrane's second marriage was to Miss Ida Clement, daugh- 
ter of the late William H. Clement, of Rollinsford. They are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Cochrane is a Republican in politics and 
fraternally is an Odd Fellow. He is well and favorably known over Strafford 
county and has a wide circle of business as well as personal friends who 
esteem him highly for his many admirable traits of character. 

GEORGE B. CLARK, a well known citizen and prosperous agriculturist 
of Madbury, N. H., residing on his fami of 103 acres, was born at Ludlow, 
Me., August 16, 1869, and is a son of James and Fannie (Roberts) Clark. 



940 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

James Clark was born in Xewfoundland, of English parentage. When a 
young man he came to the United States and located at Ludlow, Me., where 
he married and still carries on his farm industries and has many local interests. 

(jeorge B. Clark was reared on his father's farm and secured his educa- 
tion in his native place. Early in the nineties he went to Danvers, Mass., 
and from there came to Dover, X. H., where he resided until iqio. He 
settled on his present farm in Madbury where he carries on a general line of 
agriculture. 

On March 17, 1891, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Sarah Gordon, of 
Riceville, Ontario, Canada, and they have six children: Bertha J., Gordon, 
Harold S., Sidney S., Charlotte, George B. and James A. Mr. and Mrs. 
Clark are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views 
Mr. Clark favors the Republican party although not a politician. He is an 
honest, ujjright man, one who has made many friends since settling in Mad- 
Ijury, through his willing cooperation in promoting movements designed for 
the general welfare. 

THE SPAULDIXG BROTHERS— Leon, Huntley and Rolland— who 
are connected officially with J. Spaulding & .Sons Co., manufacturers of 
fibre board, a concern well known in the trade throughout the United States 
and elsewhere, are sons of Jonas Spaulding, the original founder of this 
enteqjrise. Jonas Spaulding was born at Townsend, Mass., where he sub- 
sequently engaged in the manufacturing business, erecting a small mill for 
the mamifacture of fibre board. The enterprise was successful and has since 
developed into the present large concern. Its founder died in .\iulover, 
Mass., at the age of O7 years. By his wife Emma, whose maiden name was 
Cummings, and who survives him, he had four children, namely: Leon C. 
who has charge of the Spaulding mill at Tonawanda, X. Y., Huntley X., 
also interested in the company, who is a resident of Boston, Mass., Rolland 
H., a resident of Xorth Rochester, X. H., and Marion L., who resides with 
her mother in Boston. In addition to the plants above named the company 
operates two other mills in Rochester, X. H., which are leased from a 
Rochester manufacturer; a leather board mill in Caseyville, 111., tw'o mills in 
Milton, X. H., manufacturing fibre board; also the Spaulding & Frost Com- 
pany at Fremont, X. H., devoted to cooperage and lumber, which mill turns 
out about one-third of the Xew England output of its line. The company 
is largely interested also in Spauldings Limited, of London, England. The 
three sons of Jonas Spaulding were for years actively associated with their 
father in the development of this large enterprise, and the business has 
grown to its present size under their management. They are now in many 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 941 

of their lines of fibre the largest factor in the United States, giving employ- 
ment to a large number of people. The fibre plants in New England are at 
present managed by Huntley N. and Holland H., the Tonawanda plant being 
managed by Leon C. 

HON. FRANK H. HALL, one of StrafYord county's well known men 
and representative citizens, has been a resident of Dover since the fall of 
1912 and is proprietor of Sunnyside Farm. He was born at Strafford, N. H., 
March 3, 1848, and is a son of Rufus and Mary A. (Young) Hall. 

Rufus Hall silent his entire life at Strafford, N. H., where his father, 
Israel Hall, was also born. Rufus Hall was engaged in agricultural pursuits 
but was a man of so many admirable ijualities that his fellow citizens chose 
him for public offices of responsibility where his good judgment would be 
of value in the management of affairs. He thus served in numerous local 
offices and also as selectman of Strafford and afterward was elected on the 
Democratic ticket, a member of the New Hampshire legislature. He married 
Alary A. Young, who died in 1901, and they had two sons, David O., who 
is deceased, and Frank H. Rufus Hall survived his wife until 1906, and 
in his death his community lost a citizen of worth. 

Frank H. Hall was reared at Strafford and attended the public .schools 
and the Strafford Academy and later a school at Northwood, N. H. For a 
number of years he was engaged in agriculture and was intere.sted in the 
lumber industry, which interest he maintains in other sections of New Hamp- 
shire, and also is a dealer in farm property both in Strafford and Barrington. 
During his residence in Strafford lie served two terms as a member of the 
New Hanip.diire legislature, carefully looking after the interests of his 
constituents while at Concord, and was appointed later a delegate to the 
Constitutional convention, held at Concord, as a representati\e of Strafford, 
his public services in all cases meeting the expectations of his friends and 
securing him the confitlence of the public. 

Mr. Hall married Miss Clara Eliott, of Barnstead, Belknap county, N. H. 
They have one son, Carroll E., who married Ella Buzzell and they have a 
daughter, Marjorie. The family belongs to the Free Will Baptist church. 

MOSES H. PRAY, whose fine farm of 100 acres lies on the old Indigo 
Hill road, in the town of Somersworth, Fifth Ward, is one of the substantial 
and representative citizens of Strafford county. He was born in Somers- 
worth, N. H., May ly , 1861, and is a son of Lorenzo D. and Harriet N. 
(Grover) I-"'ray, and a grandson of Major Mo.ses Pray. 

Lorenzo D. Pray was born at Lebanon. Me., in 1831, and was eight years 



942 HISTORY OF STR.A.FFORD COUNTY 

old when his father, ;Major Aloses Pray, moved to what was then Great 
Falls (now Somerswortli) and settled on the farm now owned by Moses H. 
Pray. Major Pray was an officer in the War of 1812. He was an extensive 
dealer in cattle and owned large herds. Lorenzo D. Pray served as select- 
man in the tuw n of Great Falls for a number of years. In politics he was a 
Republican. He married Harriet X. Grover, who was born at Portsmouth, 
N. H., and of their children the following sun'ive : Sarah E., who is the 
widow of Charles H. Smith, now living at Vladivostock, Russia, where she 
has resided ever since the death of her husband; Moses H. ; Frederick S., 
who is also a resident of that far distant Russian city above mentioned : and 
Grace E., who is the wife of J. Harry Austin of Berwick, Me. The father 
of the above family died in November, 1901. 

Moses H. Pray has always resided on the home farm and has followed 
agricultural pursuits from youth. This beautiful tract of land is locally 
known as Echo Farm. Mr. Pray carries on general farming and dairying. 
In October, 1884, he was married to ]\Iiss Mildred L. Tibbetts, who was 
born in Berwick, Me., a daughter of John W. Til)l)etts, now of Pro\idence, 
R. I. Of their family of children, there are five living: Frederick S., in 
Bridgeport, Conn. ; and Leigh H., Charles S., Doris 'SL and Eleanor F., all 
of whom reside at home. In politics Mr. Pray is a Republican and he has 
served as councilman from the Fifth Ward of Somerswortli and was a mem- 
ber of the first board of councilmen after the city was incorporated, serving 
three consecuti\e years. With his family Mr. Pray attends the Congrega- 
tional church. He is a man in whom great public confidence is placed and 
his many acts of good citizenship prove that it is not misplaced. 

GEORGE F. HODGDON, residing at No. 239 High street, Somers- 
uorlh, N. H., devotes his time to general farming and dairying, within the 
space of a few years having built up a remunerative milk route at Somers- 
worth. He was born May 21, 1855, in Great brails, now Somersworth, 
N. H., and is a son of George W., a grandson of Abner and a great-grand- 
son of Jonathan Hodgdon. 

The founder of the Hodgdon family in New Hampshire was Jonathan 
Hodgdon, who came from England, accompanied by two brothers, one of 
whom settled at W'ells, Me., and the other at Ossipee, N. H., while he cho.se 
his home in Rochester, where his son, Abner Hodgdon was ijorn : it is said 
that the latter's mothei was killed by the Indians. George W. Hodgdon 
lived at Rochester until he was twenty-four years old and then became an 
employe of the Great Falls Manufacturing Companv and worked in those 
mills for forly-n\e years. He was respected by exeryone and was one of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 943 

the men most trusted by his employers. He died when aged eighty- four 
years. He married Mary Hohbs. who was born at Sanford, Me. 

George F. Hodgdon entered the mills of the Great Falls Manufacturing 
Company after his school days were over and continued there for thirty years. 
For some years past he has de\dted his attention to farm pursuits, including 
dairying, beginning with the milk of two cows and has continued to increase 
his dairy stock until he now has twenty-three head and sells all the milk he 
can produce. On December 25, 1880, he was married to Miss Ida ^i. Fall, 
wdio was born at Berwick, Me., and is a daughter of George and Lucy E. 
(Melcher) Fall, and a granddaughter of Hezekiah Fall, who was born at 
Berwick, Me., where her father was also born, while her mother was a native 
of Carroll county, N. H. The latter survives and is now in her eightv-lifth 
year. 

In politics Mr. Hodgdon is a Republican. He is identitied with the Odd 
Fellows at Rochester and belongs also to the Lady Franklin Rebekah Lodge 
No. 13, to which Mrs. Hodgdon also belongs, and both are members of the 
New England Order of Protection, while, in addition, he is identified with 
the Royal Protective Association. They are people of high personal standing 
in this community and have a wide circle of friends. 

JOB H. BURLEIGH, a venerable resident of Dover, N. H., is well 
known to the people of the community, Ijy whom he is held in highest 
esteem. Lie has been living in Dover since 1875, and makes his home at 
No. 39 Silver Street. He was born in Acton, Me., January 28, 1828, and is 
a son of Job and Susan (Frost) Burleigh. 

The Burleigh family is of English extraction, and dating back several 
generations in this country to one Jonathan Burleigh, who came over with 
two brothers. He took up his resilience at Epping, N. H. Job Burleigh, 
father of the stibject of this sketch, was liorn and reared at Wakefield, New- 
Hampshire. After his marriage with Susan Frost, a nati\e of Marblehead, 
Mass., he moved to Acton, Me., where he lived and plied his trade as black- 
smith. In 1859, he moved with his family to Union, N. H., where he and 
his wife passed the remainder of their li\es. 

Job H. Burleigh was born while the family resided at Acton, Maine, 
where he grew to maturity. When twelve years old he began learning the 
trade of a blacksmith in his father's shop, and that continued to be his chief 
occupation throughout his acti\e career. He mo\-ed with his ]5arents to 
Union in 1859, and there li\'ed and worked at his trade until December, 1875. 
He at that time mo\ed with his wife and children to Dover, N. H., locating 
on Silver Street, where they have li\ed continuously since. He engaged in 



9U HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

blacksmithing for himself and with good success until 1900, when he retired 
to enjoy a well earned rest and the fruits of his early toil. An intelligent 
and well informed man. he has always taken a keen interest in public questions 
and matters relating to public welfare. 

In March. 1849, Air. Burleigh was joined in marriage with Miss Merinda 
W. Marston. who was born in Meredith, N. H., May 18. 1828, and is a 
daughter of Jeremiah and Annie ( Young) Marston, her parents being also 
natives of Meredith. Five children were born of this union : Albert \\'., 
deceased: Everett J., deceased: T.eorge P. of Seattle. Washington: Sanuiel 
F. of Manchester, New Hampshire: and Lillian A., who is married to John 
M. Gage and lives on Dover Neck. Job H. Burleigh is a stanch Democrat 
in politics. He belongs to Moses Paul Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Dover: also 
to the Improved Order of Redmen of Dover. He and his wife are widely 
known in Dover, and their friends are limited only by the number of their 
acijuaintances. 

PROF. FRANK S. SUTCLIFFE, A. B., A. M.,* superintendent of the 
public schools of Somersworth and Newmarket, N. H., and a resident of 
Somersworth. since 1909, was born at Salem, N. H.. in October, i860, a son 
of James and Mary L. Sutcliffe. The father. James Sutcliffe, an Englishman 
by birth, was in his day a well known woolen manufacturer of Manchester, 
N. H. His wife, Mary, was a nati\e of Andover, Mass. 

Frank S. Sutcliffe was a small boy when he accompanied his parents to 
Manchester, N. H. He attended the public schools, including the high school, 
from which he was graduated in 1878. In i88j he was graduated from Dart- 
mouth College, after a four years' academic course. Then taking up his resi- 
dence in Manchester, he became principal of the Lincoln grammar school 
there, a position that he held for twelve years. He was then elected principal 
of the high school, but declined the position, accepting instead that of super- 
intendent of schools at Arlington. Mass., where he remained for seven years, 
rendering efficient service. Subsequent to this he was superintendent of public 
schools at Newport, N. H., for five years, after which, in 1909, as already 
stated, he came to Somersworth to accept his present position as superintendent 
of the public schools of this city and of Newmarket. Prof. Sutcliffe has estab- 
lished an excellent reputation as an educator of ability, his work having been 
strongly endorsed both by experts in this line and by the public generally in 
the places where he has held positions. He is a past president of the New 
Hampshire Teachers' Association, and of the Schoolmasters' Club of New 
Hampshire, and is also a member of the National Geographical Educational 
Society. His degrees of A. B. and .\. M. were conferred by Dartmouth Col- 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 945 

lege. Fraternally he belongs to Washington Lodge, A; F. & A. M., at Man- 
chester, N. H., of which he is past master, and is a past noble grand of 
Hiilsboro Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., also of Manchester. He attends the Con- 
gregational church at Somersworth. 

Prof. Sntcliffe married Kate M. h'ollinsbee, of Manchester, N. H., formerly 
a teacher in the public schools of that city, and daughter of Henry A. Follinsbee, 
now deceased. He and his wife are the parents of two children, namely: 
Marjorie F., a graduate of Simmons College at Boston, Mass., who is assistant 
librarian at W'ellesley College, and pjarbara, who is a graduate of .\ndo\er 
( Mass. ) Seminary. 

CHARLES M. JONES,* who for 21 j-ears served continuously as execu- 
tive officer of the Dover Board of Health, has tilled other honorable and 
responsible offices during a busy and useful life and is now retired, residing 
in his comfortable residence at No. 785 Central avenue, Dover. He was born 
at Liuienburg, Mass., .\ugust 2, 1836, a son of Da\id and Olix'ia (Hughes) 
Jones, the former of whom was born also at Lunenburg and the latter at 
Windham, N. H. 

Charles M. Jinies has no recollection of his father, who died when the 
subject of this sketch was in his third year. When young Charles was ten 
years old his mother died and after that, until he assumed charge of his own 
affairs, at the age of 15 years, he lived with relations in Worcester county, 
Mass. He had few educational ad\antages, as he had to depend for support 
on his own efforts, so that work soon took the place of school. In 1859 after 
some experience in a bakery, he became a bakery salesman at Somersworth, 
N. H., and remained there for two years. Fie then came to Do\'er, where he 
was engaged in the same business until in September, 1862. when he enlisted 
for service in the Civil war, entering Company K, nth N. H. Volunteer 
Infantry, which was attached to the 9th Army Corps. He took part in the 
battles of White .Sulphur Springs and Fredericksburg, after which he was 
transferred to the mail service, in which he continued until the close of the 
war, being honorably discharged in June, 1865. Returning to Dover, he was 
for some time connected with the mercantile business. In 1890 he was elected 
executive officer of the Dover Board of Health, as mentioned above, and to the 
duties of that office devoted over two decades of his life. He has been a very 
active member of C. W. Sawyer Post No. 17, G. A. R. of Dover, of which he 
is adjutant and of which he w as commander for two years. In all his official 
relations he has been careful, just and considerate and is held in high esteem 
by those who know him best. 

Mr. Jones was married in August, 1867, to Miss Lydia E. Blaisdell, who 

55 



946 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

was born at Somersworth, N. H., a daughter of Richard and Clarissa (Han- 
son) Blaisdell. Her parents were born at Lebanon, Me., coming of old families 
of English extraction; Thomas Hanson, the grandfather, was an early settler 
of Dover. Mrs. Jones was educated in the Somersworth high school and also 
in a private school. She is N\elcome in the city"s pleasant social circles, belongs 
to the Daughters of the Re\olution, and was one of the organizers of the 
Woman's Relief Corps at Dover. Air. and Mrs. Jones attend the Pierce 
Memorial L'niversalist church. I'raternally he is identified with the Odd Fel- 
lows and the Knights of Pythias. 

ORIMEL W. GARSIDE,* market gardener, residing on his tract of 25 
acres of richly cultivated land near Dover, is one of the well known, popular 
and esteemed citizens of the city and environs. There are many children 
among his friends, for he is the one who safely and carefully conveys them to 
school in Dover and back again to the Knox Marsh School District. He was 
born at Dover, N. H., May 17, 1SS5, and is a son of Albert W. and Addie M. 
(Ingraham) Garside. 

Orimel C. Ingraham, the maternal grandfather, was one of the early boot 
and shoe merchants at Dover, conducting his store in the Odd Fellows' build- 
ing for a number of years and after disposing of it settling on a farm on the 
Knox Marsh road (the same farm Mr. Garside now owns), where he died. 
Albert \\'. Garside is a resident of Dover, where he is employed in the belt 
factory of I. P.. Williams & Co. His father, Walter Garside, was a native of 
England, and for many years was employed in the Sawyer Woolen mills, now 
a part of the American Woolen Company system, at Dover. Albert W. Gar- 
side married Addie M. Ingraham. who was born at Dover, where she died in 
191 1, an admirable woman in ever\- relation of life. 

Orimel W. Garside went to school with considerable regularity at Dover 
until he was 16 years old and then began to be self supporting. He assisted his 
grandfather Ingraham on his farm until he was about 20 years of age, when 
he bought a milk route in Dover and operated it most successfully for five 
years. In 191 1 he began market gardening, retailing his products in Dover, 
for which there is always a hearty demand. 

Mr. Garside married Miss Hazel M. Emerson, a daughter of Laban 
Emerson, of Madbury, X. H.. and they have two children, Ralph E. and Electa 
A. Like his father, Mr. Garside is a Republican. In 1912 he was his party's 
candidate for the office of sealer of weights and measures of Ward Four, 
Dover, and failed of election by a \ery few \otes. For eight years he has 
guarded the school children of his district and has won their warm affection. 
Mr. C.arsi<le belongs to Mt. Pleasant Lodge, Odd Fellows, at Dover, and Men 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 947 

of Prescott Encampment of the same i)lace, and also to Dover Grange, 
Patrons of Husbandry, in this organization having served in every office with 
the exception of master. He belongs to the Free Will Baptist church on 
\\^ashington street, Dover. 

MISS SARAH F. JENIvINS, a well known and highly esteemed resident 
of the town of Madburv', owns and occupies the fine old Jenkins homestead 
containing 127 acres of valuable land. She has been a lifeling resident of the 
town of Madbury, and is a daughter of Joseph A. and Mehitable ( Bunker) 
Jenkins. 

Joseph A. Jenkins was born in 181 1, in Madbury, anil died May 15, 18S4, 
in his seventy-third year. He was a son of Nathaniel Jenkins, who was a son 
of Joseph Jenkins, one of the earliest of the pioneer settlers in this section. 
For generations this family have been representatives of all that is best in citi- 
zenship and in private life, quiet, honest, virtuous people, who have left a lasving 
impress on the community where the}' li\ed and labored so long. The Jenkins 
ancestors in general were members of the Society of Friends. Joseph A. Jen- 
kins followed an agricultural life. He was never active in political campaigns 
but from a sense of duty gave his support to the Democratic party. He mar- 
ried Mehitable Bunker, who died June 11, 1902, in her eighty-fifth year. Of 
their children, five in number, Sarah F. is the only survivor, the others being: 
Charles A., Nathaniel, George A., and Eliza J. 

Nathaniel Jenkins of the above family, was I.iorn on the old homestead in 
Madljury, N. H. He was a man widely known and highly esteemed. For more 
than twenty years he was an employe of the Sawyer Woolen Mills at Dover, 
where his relial:)ility and faithful performance of duty were thoroughly recog- 
nized, resulting in his being ap]iointed an overseer in the mills, a responsible 
position that he filled for a numl:>er of years. In politics he was a Democrat 
but he was never willing to accept any office of a public nature. He was a 
kind and thoughtful brother and in his last illness transferred his farm to his 
sister by deed. His death occurred August 20, 1908. 

AUGUSTUS DE SCHUYLER,* a highly respected retired resident of 
Dover, was born in Belgium, August 1 1, 1842, and is a son of Saul and Cather- 
ine De Schuyler. Both parents were liorn in Belgium, in 1801, and both lived 
to be over ninety years of age. 

Augustus De Schuyler had few of the early advantages which are now 
considered the Iiirthright of American children, but he was taught to be honest 
and industrious and on such good foundation built his business career. During 
youth and early manhood he worked in flax, cotton, silk and other mills in his 



948 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

own land, but all the time cherished a liope of finally reaching America and 
this hope became a fact in March, 1865. After boarding a vessel at Antwerp, 
he had to transfer at London, England, and from that city go by tram to Liver- 
pool, at which port he was able to secure passage on a steamer for the United 
States. About 18 days later he was safely landed at Portland, Me., from 
which city he came to Newmarket Junction, N. H. He reached the United 
States near the closing months of the great Civil war and, on account of the 
money inducement offered, decided to enlist in an organization then forming, 
and on March jg, 1865, became a member of Company G, 4th N. H. Volunteer 
Infantr)^ in which he served for si.x months, mainly in North Carolina, and 
was then honorably discharged. He then came to Do\-er, attracted by promise 
of work in his own line, and for 20 years subsequently he continued an employe 
of Sawyer's Woolen mills. Afterward, for 13 years, he was caretaker of 
St. Mary's cemetery at Dover. For several years he has lived in comfortaljle 
retirement, enjoying the esteem and good will of those with whom his life 
has been spent for so long a time. 

Li November, 1878, Mr. De Schuyler was married to Miss Catherine 
McDonough, who was born in County Sligo, Ireland, a daughter of Matthew 
and Mary (Fenly) McDonough. She was two years old when her parents 
mo\ed to Manchester, England, and Vned there until she came to the L'nited 
States, landing at Dover, N. H., July 6, 1S65. Mr. and Mrs. De Schuyler are 
members of St. Mary's Catholic church at Dover. In his political views he is 
a Republican with independent proclivities. 

CHARLES F. CROCKETT,* who is now serving in his third term as 
clerk of the Somerswortli Water Board, is a citizen of prominence in the town 
and resides on the old Crockett homestead farm, which is located at Crockett's 
Crossing, on the Salmon Falls road. He was born in the house in which he 
now lives, January i, 1853, and is a son of Charles H. and Sallie P. (Ireland) 
Crockett, the latter being a native of Charlestown. Mass. 

Charles H. Crockett was born at Ossipee, N. H., a son of Andrew Crockett, 
also of New Hampshire. The former accompanied his parents to Strafford 
county in boyhood, they locating in what is now called Rollinsford, near Rol- 
linsford Station. Charles H. Crockett engaged in farming as his main occu- 
pation and in 1836 bought the farm which his son, Charles F. Crockett now 
owns. He and wife attended the Methodist Episcopal church and were 
worthy people in every act of life. His death occurred February 9, 1897. 
They had six children: Louisa J., Sarah A., Charles H. and Mary E., all 
deceased; and Charles F. and Martha E., the last named being the widow of 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 949 

P. W. Hemingway, formerly of East ^^'eylnouth, Mass. Mrs. Hemingway 
now resides witii her only brother at Somersworth. 

Charles F. Crockett attended the district schools and has devoted his life 
mainly to farming. He owns thirty acres of well cultivated land and finds 
health and contentment in still further impro\ing his estate. Mr. Crockett 
was married Octoher i6, 1897, to Miss Frances Shorey, who died January 
27, 1912. She was a daughter of Albert P. Shorey, a former resident of South 
Berwick, Me. Mrs. Crockett was a member of the Calvin Baptist church at 
South Berwick, Me. In politics Mr. Crockett is a Democrat and served six 
years as a member of the school board and for several years has been a select- 
man representing the Fourth Ward of the city of Somersworth. With this 
record to his credit, it is unnecessary to add that he is held in high regard by 
his fellow citizens. 

ARTHUR W. SIMPSON,* one of Madbury's well known and respected 
residents, who is the owner of Hillside Farm, and who, in addition to farming 
carries on a general catering business with excellent financial results, was born 
in Yorkshire, England, June 26, 1862, and is a son of William and Sarah 
Simpson. Both parents of Mr. Simpson were natives of England, the name 
being a well known one in Yorkshire, and from there they came to the United 
States in 1864, settling at Dover, N. H., where both subsequently died. For 
many years the father was an overseer in the old Sawyer Woolen Mills, in the 
days when no brick had yet been used to displace the old wood construction. 

Arthur W. Simpson was reared and educated at Do\er and attended also the 
old Franklin Academy. During early manhood he was employed in various 
departments in the old Sawyer Woolen A4ills. Afterward he was in the tea 
and coffee business at Dover. Following his first marriage Mr. Simpson set- 
tled on Plillside Farm, on which he has continued to live ever since. It was 
formerly the property of Judge Atkinson, from whom John Hill purchased it, 
and his name is commemorated in the name of this beautiful and productive 
tract of 226 acres of fine land. Mr. Simpson carries on general farming and 
dairying, and, as a side line, conducts his catering business. His residence 
stands near the former location of the old Piscataqua river bridge. 

Mr. Simpson was married first to Miss Lydia L. Hill, who was born in 
Strafford county, a daughter of John Hill, and two sons were born to them: 
John H., who is a resident of San Diego, Cal. ; and Roscoe H., who is a resident 
of Dover and fonuerly a member of the board of selectmen of Madbury, N. H. 
Mr. Simpson's second marriage was to Miss Ethel C. Watson, a daughter of 
David W. Watson of Durham, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson attend the Con- 
gregational church at Durham. For 30 years he has been more or less active 



950 HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY 

in political life in StrafTord county, particularly in the town of Madburv, and 
has given his fellow citizens efficient service in many responsible positions. He 
sened on the board of selectmen a number of terms, being twice cliaimian of 
the board, and early in the nineties was sent to the Xew Hampshire legislature 
to represent the town of Aladbury. At present he is a member of the board of 
health and deputy fire warden, and has filled many other local offices where 
good judgment was essential. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally is 
identified with the Masons, at Dover as well as the Odd I^\-llows, the Elks and 
the A. O. U. W. Mr. Simpson is justl}- luimbered with Strafford county's 
representative citizens. 

MARK CHASE,* owner of the beautiful tract of land known throughout 
the town of Dover as Fairview Place, located on Bay View road and contain- 
ing 185 acres of land, was born in Albany, Carroll county, N. H., June 20, 
1852. His parents were George and Amy (Annis) Chase, the former a son 
of Oliver Chase and a resident of Albany, and the latter born in Madison, X. H. 
Mark Chase was not born until two months after his father's death. The 
mother subsequently married Samuel Banfield and the family moved to Con- 
way, N. H. 

March Chase attended the ])ublic schools at Conway and lived there until 
he was 20 years of age, in the meanwhile having lost his mother by death, 
when he was twelve years old. He then came to Dover, but two years later 
returned to Conway and remained there several years longer. He was 
first married June 20, 1873. to Miss Rosalie A. Ham. a daughter of Plumer 
and Mary Ham, who were well known people of Rochester. Mrs. Rosalie 
A. Chase died in 1887. and on October 16. 1888, Mr. Chase was married 
secondly to Miss .\lice J. Farrington. who was born at Conway, N, H., a 
daughter of John C. and Mary A. (Banfield) Farrington, members of old 
Conway, N. H., families. The great-grandmother of ]\Irs. Chase was the 
first white female child born at Moultonboro, N. H., for which family the 
place was named. ]\Irs. Chase was a school teacher prior to her marriage. 
Mr. and Mrs. Chase have had four children: Herbert F., of Dover; Eugene 
R.. who is deceased: and Ernest C. and Althea M.. both residing at home. 
j\lr. Chase and wife located on his present fami in the fall of 1893. where 
he follows general farming and dairs-ing. They are members of the Wash- 
ington Street Free Baptist church. They are also members of the Do\-er 
Grange, to which the sons also belong; Herbert F. having held office therein 
for many years, is said td be the youngest man ever elected master of a 
grange in New Hampshire. The other son, Ernest C, Chase, is now serving 
the Grange in the office of steward. The Chase family is prominent in social 



AND REPRESENTATR^E CITIZENS D51 

circles, and the male members are stanch Democrats, without desire for public 
office. 

CHARLES O. BAKER, a well knuwn citizen of Dover, N. H., owner of 
a farm of al)out 30 acres devoted to farming and dairying, was born in Dover, 
N. H., October 2, 1846, a son of Samuel W. and Lydia P. (Blake) Baker. He 
is a grandson of Sharonton Baker, fonnerly of Dover, who resided here many 
years, serving the town as selectman, and who died in New York in i860. 
Sharonton was a son of Eben Baker, the family being of English extraction. 
Samuel \\'. Baker, the father of our subject, was born in Dover, his wife 
Lydia being a native of this county. He was a prominent citizen, serving in 
the legislature in 1870 and 1871 from Ward i, Dover. He was also an alder- 
man two years and was assessur for a number <;)f years. In politics he was a 
Republican and he was a citizen of great popularity with a wide following. 
Of the children born to Samuel W. llakcr and wife there are now three sur- 
vivors, namely: Charles O., the subject of this sketch; Samuel B., residing 
in Charlestown, Mass., and Sharonton H., a resident of Maiden, Mass. 

Charles O. Baker, in addition to the activities above mentioned, is an active 
participant in public affairs. A Republican, like his father, he is now serving 
as an assessor at large of Dover, being also clerk of the board. He has served 
as clerk of Ward i for several years and has been a member of the common 
council for two terms, showing marked efficiency. He is a charter member of 
the Wanalonset Tribe of Red Men at Do\er ; a charter meml:)er of the United 
Order of the Golden Cross, at Do\er; and a member of Chcheco Grange, No. 
81, P. of H., which he has served as o\'erseer. He attends the Pierce Memorial 
Universalist Church. 

Mr. Baker married Elizabeth Drew of Barrington, N. H., a daughter of 
Swain Drew, now deceased. They have one daughter, Alice G., who is the 
wife of Hollis P. Ford, of Dover, and the mother of one son, Charles Baker 
Ford. 

CHARLES F. PRAY, station agent at Rollinsford, N. H., for the Boston 
and Maine Railroad, has been identified with railroad work ever since he 
reached manhood. He was Ijorn at Rollinsford, September J3, 185 1, and 
is a son of Humphrey and Eunice (Stackpole) Pray. The father was born 
in Lebanon, Me., and the mother in Rollinsford, N. H. The Pray family 
is of English and Scotch ancestry. 

Charles F. Pray attended the public schools of his nati\e place and the 
Salmon Falls High school. Having decided on railroad work as his occu- 
pation, he learned the art of telegraphing, beginning as an operator, August 



952 HISTORY OF STR.\FFORD COUNTY 

15. 1S70, \\ itli llie IJustuii and Maine Railroad. Two and a" iialf years 
later he was appointed station agent and ever since has filled both positions. 
This is an important railroad ix)int and Mr. Fray's duties occupy all of his 
time during the week of seven days. 

]\Ir. I'ray has been twice married, fir.st to Miss Xovella A. Libbey, of 
Lowell. Mass. They had two children; Charles B. and Harry E., the latter 
being assistant superintendent of the Sayles' Bleachery, of Saylesville, R. I. 
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Pray married Miss Lucy B. Lord, of 
Lebanon, Me., a highly educated lady who had been formerh- a teacher, 
whom lie also lost by death. Both his wives were worthy and estimable 
ladies. Mr. Pray is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of South 
Berwick, Me. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Salmon Falls. 
Politically a Republican, he belongs to that wing of the party that particularly 
advocates temperance. Mr. Pray is one of Strafford county's well known 
citizens. 

STEPHEN P. CHESLEY*. who is a member of one of the old agri- 
cultural families of Strafford county and carries on fann industries on the 
place on which he was born, July 2ji,. iSdj, in the town of Durham, is a son 
of John S. and Nancy A. ( Sanljorn ) Chesley. I~ew families of Durham ha\'e 
older associations connected with this part of New Hampshire than ha\e the 
Chesleys. The pioneer settler of the family was Samuel Chesley, perhaps of 
English extraction. He secured the land which the family still preserves 
and here reared his family. His son, Stephen P. Chesley, grandfather of 
Stephen P. Chesley, of this sketch, was a respected resident of Durham 
throughout his life. 

John S. Chesley, father of Stephen P., spent his entire life in Durham, 
where he died in 1896. He was prominent in local affairs, serving several 
temis as a selectman of Durham, and was practical and careful in the man- 
agement of his own enterprises. He married Nancy A. Sanborn, who was 
born at Loudon, N. H., and they had the following children: Stephen P., 
of Durham; James S., of Dover; Wilbert S., Gabriella, Edgar D. and Eliz- 
abeth W., all of Durham; and Ivy M., of Sanbornton, N. H. 

Stephen P. Chesley attended the public schools of the town of Durham, 
also Franklin Academy, at Dover and subsequently, Coe's Academy, at North- 
wood Center, N. H. From early manhood he has made agriculture his busi- 
ness, and he carries on fanning and dairying with profitalile results. In his 
political opinions, like his late father, he is a Democrat; he has served as a 
selectman of the town and on several occasions his party has made him 
its candidate for the legislature. At the last election his opponent, Hon. 



AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 953 

Charles Wentworth, defeated him by but a small majority. Mr. Chesley is 
interested in the Patrons of Husbandry and belongs to Scamniell Grange 
No. 122, of Durham. He belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and is a 
charter member of Sullivan Lodge No. 26, at Durham, in which he has held 
ofificial positions. Mr. Chesley stands high in the esteem of his fellow citi- 
zens and well represents the good citizenship of Durham. 



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